December 22, 2021 @ 12:00 p.m.
Every Tuesday, Dr. Sherrill Brown, Medical Director, Infection Prevention; Olivia Lee, Manager, Legislative and Advocacy Affairs; and Diego Fuentes, Manager, Benefits and Leave of Absence, update our clinic and corporate lines of business leaders.

You can listen to the recording here or read the notes here.
Sherrill Brown, M.D.
Olivia Lee
Diego Fuentes
Omicron Numbers On the Rise

The Omicron variant now makes up a majority of COVID-19 cases in the United States, at 73.2%, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in updated figures released on Monday. The statistics are for the week ending December 18 and show the rapid spread of the variant in the U.S. That spike is a significant increase from just 12.6% of cases one week earlier. Click here to read more.
 
Last Wednesday, California began its statewide mask mandate for indoor public spaces due to the rising COVID cases and concerns over the Omicron variant. In Southern California alone, the Omicron variant is up to 59%. The statewide order is set to expire Saturday, January 15, 2022.
 
Key Elements to Practice and Stay Safe
  1. Testing—Consider getting tested prior to gatherings. Using rapid at-home antigen tests prior to travel and the day of the event is recommended.
  2. Screening—Screen yourself for symptoms before leaving and, if you have symptoms, stay home.
  3. Masks—Wear a face mask when indoors around people from outside your household or in crowded outdoor settings.
  4. Physical Distancing and Ventilation—Stay six feet apart from other individuals inside. Gathering outside is best in an area with good ventilation and plenty of space for spreading out.
  5. Wipe down any high-touch surfaces before, during, and after gatherings.
  6. Hand hygiene—Use hand sanitizer and wash your hands regularly.
  7. Vaccination and Boosters—Get vaccinated and boosted when you are eligible.
Traveling and Gathering During the Holidays

With the upcoming holidays, we provide the following information for those who are planning to travel or gather with family and friends.

  • All guests, including children who are five years and older, should be fully vaccinated and boosted—six months out from an mRNA vaccine or two months out from the Janssen vaccine.
  • All guests, including children older than two years, should be tested with a COVID rapid antigen test daily, including the day you arrive back from your trip.
  • All guests, older than two years, should wear masks at all times while indoors (except when eating and drinking, or while in your personal room or bathroom). Guests should opt to eat and drink outdoors, if at all possible.
  • If you are driving with others to restaurants, venues, or wineries, everyone should wear masks at all times while in the car together.
Rapid Home Tests Now Available

In partnership with HRSA, AltaMed will begin to provide the Quidel Rapid Home Test for free to patients. Clinic leaders have been informed and will disseminate the free testing kits in the coming days.

AltaMed employees can also get the free test kit from their respective clinics. Corporate employees can pick up the test kit at the front lobby of the 2035 and 2040 Camfield Ave. offices. Please Note: The Quidel Rapid Home Test kits are available for personal use testing. At this time, each employee can take a maximum of only five boxes (two tests per box). As supplies increase, we will continue to offer more test kits to the community and our staff.
Grand Rounds Offers Additional Information on Omicron

Sherrill Brown, M.D., presented at a special Grand Rounds on COVID-19 Treatment, Vaccine Updates, and Q&A Forum on Tuesday, December 21. 

Topics Discussed:
  • Where are we with COVID-19 in the U.S.?
  • Omicron update
  • Influenza season so far
  • Why get vaccinated for COVID-19?
  • Improving COVID-19 testing access for patients/community at AltaMed
  • Questions
 
Resources:

Calendar Item:
  • The first COVID-19 Grand Rounds for 2022 will be on Tuesday, January 4. A calendar invite will be sent.
Get Boosted

As health care workers, AltaMed employees are eligible to receive the COVID-19 boosters. The FDA and the CDC have given mixing and matching vaccine types the green light. Appointments for employee boosters are required.

How to Schedule Your Booster
  1. Email Employee Health.
  2. Call Employee Health at (323) 765-6153.
  3. Contact the Employee Health lead at your respective clinic.

If You Receive the Booster Outside of AltaMed
  • If you get your COVID-19 booster outside of AltaMed, email proof (photo of the vaccination record card) to Employee Health so they may update their records.

After you receive your booster, click here for additional information.
Influenza Updates

COVID-19 and Flu Hospitalization in Children 
COVID-19 and flu can both cause serious illness and hospitalization in children. The CDC has found that COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates among children have been similar to flu-associated hospitalization rates during the three recent flu seasons prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read more.

Flu Shots for Employees
To date, nearly 43% of AltaMed employees and 47% of PACE employees have received their flu shot. If you haven't already, please make your appointment and fight the flu.
  • AltaMed clinics are providing the flu vaccine to employees. Contact the Employee Health lead at your site to schedule an appointment.
  • Contact Employee Health or call (323) 765-6153 to schedule your flu shot or to request a high-dose flu vaccine. Again, appointments are required.
  • If you receive the flu vaccine outside of AltaMed, send proof of the vaccination to [email protected].
  • Employees who submit their proof of vaccination to Employee Health will be rewarded with 200 Vitality points.
  • Click here for the influenza declination form.
Safety Guidelines While at Work

  1. Wear your masks—Face masks are to be worn at all times over your nose and mouth (except when drinking or eating), and should be stored properly or discarded. Patients need to wear masks at all times in examination rooms as well.
  2. Maintain hand hygiene—Staff should have easy access to hand sanitizer dispensers to clean hands frequently, and should wash their hands for 20 seconds at a time.
  3. Practice physical distancing—Stay six feet apart from other individuals whether inside or outside.
  4. Wipe down any work surfaces you touch.
  5. If employees need to be within six feet of someone for a prolonged period of time, wear a face shield and face mask in both administrative and clinical settings—avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. In addition, a face shield and face mask need to be worn at all times when interacting with patients.
  6. Employees must wear appropriate PPE when on site. 
Questions and Communications

We welcome your questions, suggestions, and input. We do review each question and respond appropriately, so please continue to email us—click here. Know that this is a safe space and most questions will be answered individually prior to being shared anonymously with staff.

How to Stay Informed

FAQs
  • Click here to read the most recent FAQs
  • Refer to the weekly FAQs in earlier editions of the COVID-19 Alert to see if your questions have already been answered
Please Note: If you are contacted by the media with questions about the coronavirus outbreak or for any other reason, please email Veronica Orozco, Sr. Manager, Public Relations. The Public Relations team monitors all media coverage of AltaMed (social and traditional platforms) to uphold our reputation. If you have questions and concerns regarding media coverage, please call Veronica at (323) 482-3073. If you'd like to read news releases from AltaMed, visit our external website, AltaMed.org under Newsroom.