A Letter from Arleen King, Board President

Greetings East Bay Family,

I trust that this message finds you and your family safe and healthy.

Now that Alameda County has advanced out of the most restrictive red tier to the orange tier, and places of worship are allowed to operate indoors with modifications and 50% capacity, our re-entry team has been hard at work creating plans to do so safely. As mentioned during our Annual Meeting, we do not have a definite re-entry date. That said, we are putting systems in place that will allow us to prepare for our eventual safe re-entry onto our church campus. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. 

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, your Board of Trustees, staff, and ministers have been working to move our community into a purely online experience while at the same time staying informed about the County of Alameda’s Officer’s orders. Click here to see the latest information on their website.

While we have no plans to reopen the East Bay campus at this time, the Health and Wellness Ministry (HWM) is partnering with the Board of Trustees to make sure that when the time is right, we will reopen in a safe manner, adhering to local and state guidelines. I am working closely with HWM Co-leads, Lola Pratt and Zee Lewis, to stay on top of developments and monitor our re-opening options. If you have questions, please contact Arleen at arleenking@gmail.com.

To read the entire letter, download our PDF below:

Alameda County Is an Orange Tier County

Permitted activities and restrictions are aligned with the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The pandemic is not over: please continue to take precautions to protect against COVID-19. ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA – Today the State announced that Alameda County has met the requirements to move to the Orange Tier, and effective tomorrow, March 31, activities and businesses permitted in the Orange Tier per the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy may resume operation. For full details, download PDF below:

View California’s blueprint for reopening has criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities based on the level of spread of COVID-19 at the link below:

State Expands Vaccine Eligibility to 50+ Californians Starting April 1 and All Individuals 16+ on April 15 Based on Expected Supply Increases. Read more at the link below:

COVID-19 Vaccine Guide for Community Partners

Communities that are on the front lines and suffered the greatest impacts of the pandemic are prioritized for vaccinations in the State’s framework. We are working to ensure that vaccine access, distribution, and outreach prioritize the communities that have the highest rates of infections and death, while following the State and Federal recommendations, which change from time to time. Vaccines are being administered in phases. How quickly we can move through each phase depends on how much vaccine is available. Local health departments have some control within the phases but cannot skip phases or go out of order. All phases are subject to revision by the State.

Download PDF below to view the full guide

Vaccine Update from Assemblymember Buffy Wicks

Each day seems to bring more news regarding the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine – and I know many of you have questions.

That’s why this Friday, I’m co-hosting a Town Hall with Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson (District 5). During this event, we will hear from the County’s Medical Director, Dr. Kathleen Clanon, about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, and more about the phases of vaccine distribution.

The event will also include a live Q&A where attendees can ask Dr. Clanon their questions. Questions can be submitted during the event in the comments section of each streaming platform, or in advance by emailing Assemblymember.Wicks@assembly.ca.gov.

Livestream Information for COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AsmBuffyWicks/posts/2891280067784873

YouTube:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=85EWermVlDI

The town hall will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about the vaccine, and to gain additional clarity on next steps and misconceptions that are circulating. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit the State of California’s COVID-19 vaccination webpage, which has up-to-date information and FAQs.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Buffy Wicks
Assemblymember, 15^th District

Who can get vaccinated in Alameda County right now?

January 14 Press Release Issued by Governor Gavin Newsom

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA – Governor Newsom announced yesterday that the state is prioritizing individuals 65 and older to receive the vaccine as demand subsides among health care workers. The Governor also said those in Phase 1a – health care workers and long-term care residents – remain the highest priority to receive vaccines.

As demand for the vaccine continues to exceed supply, Alameda County is balancing shifting priorities We are continuing to vaccinate health care workers eligible for Phase 1a and anticipate starting Phase 1b in the coming weeks. We have more hospitals and health care facilities than surrounding Bay Area counties, and our estimated population for Phase 1a exceeds 145,000 people.

Phase 1b will expand vaccine eligibility to large groups of people, and we are working across multiple partners and sectors to update and prepare for mass vaccination scenarios. We are committed to safe and equitable vaccine distribution, and our strategy is to make vaccine readily and easily available through County-administered points of dispensing (PODs) and partnership with health care systems and community clinics/organizations.

For those who are age 65 and older and are interested in getting vaccinated, we encourage you to please reach out to your health care provider to see if they have vaccine available at this time. Otherwise, we anticipate being able to start vaccinating this group in the coming weeks.
The pandemic is not over, and everyone—including those who have been vaccinated—should continue to practice COVID-19 prevention measures such as staying home as much as possible, wearing a face covering, and practicing physical distancing.

Vaccination brings great promise, and we appreciate the enthusiasm and interest among many residents and employers. When there is enough vaccine to expand vaccination options, Alameda County will share that information widely, along with information on when and how eligible groups can get vaccinated.

• To receive a notification of when vaccine might be available for you, please complete one of the applicable forms available here.
• To learn about local planning, visit this page.
• To learn about the Alameda County Community Advisory Group, visit this page.

Download a copy of the official press release below.

Regional Stay at Home Order
Effective Monday, December 7, 2021 at 12:01am

Five counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara) have come together to enforce the State of California Regional Stay-at-Home Order, which took effect Monday, December 7 at 12:01am.

Our Campus remains closed and access remains restricted with the exception of, Food Distribution on the first and third Wednesday of the month. If you require access to the Church Campus, please call the Church Office at 510.420.1003.