Those who are not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated remain highly vulnerable to the highly infectious Delta variant

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - Due to the increasing prevalence of the highly infectious Delta variant and rising COVID-19 case rates, the Yolo County Health Officer recommends that fully vaccinated persons wear masks indoors in public spaces as a precautionary measure. Those who are fully vaccinated and 65 years old or older or immunocompromised are strongly recommended to wear masks in indoor settings.

Since mid-April, 59 cases of the Delta variant have been detected in Yolo County by the UC Davis Genome Center. The Delta variant made up 76% of positive samples collected on the UC Davis campus and through Healthy Yolo Together testing between June 27 and July 7. Vaccinated residents are strongly recommended to wear masks in indoor settings where vaccination verification is not required and the vaccination status of others is unknown. Unvaccinated individuals are still required to wear masks in indoor public spaces.

The Yolo County Health Officer also recommends that fully vaccinated individuals get tested for COVID-19 following an exposure to someone with COVID-19, even if they have no symptoms. Data continue to show that fully vaccinated individuals are well protected from the Delta variant and that all three available vaccines are effective against the Delta variant, but some breakthrough infections do occur in vaccinated persons. Although vaccine breakthroughs with the Delta variant in Yolo are rare, preliminary evidence suggests that the affected persons may be able to transmit the virus to others even when they have no symptoms.

Those who are not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated remain highly vulnerable to the highly infectious Delta variant. All residents 12 and older are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Nationwide data from the month of June showed that unvaccinated individuals were 79 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who were fully vaccinated. Yolo County continues to deliver and administer COVID-19 vaccine to residents throughout the county as part of the free call-to-order program designed to make COVID-19 vaccine accessible to all. Residents who would like to get vaccinated at their home or place of business can call (530) 666-8665 schedule an appointment to have vaccine delivered between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment in Spanish, residents can call (530) 379-3465. The program has been extended to run through July 30.

“In making yesterday’s new recommendations for fully vaccinated persons to resume masking indoors and to get tested after an exposure, I am erring on the side of caution to slow the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant. Vaccines remain the absolute best form of protection against COVID-19, and I implore everyone who is eligible to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible,” said Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson. “At the same time, we know that our vaccines, while highly effective, aren’t perfect. Putting on a mask indoors in settings where you can’t be sure that everyone who is unmasked is fully vaccinated is a simple way to add another layer of protection against COVID-19.”

For more information about Yolo County’s COVID-19 vaccine program and opportunities to get vaccinated, visit www.yolocounty.org/coronavirus-vaccine. Residents can also call Yolo 2-1-1 for related information and resources. For additional updates follow Yolo County on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/YoloCounty/ or Twitter at: https://twitter.com/YoloCountyCA.