Federal and State – COVID-19 Public Health Emergency End Date Planned
The Federal Government and the State of California have each announced plans to end the COVID-19 public health emergency. President Biden announced plans to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023 (White House Announcement), while Governor Newsom announced an end to the COVID-19 State of Emergency on February 28, 2023 (Governor Newsom’s Announcement).
As COVID-19 continues to adversely affect individuals, everyone is strongly advised to make informed decisions to prevent severe COVID-19 illness. The County Health Officer strongly recommends all county residents consider creating the following COVID-19 Action Plan for themselves:
- Know your risk. Those with a weakened immune system or who live with someone who does, are strongly encouraged to take preventive measures to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
- Protect yourself. Get an updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, improve ventilation, wash hands often, and wear a well-fitted mask.
- Take action if exposed. Monitor symptoms, consider wearing a mask around others when in public, and test for COVID if you develop symptoms or if you plan to come into contact with someone who may have a weakened immune system.
- Take action if you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Get tested and consider treatment- visit the Test to Treat website to find a location for treatment.
For more information visit: www.Information for Persons Who Are Immunocompromised Regarding Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Context of Currently Circulating Omicron Sublineages — United States, January 2023 | MMWR (cdc.gov)
Receiving an updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine remains the most effective way to prevent severe COVID-19 illness. Eligible individuals who have not yet received their bivalent booster are encouraged to do so. Visit www.vaccines.gov.
Additionally, testing and treatment are important measures to help immediately detect illness and reduce chances of developing severe illness from COVID-19 for those at high risk. CDPH recently launched a public message campaign “Test It, Treat It, You Can Beat It!” Visit CDPH website www.youcanbeatit.org for more information on prevention, testing and treatment.
Increased Community Access to COVID-19 Testing Program
Last month, CDC launched the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program. The ICATT program provides access to COVID-19 testing in communities at greater risk of being impacted by the pandemic, for people without health insurance, and for surge testing in state and local jurisdictions.
The ICATT program created the No-Cost COVID-19 testing locator webpage to help residents find COVID-19 testing locations and to provide contact information for the providers. The testing locator searches for testing providers using a ZIP Code or street address and will prompt users to the nearest location(s) to make an appointment for a test.