Mask mandate still applies in most public spaces
Berkeley, California (Thursday, October 28, 2021) - The City of Berkeley Health Officer will, on November 1, grant certain indoor settings that verify full vaccination the choice to allow people to remove face coverings.
The offices, gyms, places of worship and other hosts covered by the order would have to ensure that no one entering has fever, cough, congestion, nausea, headache, runny nose, muscle aches or any other COVID-19 symptoms.
These groups would also be controlled by:
- not opening to the general public
- limiting size to no more than 100 people
- limiting access to the same, regularly gathering group
- maintaining a list that identifies the names, dates, times of entry and exit of everyone who enters the indoor space
- posting signs promoting self-assessment for symptoms around the exterior of the space
This decision to allow certain indoor spaces where entirely vaccinated people can choose to unmask reflects the decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as well as the enduring power of vaccination to limit spread and, especially, severe illness.
Nonetheless, lowering risk by wearing a mask is something hosts or individuals may continue to choose. Universal masking remains particularly important when including guests with weaker immune systems or that are more vulnerable to severe illness.
"Vaccinations and face coverings protected our community and the region as a whole from the worst that the Delta variant inflicted elsewhere," said Dr. Lisa B. Hernandez, the City of Berkeley Health Officer. "With that success, we now have some spaces where hosts can choose whether their guests must mask."
Who is covered
As long as they control their settings as described above, the following places would be allowed to set their own rules for indoor masking:
- indoor offices
- gyms
- fitness centers
- employee commuter vehicles
- religious gatherings
- other organized gatherings of individuals who meet regularly
Fully vaccinated people cannot be unmasked at indoor special events such as weddings, concerts or conferences.
Hosts must verify vaccination status
If unvaccinated people are inside these controlled settings, everyone must mask. To verify vaccination, employers or hosts can use different documents that verify vaccination, and each should include:
- name of the vaccinated person
- type of vaccine provided
- date(s) the dose or doses were given
Acceptable records with that information include:
- A Vaccination Card issued by the CDC or foreign government
- A photo, copy or digital copy of a Vaccination Card
- healthcare provider record confirming vaccination
- COVID-19 vaccine record issued via myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov or that of another state, local, or foreign government
- An authentic digital record with QR code that, when scanned by a SMART Health Card reader, displays the vaccine recipient's name, date of birth, vaccine dates and vaccine type.
A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after a CDC- or WHO-approved one-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), or 14 days after the second shot of a two-dose vaccine, such as Moderna or Pfizer.
Unvaccinated people are nearly 7 times more likely to get infected, 12 times more likely to be hospitalized and almost 18 times more likely to die, according to state data as of Oct. 9.
Get Vaccinated to Protect You, Us
If your organization has members who are not yet vaccinated, encourage them to do so. Any of the three approved vaccines will protect them, lower spread and protect our community.
"Vaccinations, face coverings, and other easily available public health tools shepherded us to a safer future," said Dr. Hernandez, the City Health Officer. "As more of us vaccinate and protect each other, we open up more safe spaces."
Links:
- City of Berkeley Health Order
- City of Berkeley Health Order: Appendix A
- Vaccine Verification Guidance
- COVID-19 Symptoms (CDC)
- My Vaccine Record (State of California)
- MyTurn (State vaccine finder)
- Vaccine Clinics (City of Berkeley)
- Bay Area Health Officials Urge Immediate Vaccination and Issue Orders Requiring Use of Face Coverings Indoors to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
