Health Orders

Ending State of Emergency: March 1, 2023

Local Updates:

Alameda County aligned with the State to lift the local Public Health Emergency Order on February 28, 2023. The requirements for general isolation, isolation and quarantine in corrections, testing in long-term care facilities have been changed to recommendations. 

  • Alameda County continues to align with the State and CDC for ongoing guidance.
  • There is a shift from response to prevention. 
  • COVID-19 work will be integrated into ongoing public health programs.
  • The Board of Supervisors’ eviction moratorium is set to expire 60 days after the local public health emergency ends.
  • The stationary vaccination site in Hayward and mobile clinics will continue to operate. See the Vaccination Locations & Resources webpage for more information. 
  • Ten testing vendors and 22 stationary sites will continue to operate. 
  • COVID-19 treatment support, through Sesame Care, is available until June 2023. 
  • Additional PPE for Alameda County residents has been ordered and should be available shortly.

State:

  • State of Emergency ended February 28, 2023. 
  • COVID-19 related waivers end on regulations.
  • State resources and staffing will be reduced.
  • The timeline for remaining State health orders is TBD. 
  • Testing, vaccines and treatment covered by insurance will eventually need to be within an insurer network (e.g., Kaiser, Blue Cross, etc.).

Federal:

  • Medicaid continuous coverage requirement ends on March 31, 2023. 
  • Disaster Declaration and Public Health Emergency ends on May 11, 2023. 
  • Medicaid COVID-19 uninsured program ends on May 11, 2023. 
  • FDA Emergency Use Authorizations end dates TBD. 
  • Free vaccine will continue until supply runs out.
  • Cost of COVID-19 testing may rise.

View a summary of changes or visit the CDPH Smarter Plan Webpage or Alameda County's Workplace Guidance Webpage for more information. 

Masking Requirements Lifted in Alameda County: June 24, 2022

Alameda County public health officials have announced that Alameda County will again align with California’s face masking guidance and rescind the local Health Officer Order requiring masks in most indoor public settings, effective 12:01 a.m. on June 25, 2022. The Alameda County Health Officer closely monitored local COVID-19 trends while the masking Order was in place and has determined that it can be lifted given current conditions. The State and Alameda County continue to strongly recommend masking indoors. 

In addition to masking, testing if symptomatic or exposed, and staying home if sick or positive, residents are reminded to stay up to date on vaccinations and keep gatherings small and outdoors or increase ventilation if gathering indoors to limit the impacts of COVID-19.

The full press release can be viewed online.

Alameda County Aligned With the State's Public Health Order

Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) is fully aligned with the State of California's Reopening Plan.

The Alameda County Isolation and Quarantine Orders have been updated to reflect new isolation and quarantine guidance. Employers should continue to follow the recently updated Cal/OSHA guidance and Fact Sheet, which is aligned with the California Department of Public Health's Isolation and Quarantine Guidance.

Cal/OSHA Approves Changes to Emergency Temporary Standards

On April 21, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board readopted the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) for the third time. These emergency standards include important revisions in light of updated guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and make the ETS more flexible if changes are made to CDPH guidance in the future. The emergency standards became effective on May 6, 2022 and will remain in effect through December 31, 2022, and apply to most workers in California.

Employers should review the updated Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention ETS to ensure compliance. Cal/OSHA released a new fact sheet regarding What Employers Need to Know for COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine to clarify changes to isolation and quarantine requirements now in effect.

For more information and for ongoing updates and new resources, please visit the Cal/OSHA ETS webpage.