CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (CBS SF) – Well being officers in Contra Costa County introduced Friday sure companies, together with eating places and gymnasiums, are now not required to verify patrons for proof of vaccination or a damaging check.
“We consider now’s the correct time to loosen a requirement that made plenty of sense final summer time, when a unique variant of COVID-19 was dominant and there was much less group immunity,” Dr. Ori Tzvieli, the county’s performing well being officer, said in a statement.
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Contra Costa Well being Providers mentioned it was loosening the requirement after the county reached a full vaccination charge of 80%. Officers additionally mentioned the omicron surge has seemingly peaked and that hospitalizations have already began to say no.
Whereas circumstances seem like declining, Tzvieli continued to induce warning. “However on no account are we again to regular. There are nonetheless many extra circumstances of COVID-19 in our group now than there have been in mid-December, so we have to proceed to take precautions after we exit,” he mentioned.
The order, which went into impact in September, required eating places, bars, leisure venues and indoor health amenities to confirm prospects have been absolutely vaccinated or had examined damaging inside the previous three days. Officers additionally required staff in indoor areas of the impacted companies to indicate proof of vaccination or check weekly.
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Comparable necessities have been put in place in San Francisco and the Metropolis of Berkeley.
Contra Costa’s well being order was not with out controversy. In October, an In-N-Out Burger location in Nice Hill was temporarily shut down by the health department over repeated violations of not checking prospects, however later reopened for drive-thru and carryout service.
Officers mentioned particular person companies can proceed to implement their very own proof of vaccination or testing necessities.
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Friday’s announcement doesn’t have an effect on different county and state COVID-19 orders, together with vaccine verification necessities amongst healthcare employees and first responders, together with the state’s indoor masks mandate.
