Health order mandating Contra Costa County businesses to check vaccination status or negative COVID-19 test lifted

Contra Costa County, California – Contra Costa Health Services announced Friday that its health order mandating some businesses, such as restaurants and gyms, to check the vaccination status or recent negative test results of clients has been lifted as the county has reached an 80% vaccination rate.

According to testing results, COVID-19 transmission is still high in Contra Costa, but the daily average number of new cases has likely peaked, and COVID-19-related hospitalizations have also started to drop.

According to the verification order, which became effective in September, businesses where people remove face coverings to eat or drink indoors, such as restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, as well as gyms and other indoor fitness facilities, such as yoga and dance studios, where customers breathe more heavily as a result of exercise, were subject to the requirement. Also included was the requirement that personnel in these businesses’ interior areas either show evidence of a complete vaccination or undergo a weekly test.

There are also other state and county health orders in place, such as a requirement for healthcare workers, first responders, and congregate care workers to get vaccinated, as well as a requirement for most people to wear face masks in most indoor public places.

In specific cases, like when visiting hospitals or long-term care institutions, or when attending indoor “mega events” with more than 500 attendees, current state health regulations still demand confirmation of vaccination or a recent, negative test result.