Protecting Your COVID-19 Vaccine Card

As of April 15, 2021, every Californian 16 & up will be eligible for vaccination.

When you’re fully vaccinated, you’ll receive a 3-by-4 inch vaccination card.

You want to hold on to this cardstock because it is your ticket back to normal life. Airlines, concert venues, and more are considering whether or not proof of vaccination will be required. If it is, this card will be crucial.

Should I get my COVID-19 vaccine card laminated?

Yes!, however, if you are getting a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), make sure you have completed your second dose before laminating your card.

I also recommend you make a copy of your card and store it with your important files wherever that may be in your house.

Photo Credit: Markus Spiske on UnSplash

OfficeMax and Staples are both offering a promotion where individuals can have their vaccination card laminated for free. OfficeMax will laminate your vaccination card for free through July 25, 2021

Photo Credit: OfficeDepot Office Max

For even more peace of mind, I recommend scanning the front and back of your vaccine card, emailing a copy to yourself, and storing the digital copy in your cloud drive.

If you’re not getting the vaccine from your primary care doctor and getting it from a superstation or third party, I recommend sending a copy to your doctor; that way, a copy of your vaccine added to your immunization record.

Cover Photo: H-E-B

Written By: Mike Stark | @MikeStarkCA

ICYMI: San Diego Hits the Orange Tier

San Diego County has officially entered the “moderate” orange tier of COVID-19 restrictions as of April 7, 2021.

Now that San Diego is in the orange tier this is excellent news for more businesses that can officially open up or increase capacity.

  • Restaurants: Open for outdoor service and indoors, however, limited to 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer. Live entertainment allowed.
  • Hotels and lodging: Open. Fitness centers in hotels can open at 25% capacity including indoor pools.
  • Offices: Open indoors, however teleworking is encouraged.
  • Gyms and fitness centers: Indoors are open at 25% capacity. Indoor pools can open.
  • Place of worship: Indoors can open at 50% capacity
  • Hair salons and Barbershops: Open with modifications
  • Personal services (including nail salons, tattoo, piercing): Open with modifications
  • Museums, zoos, and aquariums: Open Indoors at a 50% capacity
  • Movie theaters: Indoors open at a 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer.
  • Breweries, wineries and distilleries that serve food: Indoors are now open at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
Photo Credit: Mike Petrucci on Unsplash
  • Bars that do not serve food: Open outdoors only
  • Family Entertainment centers (including bowling allies): Outdoors open. Indoor open with a limited capacity at 25% or 50% if all guests test negative or show proof of fill vaccination with additional restrictions
  • Cardrooms and satellite wagering: Indoors open at 25% capacity
  • Limited services (Laundromats, Dry Cleaners, Car Washes, Auto repair): Open
  • Outdoor recreational facilities: Open. Sales of food drink, or alcohol allowed. Campground are also open.
  • Indoor playgrounds (Bounce centers, ball pits, laser tag). Open with a max capacity of 25%
  • Amusement parks: Open at 25% capacity
  • Live events, including sports or entertainment: Open at 33% capacity in assigned seating.
  • Entertainment Production: Industries, studios, and other related establishments such as establishments that provide content for professional broadcast can operation without live audiences.

Cover Photo: Stephen Leonardi on UnSplash

Written By: Mike Stark | @MikeStarkCA

Indoor Concerts, Theater Performance, and Conferences Resume April 15

After a year of canceled concerts and theater performances, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday, April 2, 2021, because the rate of people testing positive for the coronavirus has reached a record low, Indoor Concerts, Theatre Performances, and Conventions can resume starting April 15.

Testing or proof of vaccination for some of the events won’t be required; however, limits on the number of people admitted will be enforced.

Events requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination can increase capacity limits compared to events that don’t.

Private indoor gatherings such as weddings, meetings, and conferences are only allowed if guests present proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event or show proof of full vaccination.

Photo Credit: Jared Murray on Unsplash

Here are the new regulations on indoor live events beginning April 15 based on tiers.
(These apply to venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people)

  • Purple Tier: Indoor live events or performances are not allowed
  • Red Tier: Capacity is limited to 10% or 100 people; however, if guests present a negative COVID test or show proof of full vaccination, capacity increases to 25%.
  • Orange Tier: 15% capacity or 200 people max; if guests present a negative COVID test or show proof of full vaccination, capacity increases to 35%.
  • Yellow tier: 25% or 300 people; however, if guests present a negative COVID test or show proof of full vaccination, capacity increases to 50%.

Here are the regulations for larger venues based on tiers:

  • Red Tier: Proof of a negative COVID test or full vaccination is required, and capacity is restricted to 20%
  • Orange Tier: 10% or 2,000 people capacity; however, capacity will increase to 50% if all guests present proof of a negative COVID test or proof of full vaccination.
  • Yellow tier: 10% or 2,000 people capacity; however, capacity will increase to 50% if all guests either show proof of a negative COVID test or proof of full vaccination.

Photo Credit: Screenshot of California Tier map from covid19.ca.gov

Verify your county tier here to see what restrictions are currently in effect.

Governor Newsom wants Californians to continue wearing masks and practicing social distance even with the easing of restrictions.

Will you be hitting up live performances or wait it out a bit longer? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram.

Cover Photo: Concert by Pien Muller on UnSplash

Written By: Mike Stark | @MikeStarkCA

What You Should Know About COVID-19

With high concern and hysteria filling our news feeds, it is important to address the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease, 2019).

In regard to, San Diego State University all university study abroad programs to China, South Korea, and Italy have been cancelled. Since there are confirmed cases in San Diego, certain institutions have decided to do virtual classes as an extra precaution. On March 12th, 2020 the entire student body received word that classes will be shifting online after March 13th, 2020. More information is provided here regarding SDSU.

COVID-19 Myths

Since this virus seemed to take a racial turn, I just wanted to address that a virus cannot infect a particular race or ethnicity. Infections and diseases are essentially a great equalizer because anyone can get them. Also, I am not sure if this was a joke, but coronavirus has nothing to do with corona beer.

The Science Behind It

Coronavirus is a disease that came from an animal source. Check out this video to get more of an explanation of the transmission. This new coronavirus is different strand that is my lethal. Since this virus is different, research is currently being done. Currently, we are in a period of uncertainty which is mostly causing this hysteria. COVID-19 is easily transmittable as it is a respiratory illness, and the illness is transferred by respiratory droplets.

The symptoms for COVID-19 may be fever, cough, and shortness of breath (CDC, 2020). Those symptoms may occur 2 – 14 days after exposure, however, if you feel that you have been exposed it is important to call before you go to warn your medical provider and make sure they have the proper tests for COVID-19.

Moving on, these groups are at high risk if exposed to the virus: older adults, individuals with chronic diseases and compromised immune systems.

Ways to Stay Safe

Here are a few ways to help prevent the spread, according to the CDC (2020):

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home if you are sick
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces

Finally, some takeaways are 1) stop being racist, because viruses can not target one race or ethnicity. 2) this coronavirus strand is new so stay up to date with information. 3) Take precautions and for the love of all that is good cover your cough or sneeze with your upper sleeve not just your hands.

Taken from @courtneyahndesign

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, February 13). Coronavirus. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

Written by: Jasmine Alexander