By OBSERVER Newsroom

The County of Sacramento released the following announcement:

Due to the continued day-over-day case rate increases of COVID-19 from the highly infectious Omicron variant, the Sacramento County Public Health Officer has issued a health order requiring all public boards, councils, commissions, and other similar bodies suspend in-person public meetings and conduct all meetings virtually. The July 29, 2021 Order of the Health Officer directing all individuals in Sacramento County to wear face coverings indoors in workplaces and public settings remains in place and is unaffected by this Order.

The rapid emergence of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron variant coupled with holiday gatherings has led to unprecedented COVID-19 case rates in Sacramento County. On December 30, 2021, there were 1,917 new COVID-19 cases reported in Sacramento County, which is 51.3% higher than the highest episode date of the winter surge of 2020 (1,267; December 14, 2020).  Sacramento County’s COVID-19 case rate on January 4, 2022 reached an all-time high level of 80.3 per 100,000 residents.

In addition to suspending in-person public meetings, Public Health is also recommending employers and businesses consider conducting meetings remotely and take other measures as necessary to reduce transmission risk as much as business needs will permit.  

“The steep increase in cases and high transmissibility of the Omicron variant is very concerning” said Sacramento County Public Health Officer Olivia Kasirye. “This Order is necessary to protect essential government functions.”

Getting vaccinated, getting a booster when eligible, getting tested, following local mask guidance and avoiding crowded places are the most important things people can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant. If you cannot avoid or postpone travel or gathering, it’s recommended that you get tested one to three days prior to and three to five days after traveling or gathering. For a list of vaccination clinics, visit the Sacramento County Public Health Vaccination website, call 2-1-1 or visit www.MyTurn.ca.gov. Homebound residents can contact 2-1-1 to request in-home vaccination services.

The official Sacramento County Health Order can be viewed here: https://www.saccounty.gov/COVID-19/Documents/20220106_Sacramento_County_Health_Order.pdf