Public Health

For current public health requirements on Catalina Island, including masking and vaccinations, please visit lovecatalina.com/health. There is no vaccination requirement for visiting Catalina Island.

Catalina Island is Open!

The City of Avalon is working with Los Angeles County and the State of California to while following all state and local directives. We've put together resources for Catalina Island residents, businesses and visitors. On this page you'll find the Latest News on the pandemic from the City of Avalon, LA County, the State of CA and the Federal Government.

Other resources included in this Catalina Island Public Health site include Catalina Island Medical Center Updates, Resources for Members and Avalon Community Food Pantry.

Catalina Island Coronavirus Updates

Catalina Island Medical Center COVID-19 Antigen Testing - as of 7/27/22

(Data provided is total since March 2020)

Tests Performed	Pending Tests	Positive Results
8,580	0	773

* last positive test reported 7/18/22

Latest News

7/27/22:

Although case rates appear to be slowly declining, LA County remains in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) high community level with the increasing proliferation of the highly infectious BA.5 subvariant. Knowing your status remains key to slowing the spread as does layering in other safety measures, including masking, to protect ourselves and others. LA County Daily Covid-19 Data can be viewed online here.

To help prevent the spread of COVID, testing remains a useful and effective tool. Residents should get tested if they have been exposed, have symptoms, and before and after gatherings and travel. Residents who test positive, even with an at-home test, need to isolate to avoid infecting others. Residents who test negative but have symptoms should remain home and test again in 24-48 hours to be sure they aren’t infected. If a test is still negative, but a person remains ill, they may have another virus/illness. Anyone with symptoms should remain home until they are fever free and symptoms are resolving. Individuals should call their provider if they have concerns about their illness. If an individual does not have a provider, they can call 2-1-1 to get connected to care.

There are several FDA-approved rapid over-the-counter (OTC) tests that can be used for self-testing at home, at a business, or at other community settings. Most are antigen tests that provide results in a few minutes, as opposed to laboratory-based PCR tests that may take several days to process.

A third round of at-home tests can be ordered at no charge from the federal government at www.covidtests.gov. See below for more information.

5/19/22:

Emergency Isolation and Public Health Emergency Quarantine have been updated and both are in effect as of Thursday, May 19, 2022.

This Isolation HOO supersedes the March 16, 2022 Public Health Emergency Isolation Order and is in effect until rescinded by the Health Officer. Changes are highlighted in yellow on the document:

This Isolation Order is revised in responses to changes in the April 6, 2022 State Public Health Officer Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions on Isolation and Quarantine of the General Public.
Changes the definition of a "close contact" to align with the new CDPH definition of: "someone sharing the same indoor airspace, e.g., home, clinic waiting room, airplane, etc., for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during an infected person's (laboratory-confirmed or clinical diagnosis) infectious period."

This Quarantine HOO supersedes the April 13, 2022 Public Health Emergency Quarantine Order and is in effect until rescinded by the Health Officer. Changes are highlighted in yellow on the document:

Clarified that asymptomatic persons who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (asymptomatic contacts) are exempt from quarantine, regardless of vaccination status. However, they are required to follow the requirements specified in this HOO; noted that some people who live or work in specified high-risk settings will have to follow the setting-specific requirements in relationship to work restrictions or work exclusions. Workers in other settings are required to follow Cal/OSHA work exclusions and/or return to work requirements.
Noted exemption for COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic contacts who previously tested positive using a viral test for COVID-19 in the past 90 days and recovered, as long as they have no symptoms.
Noted that all contacts, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a highly protective mask around others while indoors and when close to others while outdoors through Day 10.

2022.05.18_HOO_Coronavirus_Isolation.pdf

2022.05.18_HOO_Coronavirus_Quarantine.pdf

4/25/22: Please see our updated Los Angeles County When You Need To Wear A Mask information (English, Spanish), April 21, 2022. Masks are still required in some settings and strongly recommended in others - see the summary and details in the Health Officer Order. It is strongly recommended that people continue to wear masks that fit and filter well in all indoor public places. The spread of COVID-19 continues to be a significant risk for many in Los Angeles County.

WhenToWearAMask_042122.pdf / WhenToWearAMaskSpanish_042122.pdf

See our COVID-19 Masks webpage for more information.

Also, please see the following information on our recently revised Health Officer Order.

The Los Angeles County Responding Together at Work and In the Community - Post Winter Surge Community Monitoring and Continued Response Measures Health Officer Order has been updated (Issued Thursday, April 21, 2022. Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022).

2022.04.21_Post Winter Surge_PublicTransit.pdf

4/14/22: It’s been two years since LA County declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a look at how the County and 50,000+ disaster service workers mobilized to confront the pandemic and meet the unprecedented needs of the public: covid19.lacounty.gov/essential-jobs-in-60-seconds.

For COVID-19 recovery resources and programs, visit recovery.lacounty.gov.

Other pertinent information and resources can be found on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website.

4/1//22: The CDPH has released updated guidelines for Mega Events as COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to recede. Effective Friday April 1, the requirement for vaccine verification or proof of a negative test for attendees of Indoor Mega Events will be lifted. Under the updated guidance, the CDPH is still strongly recommending proof of vaccine or a negative test for indoor events, and recommending it for outdoor events. There will be no capacity limitations for indoor or outdoor events. There will also be no physical distancing requirements for attendees, customers, or guests at indoor or outdoor events.

3/16/22: The Health Officer Order for the Control of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Isolation Order and the Health Officer Order for the Control of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Quarantine Order have been revised as of March 16, 2022 and supersede the February 1, 2022 orders.

3/6/22: The COVID-19 Ongoing Requirements for Employers has been updated. Changes are highlighted in yellow on the document:

Updated to align with the revised County Health Officer Order. The revised Order no longer requires masking indoors at most workplaces but continues to strongly recommend it. Employers with optional indoor masking must provide, for voluntary use, medical masks and respirators (such as an N95, KN95 or KF94) to employees who work indoors in close contact with others. Employers that choose to maintain universal indoor masking must provide medical masks to all employees.

3/4/22: Revised LA County Health Order

3/3/22: In anticipation of LA County moving into medium or low risk according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Level designation this Thursday, Public Health will issue a modified Health Officer Order which will go into effect on Friday, March 4.

Under this modified order, indoor masking will be strongly recommended, but not required, for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, except in high-risk settings where federal and state regulations continue to require masking, including everyone using public transit and all those in emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional and detention facilities, homeless shelters, and long-term care facilities. At all sites where masking indoors is no longer mandatory, employers will be required to offer, for voluntary use, medical grade masks and respirators to employees working indoors in close contact with other workers and/or customers.

Masks are required indoors at schools and childcare facilities until March 11 when masks will be strongly recommended for students, children, teachers, and staff regardless of vaccination status. School districts in LA County may continue to require masking at schools and during school activities, along with other appropriate safety protections for their school community.

Masking is strongly recommended for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in indoor public spaces by both the state and county public health departments because transmission remains a significant risk for many across our county and state.

Masking is also still required for those who exit isolation or quarantine early through day 10 of their isolation or quarantine period. As a reminder, regardless of the community risk level, people can wear a mask based on their personal preference, comfort level, and informed by their personal level of risk. At every risk level, those who are exposed or symptomatic should be tested and a negative test is required to exit isolation or quarantine between days 6-10.

Two additional community prevention strategies include vaccine verification and ventilation. Vaccine verification in health care and congregate care settings continues to be required across all community risk levels. Vaccine verification also continues to be required for entry to indoor mega events, with a negative test result as a substitute for those not fully vaccinated. Vaccine verification at outdoor mega events and indoor portions of bars, nightclubs and lounges is strongly recommended and no longer required.

Additionally, under Medium and High-risk Levels, visitors at healthcare facilities, including congregate care sites, are still required to verify vaccination status or provide a negative test result. Regardless of community risk level, proper ventilation throughout indoor spaces should be maintained. For more information, visit the Los Angeles County Post Surge Response Plan.

2/25/22: LA County Health Officer Order Modified to Allow Establishments, Businesses, and Venues Verifying Vaccination Status to Make Masking Indoors Optional for Fully Vaccinated Individuals Beginning Friday, February 25

As the county continues to experience reduced COVID-19 spread, it is appropriate to consider fewer required safety measures, noting that vulnerable individuals should continue to layer in all protections possible. Given lower hospital admissions and the effectiveness of the vaccines in reducing severe illness, changes have been made in the Health Officer Order that allow establishments, businesses, or venues two options for removing masking requirements for fully vaccinated individuals.

The modified Health Officer Order was posted on Wednesday, February 23 and will go into effect at 12:01am on Friday, February 25, 2022. Changes to the order are highlighted in yellow.

Option 1: Starting this Friday, establishments, businesses, or venues that want to allow fully vaccinated customers and workers to unmask while indoors must:

Verify that 100% of customers (5 and older) and workers prior to, or upon, entry to indoor spaces:
Provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or
Provide proof of a recent negative COVID-19 viral test result. Tests for customers must be taken within two days of entry if a PCR test, or one day if an antigen test. Employees will be allowed to submit a negative test result every three days.

Those who are not fully vaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination, are required to provide a negative test, and continue wearing a well-fitting mask while indoors (as required by the state), except when actively eating or drinking.

Option 2: Starting this Friday, establishments, businesses, or venues that want to allow their fully vaccinated customers to unmask indoors while all onsite workers remain masked, must:

Verify that 100% of customers (5 and older) prior to, or upon, entry to indoor spaces
Provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or
Provide proof of a recent negative COVID-19 viral test result. Tests for customers must have been taken within two days of entry if a PCR test or one day if an antigen test.
Adhere to the following regarding customers and masking:
Fully vaccinated customers may be unmasked in the indoor setting.
Customers that are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a well-fitting mask while indoors (as required by the state), except when actively eating or drinking.

Any individual showing proof of full vaccination prior to entering can still choose to wear a mask indoors.

2/16/22: Public Health issued a modified LA County Health Officer Order effective as of 12:01am on Wednesday, February 16 recommending, but no longer requiring, masking at outdoor mega events and outdoor spaces at K-12 schools and childcare centers.

Per state regulations, indoor masking at K-12 schools, childcare facilities, youth settings, healthcare settings, correctional facilities, homeless and emergency shelters, and cooling centers is still currently required. The state will provide an updated assessment on February 28 on appropriate safety considerations for schools. Additionally, per federal regulations, masking when riding public transit and in transportation hubs is still required.

Employers must also continue to provide high quality and well-fitting masks to workers who are in close contact with others until transmission is lower. Vaccination verification will also continue at mega events and indoor sections of bars, lounges, nightclubs, wineries, breweries, and distilleries.

LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said yesterday "we anticipate, that with continued steep declines in case numbers indicating much lower transmission, we will be able to safely lift indoor mask mandates in mid-March."

While masking will no longer be required at outdoor Mega Events or in outdoor spaces at childcare facilities and K-12 schools, the masking requirement at indoor establishments will continue until:

LA County has seven consecutive days at or below Moderate Transmission (10-49.99 new cases/100,000 persons in the past seven days), AND
There are no emerging reports of significantly circulating new variants of concern that threaten vaccine effectiveness.

2/7/22: Once LA County enters post surge (when COVID daily hospitalizations drop below 2,500 for 7 consecutive days), masking will no longer be required in outdoor spaces at outdoor Mega Events or in outdoor spaces at childcare facilities and K-12 schools. The masking requirement at indoor establishments will continue until:

LA County has two consecutive weeks at or below Moderate Transmission (10-49.99 new cases/100,000 persons in the past seven days), as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention OR
Vaccines have been available for children under age five for eight weeks; AND
No emerging reports of significantly circulating new variants of concern that threaten vaccine effectiveness.

Per state regulations, indoor masking at K-12 schools, childcare facilities, youth settings, healthcare settings, correctional facilities, homeless and emergency shelters, and cooling centers is still required.

Additionally, per federal regulations, masking when riding public transit and in transportation is still required.

Employers must also continue to provide high quality and well-fitting masks to workers who are in close contact with others until transmission is lower.

Vaccination verification will also continue at mega events and indoor sections of bars, lounges, nightclubs, wineries, breweries, and distilleries.

Post surge does not mean the pandemic is over or that transmission is low or that there will not be additional unpredictable waves of surges in the future that will require integrated public health measures. Rather, post surge acknowledges that we're stabilizing with consistent declines from the surge peak and it realigns our current public health response to meet current mitigation needs.

And with the current levels of transmission, the safest action for all of us is to protect ourselves and our essential workers by layering in protections, which include testing, vaccinations, infection control, and masking. Being cautious still makes sense and doing everything we can to drive down the high rate of transmission is an appropriate goal for us to continue to embrace as a community as the steps we're taking are helping us move in the right direction.

Please see the following resources:

LAC DPH Mask Guidance: English webpage | Página web en español
COVID-19 Vaccinations: English webpage | Página web en español

Other pertinent information and resources can be found on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

2/1/22: The Health Officer Order for the Control of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Isolation Order and the Health Officer Order for the Control of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Quarantine Order have been revised as of February 1, 2022 and supersede the January 11, 2022 orders. Changes are highlighted in yellow on both documents. All who reside or work in the Los Angeles County Health jurisdiction are required to follow these Health Officer Orders. Please read both carefully.

1/11/22: The Los Angeles County Responding Together at Work and In the Community Health Officer Order has been updated.

Please note that the updated definitions for mega events were effective as of 1/15/22 and the masking requirement is effective no later than 1/17/22. Changes are highlighted in yellow on the document:

Isolation and Quarantine Requirements are revised to mainly align with the State Public Health Officer's revised Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions on Isolation and Quarantine for the General Public, released on January 8, 2022. This guidance does NOT apply to healthcare personnel in any setting or emergency services personnel. See AFL-21-08.7. This guidance doe NOT apply to TK-12 Schools. See Appendix T1 & T2. In the workplace, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard (PDF), and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements.

2022.01.10_HOO_Beyond the Blueprint_winter_IsolationQuarantine.pdf

1/5/22: The updated LA County Department of Public Health Officer Order was issued on Wednesday, January 5, and effective as of 12:01 on Thursday, January 6, 2022*. Changes to the order are highlighted in yellow. *Updated definitions for mega events effective as of 1/15/22; Masking requirement effective no later than 1/17/22.

Brief Highlights

Masks must be worn at all times when indoors at Cardrooms. Patrons may remove masks only when actively eating or drinking in designated dining areas and may not consume food or beverage while playing or gaming.
As soon as possible, but no later than January 17, 2022, employers are required to provide their employees, who work indoors and in close contact with other workers or the public, with and require them to wear a well-fitting medical grade mask, surgical mask or higher-level respirator, such as an N95 filtering facepiece respirator or KN95, at all times while indoors at the worksite or facility.
In alignment with the State Public Health Officer's December 31, 2021 Order, beginning January 15, 2022, attendance thresholds are lowered to 500 attendees for Indoor Mega Events and lowered to 5,000 attendees for Outdoor Mega Events.
Recognizing the protection provided by masking while indoors and in crowded settings, there is a strong recommendation that at Mega Events, Performance Venues, Movie Theaters and Entertainment Venues, food and drink may only be consumed, where possible, in designated dining areas.
Mega Events, Performance Venues, Movie Theaters and Entertainment Venues are responsible for messaging, signage, and compliance with masking requirement unless spectators/customers are actively eating or drinking.

1/2/2022: The updated Health Officer Order ENCOURAGING COVID-19 VACCINATION AND BOOSTER DOSE COVERAGE WITH SIGNIFICANT RISK REDUCTION MEASURES was issued on Friday, December 31, 2021. Changes are highlighted in yellow: In light of the drastic increases in cases and resultant hospitalizations, and to lessen the severity of the Omicron and Delta variant surge in Los Angeles County and protect against overwhelming the health care delivery system, the following changes are being made to this Order:

Isolation and Quarantine Requirements are revised to mainly align with the State Public Health Officer's revised Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions on Isolation and Quarantine of the General Public, released on December 30, 2021. This guidance does NOT apply to healthcare personnel in any setting. See AFL-21-08.6. In the workplace, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard, and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements.
As soon as practicable, employers should provide and require employees to wear a well-fitting medical grade mask, surgical mask or higher-level respirator approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), such as an N95 filtering facepiece respirator, at all times while indoors at the worksite or facility.

The Isolation Order has been revised as of December 31, 2021 and supersedes the December 17, 2021 Public Health Emergency Isolation Order. All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection or lack of symptoms, who reside in the Los Angeles County Health Jurisdiction who have tested positive for or been diagnosed with COVID-19 are required to isolate themselves and follow all instructions in this Order. Other pertinent information on isolation can be found on the COVID-19: Isolation Instructions for People with COVID-19 webpage.

The Quarantine Order has been revised as of December 31, 2021 and supersedes the November 8, 2021 Public Health Emergency Quarantine Order. All individuals who reside in the Los Angeles County Health Jurisdiction who have been in close contact with a person who was diagnosed with COVID-19 (based on a positive viral COVID-19 test result) are required to quarantine themselves and follow the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's instructions for self-quarantine, unless they meet exemption criteria, as specified in this Order. Other pertinent information on quarantine can be found on the COVID-19: Quarantine and Other Instructions for Close Contacts webpage.

Los Angeles County

Reopening Resources

LA County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Cases (updated daily)
COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard (link to interactive dashboard that provides an overview on COVID-19 testing, cases and deaths along with maps and graphs showing testing, cases and death data by community poverty level, age, sex and race/ethnicity)
Antibody Testing FAQ's
View our updated COVID-19 Digital Communications Guide, and get tips on Best Practices, Do's and Don'ts, Key Messaging, and our Social Media Toolkit - with multi-lingual graphics and messages.

The California Department of Public Health

COVID-19 flowchart