What to know around masks, testing, vaccinations as cases rise again in Sacramento

COVID-19 infections will increase towards the summer, mask obligations remain patchwork throughout the Sacramento region, but resources for testing and vaccination remain, regardless of insurance or citizenship status. increase.

When a Florida judge overturned federal government guidance requiring public transport masks on April 18, it began a wave of lifting national obligations that same day. Requesting a mask by public transport is currently up to the individual agency.

Both Sacramento International Airport and the Sacramento Regional Transit Authority recommend masks, but they are not required.

However, some institutions have reversed the policy. In Los Angeles County, public transport users and visitors to Hollywood Burbank and LAX airports have a “moderate” coronavirus infection in the county at the “moderate” disease control center level or May 22nd, whichever comes first. You need to wear a mask until you reach it. On April 28th, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system revived Maskman Date until July 18th.

Sacramento County Health and Welfare Department spokesman Samantha Mott said in an email that the county sees an increase in cases consistent with the country, but “hospitalization and death are not as increasing as in cases. , Showing that vaccination is working as intended. “

The Sacramento County COVID-19 dashboard shows a gradual increase in the 7-day case average. On March 30, 60 new cases were reported in the last 7 days. As of April 30, there were 161 people.

“Masks are highly recommended when going out in public, especially in crowded areas, especially for people at high risk of severe illness,” Mott said.

The Sacramento Unified School District also no longer requires masks after April 18th, but reaffirmed the mask recommendations with a weekly update on April 29th.

“Step-by-step preventive strategies, such as getting up-to-date vaccine information and wearing masks, can help prevent serious illness and reduce the potential for straining the healthcare system,” he said. Says.

Dr. Ahna Suleiman, an adolescent development consultant and member of the School of Public Health at Sacramento State University, has a different view of what he wants to do in response to an increase in infection.

“If we don’t realize that the expertise that community members bring to the table in their living experiences is as valuable as the amount of epidemiology and policy understanding, we really miss the boat,” she said. Said.

Suleiman added that he hopes that future solutions for creating safe and effective collection methods will address the nuances in a “yes” way rather than a “one or the other” model. For example, she made it possible for many to prosper by working at home, which “is highly stratified by the economic status of the people,” she said.

“Often, instead of improving the system to make it accessible to everyone, we try to socialize it to navigate really broken systems, such as community members and young people,” she said. .. “If you can get rid of one thing from a pandemic, be innovative. Find a way for people to use multiple modality to engage in school or work.”

COVID-19 resources still available in the Sacramento region

The following test sites do not require health insurance and are available to all residents regardless of their citizenship status.

• Robertson Community Center: 3525 Norwood Ave., Sacramento, CA 95838
• Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm
• Open Saturday from 10am to 3pm
• Registration link
• Liberty Towers Church: 5132 Elkhorn Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95842
• La Familia Maple Neighborhood Center: 3301 37th Ave., Room 7, Sacramento, CA 95824
• Cordoba Neighborhood Church: 10600 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
• Asian Resources, Inc .: 6270 Elder Creek Road, Sacramento, CA 95824
• Chabolla Community Center: 600 Chabolla Ave., Galt, CA 95632
• Missionary Baptist Church in St. Paul: 3996 14th Ave., Sacramento, CA 95820

This more comprehensive list of COVID-19 inspection sites in the county includes the above sites, along with other sites that require insurance.

vaccination

The county also continues to offer a weekly free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. You can bring it in, but you can also make a reservation in advance on MyTurn.

Support of the heart

In response to the emotional upheavals that some may have experienced due to the pandemic, the Sacramento Native American Health Center has provided various support groups to the Sacramento community.

You do not have to be a native or SNAHC patient to join the group. There are three groups. One is for grief, the other is for re-adapting to social activities when restrictions are lifted, and the other is for healthcare providers.

“People think they are the only ones experiencing a particular process of fear, anxiety, or sadness,” he said. “But I’m getting really good reactions from people who say it’s good to have a space where they can share how they feel about what they’re experiencing with others who share the same feelings. Increasingly, they are often isolated or experiencing new things like a pandemic. “

For more information or to join the group, please call SNAHC (916-341-0576) or send an email to: [email protected]..

Benefits for workers

If you had to miss a job because of a variant of Omicron earlier this year, you will be eligible for retroactive COVID-19 illness until January 1, 2022.

You can also claim disability insurance in English or Spanish. This allows you to provide at least 60-70% of a worker’s wages, depending on their weekly to annual income, via mail or an online program in California.

In addition, you can file a paid family vacation request. Citizenship and immigration status do not affect disability insurance or paid family leave eligibility.

Workers in the Sacramento area can also call the Workers’ Rights Center Coronavirus Job Protection Helpline (916-905-1625) for more information.