District V News & Updates Bay Area Health Officers Urge Public to Take Precautions as COVID Levels Rise
Twelve Bay Area health officers are stressing the importance of taking safety precautions, including continued masking indoors, as the region experiences a new swell of COVID cases and hospitalizations.
The Bay Area now has California’s highest COVID infection rates. The current wave is fueled by highly contagious Omicron subvariants. Bay Area counties are seeing increases in reported cases, levels of virus in sewer sheds, and hospitalizations. Actual case rates are higher than those reported because of widespread use of home tests.
These health officers reiterate their continued, strong support for people to mask up indoors, keep tests handy, and ensure they are up to date on vaccinations by getting boosters when eligible.
“There’s a lot of COVID out there right now, so it’s time to take more precautionary measures to protect yourself and your loved ones,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, health officer for Contra Costa County.
Health officials say people should also stay home if they feel sick and get tested right away. Officials also encourage getting tested after potential exposure and limiting large gatherings to well ventilated spaces or outdoors. For people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 infection, medications are available that can reduce your chances of severe illness and death. Talk with your healthcare provider right away if you test positive.
COVID is in the Air
Wear Your Mask!
May 10, 2022: With Contra Costa and other Bay Area counties seeing a swell in COVID cases, health officials are reiterating their strong recommendation to wear masks indoors. Omicron subvariants, which are even more contagious than the original Omicron, are driving the recent increase in cases. Outbreaks in workplaces and schools have also sharply increased in the past few weeks.
While masking remains optional for most public indoor settings, health officials say wearing face covering during periods of increased transmission is a simple best practice to protect against COVID.
“There’s a lot of COVID out there right now, so it’s time to mask up in public again,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, health officer for Contra Costa County.
Dr. Tzvieli said people should also stay home if they feel sick and get tested. He added that people eligible for booster shots should get one since protection from the COVID vaccines wane over time.
¡El COVID-19 está en el aire – utilice su mascarilla!
10 de mayo del 2022: Con el aumento que estamos teniendo en los casos de COVID en Contra Costa y en otros condados del Área de la Bahía, los oficiales de salud reiteran su recomendación enfática de usar mascarillas faciales en interiores. Las subvariantes de ómicron son más contagiosas que la variante ómicron original y están impulsando el reciente aumento en el número de casos. Durante las últimas semanas también han aumentado considerablemente los brotes en los lugares de trabajo y las escuelas.
Aunque sigue siendo opcional usar una mascarilla en la mayoría de los lugares públicos en interiores, las autoridades de salud indican que el uso de las mascarillas durante los periodos de mayor transmisión es una práctica buena y sencilla para protegerse contra el COVID.
“En este momento hay muchos casos de COVID, así que es hora de volver a usar mascarillas faciales en lugares públicos”, dijo el Dr. Ori Tzvieli, oficial de salud del Condado de Contra Costa.
El Dr. Tzvieli comentó que las personas también deben permanecer en casa si se sienten enfermas y hacerse una prueba. Además, añadió que las personas que sean elegibles para las vacunas de refuerzo deben recibir una, ya que la protección de las vacunas contra el COVID disminuye con el paso del tiempo. | 
