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Recommendation to receive and file a report on recent updates to State and local COVID-19 Health Orders, including, but not limited to, masking and vaccine requirements and considerations for possible additional local vaccine mandates. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Throughout the pandemic, the City’s Health Officer has exercised her duties under the law to protect public health through Health Orders designed to respond to the pandemic locally and take emergency actions necessary to protect our community. In early August, the State Health Officer mandated vaccinations for workers at certain health care facilities and vaccine or testing requirements for workers in K-12 schools. Additionally, with the City Manager’s announcement on July 27, 2021, Long Beach was a leader in requiring vaccinations or weekly testing for City staff.
On August 18, 2021, the Health Officer released a local health order with requirements in alignment with the State Health Order. The City’s recent Health Order requires vaccinations or a negative test prior to entrance for indoor large-scale events where more than 1,000 people are in attendance as well as mandatory masking for outdoor large-scale events where more than 10,000 people are present. In accordance with the California Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, the City’s Health Order also requires vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals to wear face masks at indoor public settings.
With the rise of the Delta Variant, it is evident that a fourth wave of the pandemic is sweeping the nation and additional steps must be taken. More than 74 percent of those age 16 and older have received at least one vaccine and nearly 66 percent are fully vaccinated in Long Beach. This shows broad community support for vaccinations. Yet, unvaccinated individuals continue to contract COVID-19 at alarming rates in the City of Long Beach, with a case rate of 71 out of 100,000 for unvaccinated individuals com...
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