PRESS RELEASE

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced new guidance for healthcare settings and other high-risk congregate settings, including new mask and testing requirements, for the prevention of spreading COVID-19.

As it has continued to do throughout the pandemic, the City will be aligning with the new State guidance. The updated Health Order will be posted soon.

Under the new CDPH guidance, effective August 9, 2021, and subsequently in the City of Long Beach, people who work in congregate facilities and health settings will adhere to the following rules:

Acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities will be required to:

• Implement vaccine verification system; requiring proof of vaccination either via vaccine card or digital record 
• Test those who are unvaccinated twice a week
• Require unvaccinated staff members to wear medical grade masks

Congregate care facilities will be required to:

• Implement vaccine verification system; requiring proof of vaccination either via vaccine card or digital record 
• Test those who are unvaccinated once per week
• Require unvaccinated staff members to wear medical grade masks

Other health care settings will be required to:

• Implement vaccine verification system; requiring proof of vaccination either via vaccine card or digital record 
• Test those who are unvaccinated once per week
• Require unvaccinated staff members to wear medical grade masks

Additionally, the City of Long Beach is reviewing the new guidance to consider how it may affect requirements for City employees.

These new requirements are in addition to the Citywide indoor masking mandate that went into effect July 17. People who work in the settings listed above will still need to wear a face covering when indoors. 

The City of Long Beach has seen a steep rise in cases over the past six weeks. As of today, July 26, the case rate in Long Beach is 21.6 per 100,000, and the positivity rate is 8.2%. Vaccines, which are available at no cost, remain widely available through the City’s Health Department as well as pharmacies and individual providers. People can visit longbeach.gov/vaxlb for information regarding vaccinations.

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