Health Officer Orders

Health Officer Orders


County Public Health Officer Order of January 2, 2022

*This Health Officer Order No. 2021-10.8 Supersedes and Replaces Health Officer Order No. 2021-10.7

As of December 20, 2021, the community transmission level of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County is categorized as “High” based on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Indicators. The significantly more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of COVID-19 is the predominant strain in Santa Barbara County, while SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) is emerging as the predominant strain in the US. To control the spread of COVID-19, this Health Officer Order orders all individuals in the County of Santa Barbara – whether vaccinated or unvaccinated – to wear a Face Covering at all times in all Indoor Public Settings, and while inside any Business, with limited exemptions, and recommends that Businesses make face coverings available to individuals entering the Business.

The full Health Officer Order can be found by clicking HERE.


County Public Health Officer Order of December 3, 2021

*This Health Officer Order No. 2021-10.8 Supersedes and Replaces Health Officer Order No. 2021-10.6

As of December 1, 2021, the community transmission level of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County is categorized as “Substantial” based on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Indicators. The significantly more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of COVID-19 is the predominant strain in the US and in Santa Barbara County. To control the spread of COVID-19, this Health Officer Order orders all individuals in the County of Santa Barbara – whether vaccinated or unvaccinated – to wear a Face Covering at all times in all Indoor Public Settings, and while inside any Business, with limited exemptions, and recommends that Businesses make face coverings available to individuals entering the Business. This Health Officer Order also allows students to participate in indoor School-Based Extracurricular Activities (as defined) without a Face Covering when it is impracticable so long as the student actively participating is routinely tested for COVID-19.

The full Health Officer Order can be found by clicking HERE.


County Public Health Officer Order of November 4, 2021

*This is a continuation of the County Public Health Officer Order of October 5, 2021. To control the spread of COVID-19, this Health Officer Order orders all individuals in the County of Santa Barbara – whether vaccinated or unvaccinated — to wear a Face Covering at all times in all Indoor Public Settings and Businesses, with limited exemptions, and recommends that Businesses make face coverings available to individuals entering the Business.

The full Health Officer Order can be found by clicking HERE.


County Public Health Officer Order of October 5, 2021

The significantly more transmissible SARS CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of COVID-19 has become the predominant strain in the US and in Santa Barbara County. To control the spread of COVID-19, this Health Officer Order orders all individuals in the County of Santa Barbara – whether vaccinated or unvaccinated — to wear a Face Covering at all times in all Indoor Public Settings, and while inside any Business, with limited exemptions, and recommends that Businesses make face coverings available to individuals entering the Business.

The full Recommendation can be found by clicking HERE. 


County Public Health Officer Order of September 28, 2021

Pursuant to Health Officer authority under California Health & Safety Code § 120175, I hereby order all health care facilities and agencies in Santa Barbara County to develop and implement a mandatory influenza vaccination program for the 2021-2022 influenza season. The program shall require all health care workers to provide evidence of influenza vaccination. If a health care worker is unable to provide such evidence, that worker shall wear a surgical mask while working in patient care areas during influenza season.

The full Health Order can be found by clicking HERE. 


Health Officials AB 361 Social Distance Recommendation

Utilizing teleconferencing options for public meetings is an effective and recommended social distancing measure to facilitate participation in public affairs and encourage participants to protect themselves and others from the COVID-19 disease.

The full Recommendation can be found by clicking HERE.


County Public Health Officer Order of September 5, 2021

*This is a continuation of the County Public Health Officer Order of August 6, 2021. To control the spread of COVID-19, this Health Officer Order orders all individuals in the County of Santa Barbara – whether vaccinated or unvaccinated — to wear a Face Covering at all times in all Indoor Public Settings and Businesses, with limited exemptions, and recommends that Businesses make face coverings available to individuals entering the Business.

The full Health Officer Order can be found by clicking HERE.


State Public Health Officer Order of August 11, 2021

Vaccine Verification for Workers in Schools. Vaccination against COVID-19 is the most effective means of preventing infection with the COVID-19 virus, and subsequent transmission and outbreaks. Current CDPH K-12 guidance strongly recommends vaccination for all eligible individuals, thereby reducing COVID-19 rates throughout the community, including in schools, and creating a wrap-around safety layer for unvaccinated students. This Order, consistent with this recommendation, requires verification of vaccination status among eligible K-12 school workers, and establishes diagnostic screening testing of unvaccinated workers to minimize the risk that they will transmit while on K-12 school campuses, where a majority of students are not vaccinated and younger students are not yet eligible for vaccines.

The full Health Officer Order can be found by clicking HERE.


County Public Health Officer Order of August 6, 2021

Since June 15, 2021 when most restrictions from the State of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy were 

lifted, the average daily incident case rate of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County has increased to reach the “High Transmission” level based on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Indicators for Levels of Community Transmission. The significantly more transmissible SARSCoV-2 B. 1. 617.2 (Delta) variant of COVID-19 has become the predominant strain in the US and in Santa Barbara County. To control the spread of COVID-19, this Health Officer Order orders all individuals in the County of Santa Barbara– whether vaccinated or unvaccinated– to wear a Face Covering at all times in all Indoor Public Settings and Businesses, with limited exemptions, and recommends that Businesses make face coverings available to individuals entering the Business.


The full Health Officer Order can be found by clicking HERE. 


State Public Health Officer Order of August 5, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant challenge in California. COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing infection and serious disease. At present, 63% of Californians 12 years of age and older are fully vaccinated with an additional 10% partially vaccinated. California is currently experiencing the fastest increase in COVID-19 cases during the entire pandemic with 18.3 new cases per 100,000 people per day, with case rates increasing ninefold within two months. The Delta variant is highly transmissible and may cause more severe illness. Additional statewide facility-directed measures are necessary to protect particularly vulnerable populations, and ensure a sufficient, consistent supply of workers in high-risk health care settings.

The full Health Officer Order can be found by clicking HERE.

Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement FAQ

Click HERE to read the Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirements from the California Department of Public Health.


State Public Health Officer Order of August 5, 2021

Requirements for Visitors in Acute Health Care and Long-Term Care Settings. This Order applies to the following facilities: General Acute Care Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), and Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs). The Order applies only to indoor visitation in facilities identified in this Order. Indoor visitation shall be permitted only in accordance with this Order. The facilities identified in this Order must either: (1) verify visitors are fully vaccinated, or (2) for unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated visitors, verify documentation of a negative SARS-CoV-2 test.

The full Health Officer Order can be found by clicking HERE.


State Public Health Officer Order of July 26, 2021

The state of California will be requiring all state workers and workers in health care and high-risk congregate settings to either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week, and encouraging all local government and other employers to adopt a similar protocol.

California will be requiring health care settings to verify that workers are fully vaccinated or tested regularly. Unvaccinated workers will be subject to at least weekly COVID-19 testing and will be required to wear appropriate PPE. This requirement also applies to high-risk congregate settings like adult and senior residential facilities, homeless shelters and jails. These steps will help protect vulnerable patients and residents. The new policy for state workers will take effect August 2 and testing will be phased in over the next few weeks. The new policy for health care workers and congregate facilities will take effect on August 9, and health care facilities will have until August 23 to come into full compliance. 

The full Health Officer Order can be found at the following link: 

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Order-of-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Unvaccinated-Workers-In-High-Risk-Settings.aspx

 

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