Public Health Officials Recommendations for Celebrating New Year's Eve
Published on December 30, 2021
Public Health Officials Provide Recommendations to Safely Celebrate New Year’s Eve
ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA – People planning to travel or attend gatherings on the New Year’s Eve holiday should take steps to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19, Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Nicholas Moss said today.
“We’re urging residents to start the new year with a resolution to stay healthy,” Dr. Moss said. “COVID-19 cases are rising rapidly. When there are more COVID cases in the community, there is an increased likelihood that you will encounter someone infected with the virus.”
With the highly contagious Omicron variant circulating in the community, Alameda County residents should take safety precautions to slow the spread.
The best measure people can take to prevent the worst outcomes of infection is getting fully vaccinated and boosted, when eligible. Vaccines are free and widely available for anyone 5 and older, and booster shots are available for people 16 and older. Vaccines are safe and effectively prevent hospitalization and death due to COVID.
Those who are not vaccinated should consider avoiding traveling or gathering for the New Year’s Eve holiday. Other recommendations include:
• Keep gatherings small, short and, if possible, outdoors.
• When gathering inside, ventilate well. Open doors and windows, run HVAC systems and install highquality air filters.
• Everyone must wear a mask in indoor public settings. Consider wearing a mask in indoor private settings if you are gathering with medically vulnerable friends and family or you don’t know the vaccination status of those around you.
• If possible, get tested to know your COVID-19 status before gathering with friends and family. Plan to test 3-5 days after gathering or traveling too.
• And stay home if you are sick or positive, even if you use an at-home test.
Residents looking for testing sites may visit the county’s testing page to find a location. More information about vaccine clinics and how to make appointments is available through the county’s vaccine clinic page or through myturn.ca.gov. Residents who need help making an appointment are encouraged to call the county COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 510-208-4829.
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