HHS Recent News

April 15, 2021

the state added an addendum to the Activity & Business Tiers Chart to provide businesses with opportunities to adopt higher capacities where all guests have been tested or are fully vaccinated. In addition, physical distancing is not required in sections where all guests are fully vaccinated.

April 15, 2021

Californians who have lost family members to COVID-19 since January 2020 are now eligible for federal financial assistance for funeral expenses. 

The new FEMA assistance is limited to a maximum of $9,000 per funeral, internment, or cremation, and up to $35,500 per application. To be eligible for the new funeral assistance, the COVID-19-related death must have happened in the United States. The money is available to all residents of the United States, regardless of citizenship status.

April 15, 2021

Late last week Californians learned that the number of vaccine doses coming to the state would decline by at least 33 percent. On the heels of that news, it was announced today that California will temporarily halt the administration of the Johnson and Johnson single-dose vaccine due to concerns about blood clots in a tiny percentage of recipients.

April 15, 2021

April 8, 2021

The National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF) has invited county officials to join in celebrating the Week of the Young Child. Beginning April 10 and ending April 16 counties can join national convenings on Prenatal to Three Peer Learning and share how counties are prioritizing young children.

April 8, 2021

Last week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced changes to indoor and outdoor gathering guidance that will go into effect April 15, 2021. These modifications provide counties additional flexibility within the Blueprint for gatherings to occur with safety precautions.

April 8, 2021

Governor Newsom announced his Beyond the Blueprint plan for reopening California and lifting nearly all statewide coronavirus restrictions on June 15 – if vaccine supply remains sufficient and hospitalization rates remain low.

March 25, 2021

Governor Gavin Newsom announced sweeping changes to vaccine eligibility based on expected supply increases. Starting April 1, vaccine eligibility will expand to all Californians ages 50+. On April 15, eligibility expands broadly to all Californians ages 16+.

March 25, 2021

No counties moved to a more restrictive tier this week after the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy “Tier Tuesday” announcement.

Kern, Nevada, and Stanislaus Counties moved from purple to red, while Lassen, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Trinity, and Yolo Counties moved from red to orange. This comes on the heels of a terrific 7-day average case positivity rate of 1.7 percent and 5.5 cases per 100,000 residents statewide.

Blueprint Summary (as of March 23)