Catch Up on the Latest COVID-19 Updates

Below is a summary of the virtual Town Hall that took place on Monday, April 19. You can watch the full video by clicking the image below.

Case, Testing, and Hospitalization Updates

As of Sunday, April 18, there have been 3,520 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Berkeley and 41 deaths. This is an increase of 122 cases over the last 30 days. The unadjusted case rate is currently 3.84 new cases per day per 100,000 people (this statistic is based on last week’s seven day average as cases reported can fluctuate in the most recent days), a decrease from 5.99 during the last town hall on March 15th. You can read the latest numbers on our COVID-19 dashboard.

A recent outbreak took place at a Berkeley High School boys basketball tryouts session. There have been 3 cases and 45 exposures, all of whom are in quarantine. Tryouts for sports have been temporarily suspended, but sports that are currently happening can continue. The City is working closely with BUSD on this outbreak.

Hospitalizations in Alameda County continue to decline, with 74 people currently hospitalized, 22 of which are in ICUs. During the last town hall on March 15th, there were 114 hospitalizations, 33 of which were in ICUs.

There have been 328,323 tests conducted on Berkeley residents since records began on March 2, with a seven day average positivity rate of 0.41% and a seven day average of 830 tests conducted per day. For information on how to get tested, click here.

Vaccine Updates

As on Monday, April 19, 105,552 doses have been administered to Berkeley residents, and 40% of Berkeley residents aged 16 or older have become fully vaccinated (having received two doses or one dose of Johnson & Johnson). Vaccines are currently available to anyone aged 16 or over. The FDA has not yet approved vaccines for children under 16, but Pfizer has recently asked the FDA to approve its vaccine for children aged 12-15 after successful trials.

The City has temporarily suspended its usage of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This is a precaution due to 6 people developing blood clots out of almost 7 million doses - an exceedingly rare side effect. We are awaiting additional guidance before resuming administration of the vaccine, but impacts in Berkeley are minimal. If you received the J&J vaccine over two weeks ago, you do not have to worry. If you received it within the last two weeks, check for possible symptoms.

There are multiple ways to receive a vaccine:

Government agencies:

• Berkeley Public Health

• MyTurn (California)

Healthcare providers:

• Kaiser Permanente

• Sutter Health

• Stanford Health Care

Pharmacies:

• CVS

• Rite Aid

• Safeway

• Walgreens

Additional information about vaccines can be found here. If you have received your first dose but have not gotten contacted about setting up an appointment for a second dose, or need to reschedule, email covid19@cityofberkeley.info or call 510-981-2489.

Orange Tier Status and the Future of the Tier System

During the last Town Hall, Berkeley had recently moved from the most restrictive Purple Tier to Red. Three weeks ago, Berkeley and Alameda County moved to the Orange Tier, lifting further restrictions on activities and businesses, including:

• Restaurants open for indoor dining at 50% capacity of 200 people, whichever is less.

• Retailers open at full capacity.

• Office open indoors, though telework is encouraged whenever possible.

• Houses of worship, museums, and movie theatres open at 50% capacity.

• Gyms, fitness centers, pools can open indoors at 25% capacity.

• Wineries, breweries, and distilleries can open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is less.

• Bars open outdoors

• Outdoor live events with audiences up to 33% capacity

Recently, the State has announced its intention to sunset the tiered system under the Blueprint for a Safer Economy on June 15, contingent on vaccination and case rates. Most activities are expected to return to pre-COVID standards at this time, with continued social distancing guidance, including usage of masks. We expect additional details on these plans to be released by the State in the weeks ahead.

Other Updates

• We are tracking the variants spreading globally. The most prevalent variant in our region is the California/Western variant, which is more contagious and just as deadly. Second most common is the UK variant, which may cause more severe reactions. Both are covered by the vaccines.

• We are currently conducting our budget process, looking strategically at our revenues and the American Rescue Plan Act to ensure we can continue operations and serve the needs of the community. The City is expected to receive $68 million in federal funding from the Act.

• We are looking at the creation of a new shelter and contract to house and provide services for up to 50 unhoused individuals as part of our continued commitment to protect the most vulnerable during this pandemic. This process is expected to happen in late May/early June.

• UC Berkeley's summer session will be mostly online. Undergrad programs will be fully online. Some grad programs may be in person, but very limited. Fall semester will be in-person. Updates on the University's response to COVID-19 here.

• The City's eviction moratorium is tied to our local State of Emergency, and there are currently no plans to sunset. We are looking into addressing the broader issue of rent debt. Additional information on rental assistance can be found here.