City of Berkeley urges indoor masking as COVID-19 cases spike again
Berkeley’s case rate is higher than it’s been at any point in the pandemic other than the omicron surge. Hospitalizations remain low.
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Berkeley is analyzing sewage data to track COVID-19 as response shifts in third year of pandemic
As self-testing becomes more common, the Berkeley health officer said the data is a useful tool in monitoring COVID-19 in the general population.
Berkeley to end vaccination requirement for indoor dining, gyms
The requirement that restaurants and other businesses check vaccination status ends Friday.
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East Bay doctor: Cases may be coming down, but you still need a mask
We spoke to Dr. Noha Aboelata about the new variant BA.2, emerging COVID-19 treatments and more.
In brief
Berkeley health officials give schools the OK to lift mask mandates
The Berkeley Unified School District has not said whether it will act on the change or keep its mask mandate in place.
Berkeley’s mask mandate ends, but many keep their face coverings on
While some are eager to get back to daily life without a face covering, we found masks are still the norm throughout much of Berkeley.
‘Are we done yet?’ 8 Berkeley stories of coping with a pandemic that won’t go away
Eight stories of uncertainty, solitude, grief and appreciation shared nearly two years after the arrival of COVID-19 in Berkeley.
Berkeley, Alameda County will join state in lifting mask mandate Feb. 16
Businesses can still require customers to mask up, and health officials cautioned that face coverings are “strongly recommended.”
Pop-up COVID-testing sites are appearing in Berkeley. Are they legit?
Several new testing sites run by a company called “Stop. Swab. Go.” are getting mixed results, and raising eyebrows.
Scarce rapid tests force Berkeley nursing homes to make agonizing choices
Most nursing homes don’t have enough rapid tests for managing omicron, leading to poignant decisions on who they can help.
City employees have 95% vaccination rate. Is a booster mandate next?
Berkeley hasn’t decided whether to grant 61 workers’ requests for medical or religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate.
Remembering Dr. Fred Strauss, who co-founded one of nation’s first gay health clinics in 1976
Strauss co-founded the Gay Men’s Health Collective, was the Berkeley Free Clinic’s longest-serving volunteer and directed the world’s first queer sperm bank.
