COVID-19
breaking news & updates
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"Today (April 27), I hope, is a day when we can take another step back to the normalcy of before. Over the past year, we have spent a lot of time telling Americans what you can’t do. Today, I am going to tell you some of the things you can do, if you are fully vaccinated."
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky
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La Familia Free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Continues Through This Friday
La Familia, in collaboration with several agencies, is sponsoring a free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at La Familia Cherryland, located at 20095 Mission Blvd. in Hayward. This clinic is FREE and open to all community members who work or live in Alameda County ages 16 and older. Any eligible recipient under 16 years must bring a consenting adult in order to be vaccinated. This operation will only be available through Friday April 30 and will be offering 2,000 Pfizer vaccines. La Familia is asking the community to share this vital information with all of their networks and social circles so that we can continue to bring Alameda County closer to being fully vaccinated and keep our communities safe from COVID-19. Call (510) 397-8696 to make an appointment.
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Complex Obstacles As Latino Vaccine Numbers Lag Behind Cases
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COVID-19 Vaccine Rates Across The Bay Area
Most Bay Area counties are making great progress, especially among those who have at least one dose of the vaccine. Alameda County has 67% of those eligible receiving at least one dose, while more than 41% are fully vaccinated. In Contra Costa County, more than 68 percent are partially vaccinated, and 47% are fully vaccinated. KRON4
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Hayward Public Library Reopens May 3 With HPL Express Walk-In Service, Safety Protocols
Hayward Library Director Jayanti Addleman announced Tuesday that the downtown branch of Hayward Public Library (HPL) will reopen to the public for limited walk-in services on Monday, May 3. Through the new HPL Express walk-in service, library users will be able to enter the downtown branch during two-hour, limited-capacity sessions and will be required to follow all safety protocols, including social distancing and mask requirements. Get more details
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San Francisco Seniors Will Walk a Real Stage For Class of 2021 High School Graduation
San Francisco’s 4,000 high school seniors will walk across a real stage this spring to collect their diplomas at in-person, outdoor graduation ceremonies hosted by the city and school district. Commencement ceremonies for the largest public high schools will be held at Kezar Stadium at Golden Gate Park, while those for smaller schools will be at the former McAteer High School campus, overlooking Glen Canyon. SF Chronicle
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Bay Area Sending Help to India Amid Coronavirus Emergency
The Bay Area is among the places answering India's calls for help as the world's second most populous country grapples with a COVID-19 disaster. Hospitals are overwhelmed, there's a shortage of life-saving oxygen and there aren't enough ventilators for those who desperately need them. "It is heartbreaking," Dr. Kusum Atraya said. "It’s not only the patients, even the doctors are crying. It's mind boggling. We need to help."
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How To Get Wary Bay Area Commuters Back On Public Transit
A lack of passengers during the pandemic decimated public transportation this past year with ridership plummeting to around 5 percent. Now, transit agencies are grappling with how to get commuters to come back.
For many people the idea of returning to the office is a psychological barrier itself these days, but if you really want to make people uncomfortable, just ask them how they feel about returning to packed public transit. CBS Local Read more
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The Most Promising Coronavirus Vaccine You’ve Never Heard Of
Hopes are growing that a dark-horse coronavirus vaccine from a tiny U.S. drugmaker can shore up supplies in the U.S. and globally as safety concerns and production problems shadow shots from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. The vaccine’s developer, Novavax, has never brought a product to market. The shot entered late-stage clinical trials months after candidates from bigger names like Pfizer and Moderna. But the Novavax vaccine proved just as potent as those mRNA shots in a U.K. trial, and the company is now preparing to file for U.S. authorization in a matter of weeks - potentially leapfrogging AstraZeneca, a former frontrunner. Politico Read more
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Vaccinations Are Plateauing - Don’t Blame It On "Resistance"
The signs are clear: The U.S. vaccine rollout is plateauing. As daily vaccination rates settle and the country’s progress toward herd immunity slows down, let’s not rush to the same misguided conclusion that this is mostly about lack of vaccine confidence.
Individuals who aren’t seeking a COVID-19 vaccine right now are not necessarily the same people as those who are truly anti-vaccine. Instead of talking up hesitancy, it’s time to talk about what motivates people to get vaccinated and identify the ongoing barriers to vaccination. STAT Read more
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COVID-19 Vaccines May Protect Many, But Not All, People With Suppressed Immune Systems
For Eva Schrezenmeier, a nephrologist at Charité University Hospital in Berlin, the news was sobering: Among 40 patients with transplanted kidneys at her hospital who’d been vaccinated against COVID-19, only one was churning out the antibodies that would likely protect him from the disease. Because transplant patients take powerful drugs to suppress the immune system so it doesn’t attack a donated organ, her team expected diminished responses to a vaccine. But Schrezenmeier hadn’t anticipated just how badly the vaccine might falter in her patients. Science Read more
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West Virginia Will Pay Young People $100 To Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Young people who get the COVID-19 vaccine in West Virginia won't just gain protection against a deadly virus - they'll also make money. The state will offer a $100 savings bond to everyone between the ages of 16 and 35 who gets vaccinated, Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, announced at a Monday briefing. It's part of an ongoing push to get shots into the arms of younger residents, who have been largely slow to roll up their sleeves so far. NPR Read more
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Sunnyvale Scientist Encourages Vaccines Despite Receiving Wrong Second Dose
As more people get their first COVID-19 vaccination shot of Pfizer or Moderna, the focus then becomes making sure they get their second shot of the same vaccine on time. But, some people have gotten a follow up shot of a different vaccine. It happened to Dr. Veena Thomas, a Sunnyvale scientist. NBC Bay Area Read more
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Pfizer CEO Says Antiviral Pill To Treat COVID Could Be Ready By End Of The Year
A pill that can be ingested orally at home to combat COVID-19 when illness is first detected could be available to the public by the end of 2021, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC on Tuesday, noting that the antiviral treatment is expected to be effective against variants of the virus. Forbes Read more
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Can You Have Alcohol After The COVID Vaccine?
After a long year and a lot of anticipation, getting the COVID-19 vaccine can be cause for celebration, which for some might mean pouring a drink and toasting to their new immunity. But can alcohol interfere with your immune response? The short answer is that it depends on how much you drink.
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It’s Never Been Easier to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine in CA
It’s never been easier to get a COVID-19 vaccine in California, officials say, with Los Angeles County and many other counties now offering vaccines at some sites without requiring an appointment. “This will be our first full week where everybody can just walk in, and you don’t need to make an appointment,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Monday. “It is really easy to get vaccinations now.”
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Vaccine Resources
Food Pantries
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Confirmed Cases
Bay Area: 434,881
California: 3,737,324
U.S.: 32,214,382
Alameda County
Vaccines Administered: 1,433,923
Cases: 85,683
Deaths: 1,491
Test Positivity: 1.5%
Hospitalized Patients: 118
ICU Beds Available: 102
Cases have decreased over the past week but are still high, The numbers of hospitalized COVID patients and deaths in the Alameda County area have also fallen. The test positivity rate in Alameda County is relatively low, suggesting that testing capacity is adequate for evaluating COVID-19 spread in the area. NY Times
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Reported Deaths
Bay Area: 6,227
California: 61,569
U.S.: 574,156
Contra Costa County
Vaccines Administered: 1,044,572
Cases: 67,816
Deaths: 780
Test Positivity: 1.9%
Hospitalized Patients: 25
ICU Beds Available: 59
Cases have decreased over the past week but are still high. The numbers of hospitalized COVID patients and deaths in the Contra Costa area have risen. The test positivity rate in Contra Costa County is relatively low, suggesting that testing capacity is adequate for evaluating COVID-19 spread in the area. NY Times
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State/National/International News |
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U.S. to Share Up to 60 Million AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Doses With Other Countries
The U.S. announced plans to share as many as 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it receives federal approval in the coming months, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. The announcement comes as the Biden administration has faced increased pressure to share its supply of vaccines as more than 40% of Americans are at least partially vaccinated and other countries like India grapple with a devastating spike in cases. USA Today Read more
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Why The World Should Worry About India
India considered itself to be "in the endgame" of the pandemic just a few weeks ago. Now it is the global epicenter. The country recently surpassed the devastating milestone of more than 345,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day, the biggest total recorded globally since the pandemic began. India’s outbreak is an enormous tragedy for its own people, but it’s also a catastrophe for the rest of the world. Ninety-two developing nations rely on India, home to the Serum Institute, the world’s largest vaccine maker, for the doses to protect their own populations, a supply now constrained by India’s domestic obligations. The Atlantic Read more
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Why COVID-19 Cases Haven't Seen Sharp Drop Despite Spike in Vaccinations
States across the country are reporting large numbers of people getting their coronavirus shots, and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 95 million doses have been administered over the last month alone. Regardless, the number of newly reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has not decreased dramatically, in fact, there is a seven-day average hovering around 60,000 cases a day, according to CDC data. ABC News Read more
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Even After Being Fully Vaccinated, Many Still Wrestle With a Fear of Catching COVID
Since the start of the pandemic, Kit Breshears has been terrified of catching the coronavirus. Getting vaccinated did not magically change that. For the past 13 months, Breshears, 44, of Buffalo, Minnesota, has not stepped foot inside a store or restaurant, not even to pick up a takeout meal. Any visits with family and friends have been over Zoom. When he received his second COVID-19 shot earlier this month, he felt relief, he said - but with the pandemic still ongoing, he has found it impossible to turn off his anxiety. NBC News Read more
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Pandemic Imperiled Non-English Speakers More Than Others
In March 2020, just weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, the incident command center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was scrambling to understand this deadly new disease. It appeared to be killing more Black and brown patients than whites. For Latinos, there was an additional warning sign: language. Patients who didn’t speak much, or any, English had a 35% greater chance of death. Kaiser Health News
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What to Do to Get Your COVID Vaccination Added to Your Medical Record
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and receiving a vaccination card has become a rite of passage for many Americans who have endured the pandemic for the last year. Securing a vaccination card, however, doesn't necessarily mean your COVID-19 vaccine status is in your medical records. CNN Read more
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Want That Job Offer? A COVID-19 Vaccine Is Now Required
At the New York restaurant Eleven Madison Park, a recent job posting for a sommelier lists a string of necessary skills, including exceptional wine knowledge and an ability to lift 50 pounds. The last requirement on the list: a COVID-19 vaccination. As the U.S. job market heats up, positions operating machines in Louisville, Ky., working in offices in Houston and waiting on diners in Manhattan now require that candidates be vaccinated - or be willing to get their COVID-19 shot within 30 days of hire. Wall Street Journal Read more
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CDC: Children’s Summer Camps Should Continue Social Distancing, Mask-Wearing to Prevent COVID-19 Spread
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said social distancing and mask-wearing need to continue at children's summer camps to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak. The agency updated its guidance on Saturday for day and overnight camps. "The present guidance is intended to help camp administrators operate camps while preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting campers, their families, staff, and communities," the agency said on its website. KTVU Read more
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2 Competing Impulses Will Drive Post-Pandemic Social Life
Team Yes or Team Couch
A post-pandemic discussion question: You get home from work on a Friday night and change into sweatpants. It’s been an exhausting week. A text message comes in. Your good friend wants to know if you’d like to meet up last minute for a drink, which is something that’s safe to do again. You’d love to catch up, but you’re pretty tired. Do you go? This choose-your-own-adventure - or choose-your-own-lack-of-adventure - scenario is one that more Americans will start facing again soon, and their answer will indicate which of two competing post-pandemic impulses they feel more strongly. The Atlantic Read more
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L.A. County Hits Yellow Tier Marker; Widest Reopening Could Be a Week Away
Los Angeles County has one foot in the most lenient category of the state’s COVID-19 reopening system, a momentous achievement for a region that was once so ravaged by the coronavirus that it was considered the epicenter of the pandemic in California. According to new state data released Tuesday, the county’s coronavirus case rate - adjusted based on the number of tests performed - dropped to 1.9 new cases per day per 100,000 people, reaching the threshold to enter California’s final yellow tier. LA Times Read more
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Rapid COVID-19 Home Tests Go On Sale at Major Retailers
Forget the long lines and the even longer nasal swabs. Now people with or without COVID-19 symptoms can purchase rapid and relatively affordable over-the-counter coronavirus test kits from the store and test themselves at home. AARP Read more
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- COVID-19 testing is a good idea, but keep in mind, people who test negative can still harbor the virus if they are early in their infection.
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A viral test tells you if you have a current infection.
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An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection.
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Over the last seven days, Alameda County officials have reported 215 new coronavirus cases, which amounts to 13 cases per 100,000 residents. |
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Over the last seven days, Contra Costa County officials have reported 589 new coronavirus cases, which amounts to 52 cases per 100,000 residents. |
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Top 10 Locations of Cases in
Alameda County, as of 4/28/21
Oakland: 26,684
Hayward: 13,338
Fremont: 7,749
Eden MAC: 5,804
San Leandro: 5,325
Livermore: 4,183
Union City: 3,905
Berkeley: 3,558
Newark: 2,715
Castro Valley: 2,504
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Top 10 Locations of Cases in
Contra Costa County, as of 4/28/21
Richmond: 10,218
Antioch: 9,408
Concord: 7,935
Pittsburg: 6,707
San Pablo: 5,179
Brentwood: 3,738
Oakley: 3,134
Bay Point: 2,727
Walnut Creek: 2,818
San Ramon: 2,053
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Mask On!
Protect Yourself While Protecting Others
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Working in collaboration with the Alameda County Public Health Department, the cities of Hayward and San Leandro, and the Castro Valley and Eden Area Municipal Advisory Councils, the District has printed "Mask On" posters for each city in the Eden Health District area. These posters are free of charge and intended for businesses, health clinics, schools, churches, public agencies and nonprofit agencies to display in their entrances. The posters are available in English, Spanish and Chinese languages. The public is welcome to download and print or share "Mask On" posters from our website. |
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About Eden Health District |
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The Eden Health District Board of Directors are Chair Mariellen Faria, Vice Chair Pam Russo, Secretary/Treasurer Roxann Lewis, Gordon Galvan and Varsha Chauhan. The Chief Executive Officer is Mark Friedman.
The Eden Health District is committed to ensuring that policy makers and community members receive accurate and timely information to help make the best policy and personal choices to meet and overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We welcome your feedback on our bulletin. Please contact editor Lisa Mahoney.
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