While COVID-19 transmission increases heading into summer, mask mandates remain patchwork across the Sacramento region, though some resources remain in place for testing and vaccination regardless of insurance or citizenship status.
When a judge in Florida overturned the federal government’s guidance mandating masks on public transportation on April 18, it launched a wave of lifting mandates throughout the country that same day. Requiring masks on public transit is now up to individual agencies.
The Sacramento International Airport and Sacramento Regional Transit both recommend, but do not require, masks.
However, some agencies have reversed their policies. In Los Angeles County, those taking public transit and visitors to the Hollywood Burbank and LAX airports need to wear masks until the county’s coronavirus transmission reaches a “moderate” Centers for Disease Control level or May 22, whichever comes first. On April 28, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system reinstated its mask mandate through July 18.
Sacramento County Health and Human Services spokesperson Samantha Mott said via email that while the county is seeing an increase in cases consistent with the country, “hospitalizations and deaths are not seeing the same incremental increase as cases, which shows that vaccinations are working as intended.”
The Sacramento County COVID-19 dashboard shows a gradual increase in the seven-day case average; on March 30, there were 60 new reported cases from the past 7 days. As of April 30, there were 161.
“Masks are still highly recommended when going out in public, especially in crowded places and especially for people at increased risk for severe disease,” Mott said.
The Sacramento City Unified School District also restated their recommendation for masks in its weekly update on April 29, though masks have not been required since April 18.
“Layered prevention strategies, like staying up-to-date on vaccines and wearing masks, can help prevent severe illness and reduce the potential for strain on our healthcare system,” it said.
Dr. Ahna Suleiman, an adolescent development consultant and public health faculty member at Sacramento State University, has another perspective on what she hopes responses to rising transmission look like.
“If we don’t recognize that the expertise that community members bring to the table with their lived experience is equally as valuable as any amount of epidemiology or policy understanding or anything else, we’re really missing the boat,” she said.
Suleiman added that she’s hoping that future solutions to create safe and effective ways to gather will address nuances in a “yes, and” manner rather than an “either-or” model. For example, she said while working at home has allowed many to thrive, it is also “very stratified by people’s economic status.”
“Often, we just try to socialize community members, young people, whomever, to navigate really broken systems, rather than improving those systems so they’re more accessible for everyone,” she said. “If we could take one thing away from the pandemic … let’s be innovative … let’s figure out ways that we can use multiple modalities for people to engage in school or work.”
COVID-19 resources still available in the Sacramento region
The following testing sites do not require health insurance and are available to all residents regardless of citizenship status:
- Robertson Community Center: 3525 Norwood Ave., Sacramento, CA 95838
- Open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Open Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Registration link
- Liberty Towers Church: 5132 Elkhorn Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95842
- Open Monday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Registration link
- La Familia Maple Neighborhood Center: 3301 37th Ave., Room 7, Sacramento, CA 95824
- Open Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Registration link
- Cordova Neighborhood Church: 10600 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
- Open Tuesday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Registration link
- Asian Resources, Inc.: 6270 Elder Creek Road, Sacramento, CA 95824
- Open Wednesday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Registration link
- Chabolla Community Center: 600 Chabolla Ave., Galt, CA 95632
- Open Thursday 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Registration link
- St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church: 3996 14th Ave., Sacramento, CA 95820
- Open Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Registration link
This more comprehensive list of COVID-19 testing sites in the county includes the above sites, along with others that do require insurance.
Vaccination
The county is also continuing to offer free COVID-19 vaccine clinics each week. Walk-ins are accepted, though you can also make an appointment through MyTurn in advance.
Emotional support
In response to the emotional upheaval some may have experienced due to the pandemic, the Sacramento Native American Health Center has been offering a variety of support groups for the Sacramento community.
You do not have to be Native or a patient of SNAHC to take part in the groups, of which there are three: one addresses grief, another addresses re-acclimating to social activities as restrictions are lifted and another is for healthcare providers.
“People think that they're the only ones who are going through particular fears or anxiety, or the grieving process,” said Julio Cruz, one of the behavioral managers at the Sacramento Native American Health Center. “But we have gotten really good responses from people saying that it is good to have a space where you can share how you're feeling what you're experiencing with other people who are sharing some of those same emotions, you know, especially being isolated in many cases, or going through something new like the pandemic.”
For more information or to join the groups, you can call SNAHC at 916-341-0576 or email them at [email protected].
Benefits for workers
If you had to miss work because of the omicron variant at the start of the year, you are eligible for retroactive COVID-19 sick leave up to Jan. 1, 2022.
You can also file a claim for disability insurance in English or a claim in Spanish, which can provide at least 60-70% of a worker’s wages depending on income once a week up to a year, via mail or California’s online program.
Additionally, you can also file a claim for paid family leave; citizenship and immigration status do not affect your eligibility for disability insurance or paid family leave.
Workers in the Sacramento region can also call the Center for Workers’ Rights Coronavirus Job Protection Helpline at 916-905-1625 for more information.
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