Dear Friend --

The holidays have given us a chance to gather once again, and vaccines have made it safe to do so.

But, COVID-19 continues to persist and at the moment, we are battling the Omicron variant. This newest variant is highly transmissible and has caused case numbers to surge across the country, including here in Long Beach. This moment is showing us how absolutely critical vaccines are to keeping our families safe and businesses open.

While our case rates are rising and along with it, hospitalizations – our hospitalization rate is nowhere near what it would be if not for the 85% of Long Beach adults who are vaccinated. Thank you to everyone who’s chosen to get vaccinated. Please continue to encourage others to do the same, and get the booster when it is time.

Vaccinations for kids 5 and older are also critical at this moment. We are starting to see more and more young children with symptoms at Long Beach testing sites, and I especially want to encourage parents to make sure their kids are vaccinated.

Vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness.

Boosters also provide significantly more protection against Omicron, making it more important than ever for everyone to get vaccinated and boosted. You can find more information on getting vaccinated and boosted here.

Everyone 5 and older is eligible for vaccines and boosters are now available for everyone 16 and older. If you think you’ve been exposed to the virus and need a test, please visit one of our free testing locations by making an appointment here.

I want to thank our staff that has been working hard this holiday season to get people vaccinated and tested. I also want to thank every Long Beach resident who has made it a priority to get vaccinated and boosted during this past year. You are helping to save lives and keep our community healthy.

Thank you and stay safe,

Mayor Robert Garcia