COVID-19
breaking news & updates
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Free COVID Vaccine Clinic at Order of Malta Clinic in Oakland
July 10 and 31, from 9 a.m - 2 p.m.
Over 60% of Alameda County residents over the age of 16 have been vaccinated, however there remains a disparity between communities based on income and race - especially among Hispanics and African American/Black residents where the rates of vaccination are closer to 40%. To address this need, the Order of Malta Clinic will be hosting two vaccination clinics in July in partnership with Curative and the Alameda County Heath Care Services Agency. Read more
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COVID-19 Delta Variant Spreading In Bay Area
While Bay Area health officials don't plan to re-implement COVID-19 guidelines for masking and social distancing for now, their concern about the virus' Delta variant is increasing for unvaccinated people. Union City Patch Read more
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Face Masking and Weekly Testing Required in Contra Costa County for Workers Without Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination in High-Risk Settings
Hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities for the elderly, residential substance abuse treatment facilities, residential mental health treatment facilities, homeless shelters and detention facilities in Contra Costa County must require personnel to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or wear face coverings on the job and get tested weekly for the virus, beginning on July 27. Contra Costa County Health Services Read more
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Alameda Schools Offer Summer Learning, Free Meals to Support Students Who Struggled Academically During Pandemic
To support students who struggled academically during the pandemic, the Alameda Unified School District has more than tripled the size of its summer school program, providing summer sessions to more than 600 students in kindergarten through 12th grade who were identified as needing extra support. East Bay Times Read more
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Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 Deaths Fall by Nearly a Quarter With New Methodology
Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 fatalities dropped by nearly a quarter Friday as the county recast its methodology for counting deaths throughout the pandemic. The downward correction follows a similar move in Alameda County in early June and brings the overall number of COVID-19 fatalities to 1,698 people, down from 2,201, county officials said Friday. Mercury News
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BART to Transition to Near Pre-Pandemic Service Aug. 2
Following California’s complete economic reopening and the state’s move beyond COVID-19 restrictions, BART announced that it would be returning to near pre-pandemic services Aug. 2 - a change from its original Aug. 30 transition date. In anticipation of the return, BART announced that from July 15 to July 31, it will also be scheduling late-night limited trains leaving San Francisco at 11:30 p.m.
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Vaccinations Prevent Nearly All COVID-19 Related Hospitalizations and Deaths, New Data Shows
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reminding unvaccinated Californians that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, free and provides excellent protection from severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and death. Out of over 20 million vaccinated individuals, only 0.003% (584 people) contracted COVID-19 and required hospitalization. The data and science clearly demonstrate vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19, including the Delta variant. California Department of Public Health Read more
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Youth COVID Vaccinations Still Trail Older Adults by Wide Margin in California
It appears younger people are not so excited about their chance to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Although the vaccines only became available for youth ages 12-17 in Mid-May, the latest state statistics show only about one in three kids ages 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated. That compares to about two out of every three older adults ages 65 and up who are fully vaccinated. ABC10 Read more
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Israel Sees Drop in Pfizer COVID Vaccine Protection, Still Strong in Severe Illness
Israel reported on Monday a decrease in the effectiveness of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in preventing infections and symptomatic illness but said it remained highly effective in preventing serious illness. The decline coincided with the spread of the Delta variant and the end of social distancing restrictions in Israel. Vaccine effectiveness in preventing both infection and symptomatic disease fell to 64 percent since June 6, the Health Ministry said. At the same time the vaccine was 93 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations and serious illness from the coronavirus. NBC News Read more
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COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Blood Clots Linked to Amino Acids in New Study
Canadian researchers say they have pinpointed a handful of amino acids targeted by key antibodies in the blood of some people who received AstraZeneca PLC’s COVID-19 vaccine, offering fresh clues to what causes rare blood clots associated with the shot. The findings could help doctors rapidly test for and treat the unusual clotting, arising from an immune-driven mix of coagulation and loss of platelets that stop bleeding.
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Full Approval of COVID Vaccines Key to Addressing Hesitancy
As federal officials struggle to boost U.S. vaccination rates to combat the coronavirus pandemic, manufacturers and regulators are responding with efforts to file and evaluate biologics license applications (BLAs) for COVID-19 vaccines to further assure the public of product effectiveness and safety. The rise of COVID variants has made public health officials anxious to expand immunity more widely and quickly in areas with low vaccination rates, and experts hope that full approval of existing and new vaccines will increase public confidence in their value. BioPharm
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State/National/International News |
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States Report Increase in COVID-19 Cases Over Holiday
Half of all U.S. states reported significant increases in COVID-19 cases over the long Fourth of July weekend in a surge of virus activity caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant. The rise in cases comes as the country narrowly missed the mark of vaccinating 70% of residents ages 18 and up with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, 67.1% of American adults have had at least one dose of vaccine, and 47.4% are fully vaccinated. CIDRAP Read more
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California’s Highest COVID Infection Rates Shift to Rural Counties
Most of us are familiar with the good news: In recent weeks, rates of COVID-19 infection and death have plummeted in California, falling to levels not seen since the early days of the pandemic. The average number of new COVID infections reported each day dropped by an astounding 98% from December to June, according to figures from the California Department of Public Health. But state health officials are still reporting nearly 1,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than two dozen COVID-related deaths per day. So, where does COVID continue to simmer in California? And why? Sacramento Bee Read more
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Mask Mandate Back at California Capitol After Outbreak of Nine New COVID Cases
The California state Capitol has reinstated its mask mandate for all legislators and staff regardless of vaccination status after an outbreak of nine new COVID-19 cases was reported among employees last week. Effective immediately, masks will have to be worn in the Capitol, Legislative Office Building and district offices, Secretary of the Senate Erika Contreras and Assembly Chief Administrative Officer Debra Gravert wrote in Tuesday memos. Sacramento Bee Read more
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These Parts of The U.S. Could Become "Breeding Grounds" For Potentially More COVID-19 Variants, Expert Says
Out of the COVID-19 pandemic, two Americas are emerging: One protected by vaccines and the other still vulnerable to infection - and experts say progress made across the entire U.S. is being threatened by low-vaccinated regions. “We’re already starting to see places with low vaccination rates starting to have relatively big spikes from the Delta variant. We’ve seen this in Arkansas, Missouri, Wyoming … those are the places where we’re going to see more hospitalizations and deaths as well, unfortunately,” Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, Dr. Ashish Jha, told CNN. Mercury News Read more
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Colleges Prepare For Incoming Freshmen With High School Learning Loss Due to Pandemic
Beyond the usual efforts to get new students off to a good start, college and university campuses in California and across the nation this fall face special challenges in welcoming freshmen who have not been in a real classroom for a year and a half. Campuses say they are concerned that many freshmen have suffered some or even significant learning loss as a result of all the remote high school instruction during the pandemic. Colleges and faculty plan to provide extra tutoring, more academic counseling, some changes in courses and, if necessary, a slower teaching pace at first to help students rebuild their academic and social strengths. EdSource Read more
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Fitbits Detect Lasting Changes After COVID-19
Last spring, when the nation’s COVID-19 cases were soaring and tests were in short supply, some scientists wondered whether a new approach to disease surveillance might be on Americans’ wrists. One in five Americans uses a Fitbit, Apple Watch or other wearable fitness tracker. And over the past year, several studies have suggested that the devices - which can continually collect data on heart rates, body temperature, physical activity and more - could help detect early signs of COVID-19 symptoms. NY Times Read more
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Mothers Struggle to Return to Work as California Reopens
Before the pandemic, Patricia Gutierrez would drop her 8-year-old autistic son off at school in San Jose and her 4-year-old son off at day care every morning. After her mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, was picked up and shuttled to a senior center, Gutierrez would drive to work as a licensed vocational nurse at a school for special needs students. But as COVID-19 cases began to spread across California in March and businesses started shutting down, her son’s school, the senior center, and day care all closed. Mercury News Read more
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Costco Dropping COVID-19 Shopping Hours For Seniors
Costco announced that it is eliminating special shopping hours for elderly customers effective July 26. In March 2020, the wholesaler allowed shoppers over the age of 60 and those who are immunocompromised to shop by themselves on weekdays from 9-10 a.m. because of the coronavirus pandemic. The special hours were also open to first responders, healthcare workers, and people who have disabilities. iHeartRadio
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Can "Sniff Training" Restore COVID Survivors' Sense of Smell?
Anosmia - a vanished sense of smell - is one of the most common COVID side effects , affecting an estimated 60% of sufferers. In the U.S. alone, that’s roughly 20 million people. The good news is that the ability to recognize odors returns for about 95% of them within six months , said Dr. Patricia Loftus, an otolaryngologist at UCSF who treats patients with post-COVID smell loss. But that leaves about 1 million people in the U.S. alone with a lingering impairment. SF Chronicle Read more
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Confirmed Cases
Bay Area: 450,895
California: 3,825,386
U.S.: 33,758,605
Alameda County
Vaccines Administered: 2,098,927
Cases: 90,483
Deaths: 1,267
Test Positivity: 2.0%
Hospitalized Patients: 84
ICU Beds Available: 114
Cases have increased recently and are high. The numbers of hospitalized COVID patients and deaths in the Alameda County area have remained at about the same level. 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: 5,777
California: 63,744
U.S.: 606,086
Contra Costa County
Vaccines Administered: 1,436,244
Cases: 71,648
Deaths: 818
Test Positivity: 2.4%
Hospitalized Patients: 40
ICU Beds Available: 52
Cases have increased recently and are high. The number of hospitalized COVID patients has also risen in the Contra Costa area. Deaths have remained at about the same level. 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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Teens Ask, NPR Answers: What's Up With COVID Vaccines?
People between the ages of 12 and 17 are now eligible to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and health officials expect this age group will soon be able to receive the Moderna one. So, health reporter Pien Huang and Short Wave producer Rebecca Ramirez talked to teens about their questions about the vaccine and what a strange year the pandemic has been for them. NPR Listen
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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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COVID Test Resources
Food Pantries
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Over the last seven days, Alameda County officials have reported 172 new coronavirus cases, which amounts to 10 cases per 100,000 residents. |
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Over the last seven days, Contra Costa County officials have reported 498 new coronavirus cases, which amounts to 44 cases per 100,000 residents. |
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Top 10 Locations of Cases in
Alameda County, as of 7/6/21
Oakland: 28,308
Hayward: 13,928
Fremont: 8,210
Eden MAC: 6,069
San Leandro: 5,639
Livermore: 4,391
Union City: 4,101
Berkeley: 3,683
Newark: 2,853
Castro Valley: 2,644
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Top 10 Locations of Cases in
Contra Costa County, as of 7/6/21
Richmond: 11,942
Antioch: 10,126
Concord: 8,299
Pittsburg: 7,130
San Pablo: 5,413
Brentwood: 4,021
Oakley: 3,407
Walnut Creek: 2,961
Bay Point: 2,846
San Ramon: 2,175
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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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