COVID-19 Update 2

county seal

A message from:
Susan S. Muranishi, County Administrator
Colleen Chawla, Director, Health Care Services Agency
Erica Pan, MD, MPH, Interim County Health Officer, Public Health Department

March 15, 2020

As the COVID-19 outbreak grows and guidance from state and federal governments continue to evolve, we want to share important updates and let you know additional guidance will be coming soon.

At this time, there are 15 cases of COVID-19 in Alameda County and we have evidence of community transmission. Over the past week, we have issued successively more restrictive guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Many school districts and child care centers have voluntarily closed for two to three weeks.

Earlier today, Governor Newsom recommended people at high risk (seniors 65+ and people with chronic health conditions) to self-isolate at home; bars, wineries, and night clubs to close; and restaurants to implement increased social distancing. The Governor also stated the state is taking additional measures to protect individuals experiencing homelessness.

Also, today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance to cap non-essential gatherings at 50 people for a period of eight weeks; and federal public health officials indicated openness to a 14-day national quarantine.

Alameda County is committed to safeguarding the health and safety of everyone living and working in our community, and we are coordinating across multiple agencies to determine appropriate next steps. This is a rapidly evolving situation where we seek to balance the public's health and safety with adverse socioeconomic impacts on our communities. We are mindful of the need to protect our health care systems from becoming overwhelmed and prioritizing the most vulnerable among us: seniors, people with chronic health conditions, and people experiencing homelessness.

As we carefully evaluate local and regional COVID-19 data and health needs alongside evolving state and federal guidance, we expect to issue updated local guidance very soon. This could include more stringent recommendations and increased social distancing measures. We urge you to continue your planning and preparation efforts for potentially prolonged disruptions to daily life and organizational operations. You can also do your part by staying home if you are sick and practicing good hand hygiene.

Thank you for your support in helping us flatten the curve in Alameda County. We will need your continued partnership as we move forward, and will keep you apprised on the situation.

Please continue to promote our public health website and offer nCoV@acgov.org for questions that are not addressed by CDC, CDPH, or our website.