Customers of a number of businesses in Contra Costa County are now required to present proof that they completed their vaccines to access indoor spaces or to show negative COVID-19 test results, the county announced on Tuesday, with effectivity set Sept. 22.
The county has suffered a “severe spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations this summer” because of the delta variant and unvaccinated people, a press release said.
Businesses, where people need to remove masks for eating and drinking like restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, are covered under the new order. Also included are sports venues and indoor fitness spaces like dance and yoga studies where users are breathing heavily due to physical activities.
By November 1, workers in indoor areas of the mentioned business establishments will also need to present COVID vaccination or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.
“This order is necessary now to save lives, protect our overburdened healthcare system, and slow the pandemic enough to keep our schools open,” Contra Costa County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano said, as reported by KRON4. “Reducing community transmission of the virus now is key to preventing future spikes in cases from overwhelming our county’s hospitals during the winter months.”
Apart from Contra Costa, other counties that implement the same health order are San Francisco and Berkeley. The said order intends to boost virus safety in gyms and dining establishments that are at risk of virus spread.
