September 4, 2020 COVID-19 Update
Published on September 04, 2020
September 4, 2020
As of this afternoon, there have been 347 reported cases of COVID-19 in the City of Alameda. Alameda County has 18,977 cases with 150 current hospitalizations and 296 deaths. The State of California has 722,283 cases and 13,490 deaths. The United States has more than 6 million cases and 187,200 deaths. Across the world more than 26 million people have been infected with the virus and 870,650 people have died.
Please click here for the most up-to-date information about the City of Alameda’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updated County Health Order
Last week, the State released the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which replaces the monitoring list that was being used to identify when businesses are allowed to reopen. Counties are now placed into four different risk level tiers.
Alameda County is in the widespread risk level (purple). Lower risk levels include substantial (red), moderate (orange), and minimal (yellow). State guidelines inform what types of activities are able to reopen. However, when two health orders conflict, the stricter order applies.
Effective today, Alameda County revised its Shelter in Place health order to align with a limited selection of the State’s purple tier permitted activities. For the City of Alameda, this means that indoor hair salons and barbershops and outdoor recreational activities (including batting cages and outdoor dance classes) are allowed to reopen. It also means that retail stores are now subject to a 25% capacity and grocery stores have a 50% capacity.
What’s Closed & What’s Open?
Here’s a look at what remains CLOSED across the County:
Indoor dining, entertainment, gyms, fitness centers, spas, community centers, offices
Outdoor playgrounds, door-to-door sales/services
All public events and gatherings, recreation team sports, tattoos, piercings, electrolysis
Here are some highlights of what’s OPEN:
Indoor hair salons and barbershops, malls, grocery stores, laundromats, healthcare, pharmacies, veterinary care, funeral homes, retail stores
Outdoor recreational activities (mini golf, batting cages, etc.), dining, bars, breweries, curbside pickup at wineries, pools, small group gatherings of 12 or fewer in your social bubble, nail/massage/skin care/waxing services, non-contact fitness classes, places of worship
All government services, parks and athletic fields, singles tennis and pickleball, curbside pickup at libraries, transportation services, childcare facilities, day camps
Download the County’s Openings at a Glance guide here.
Health Officials Warn Against Social Gatherings
Social gatherings over Memorial Day and 4th of July weekends led to the spread of COVID-19. Contact tracing has shown that many people likely became sick with COVID-19 after attending a party or picnic with friends and family. A common theme found by contact tracers was that people attended these gatherings despite showing symptoms of COVID-19, such as coughing. There were also people who attended gatherings who didn’t know they had COVID-19 because they didn’t have any symptoms, but who later tested positive and infected others.
We know people are eager to get together. But we must remain vigilant this weekend and avoid gatherings so we can slow the spread, keep our community healthy, and continue on the path of reopening safely.
This Monday, we celebrate Labor Day under the weight of COVID-19. It’s a reminder to us all to honor our essential workers who have been on the frontline since we were first ordered to shelter in place. When you leave your home, wear a mask to protect essential workers and their families.
Why do you wear a mask? Please send us your mask motivation and we will share a collection online and on social media.
Flex Alert -- Conserve Energy this Weekend
The California Independent System Operator (ISO) issued a statewide Flex Alert, asking people to conserve electricity in the afternoons (3-9 pm) over the 3-day weekend to reduce pressure on the grid.
Temperatures are forecast to be beautiful in Alameda, but will get very hot in other parts of the State, and the power grid operator is predicting an increase in electricity demand. Conservation can lower demand and avoid further actions, including outages, and lessen the duration of possible power interruptions. Conservation was critical in preventing outages during the heat wave a few weeks ago.
You can monitor system conditions in real time at ISO’s Today’s Outlook.
More Space to Physically Distance
Last weekend, the West Alameda Business Association opened an Al Fresco Dining Park at Webster and Taylor with food, drinks, and music -- and masks, sanitizer, and distance! Coming soon, approximately half of Alameda Avenue, between Park Street and the entrance to the City parking lot, will be closed to all vehicle traffic. The space will be maintained and activated by the Downtown Alameda Business Association for outdoor dining and other physically-distanced activities.
Alameda Strong Needs Support
We are so grateful for the donations that continue to come in to Alameda Strong, the City’s relief fund for small businesses, renters, and nonprofits. Applications for support are now open. Please, if you have not yet donated or shared about this amazing effort, we need your help! You can donate today at www.alamedastrong.org, and the more funds raised, the more grants we can provide to help keep doors open.
