SAN JOSÉ — Mayor Sam Liccardo recently announced a proposal to change the booster mandate for public entry on all city-owned facilities, including the SAP Center, Convention Center, and historic theaters, in response to the recent decline of Omicron variant COVID-19 cases. Liccardo proposed an end to the current booster mandate for the public entering city-owned facilities, while continuing existing testing requirements in compliance with state law. He also stipulated criteria should be established to provide the public and organizations advance notice of potential future health mandates based on public health guidance.

The Mayor states, “The booster mandate served its purpose during the Omicron surge, by encouraging attendees and visitors in public buildings to protect themselves and each other during the period when our ICU’s faced the greatest stress of rising hospitalizations. While this surge has run its course, we must remain vigilant about the next one.”

San José continues to have the highest vaccination rate of any major US city with more than 90 percent of residents over five years old having received at least two doses. The current booster mandate at city-owned buildings has served its purpose in dramatically reducing risk of hospitalizations, as evidence continues to show the efficacy of boosters reducing hospitalizations by 78 percent and substantial illness by 66 percent. However, according to the FDA, the effectiveness of boosters does diminish with time. The City will continue to work with public health experts, venue operators and the community to establish objective thresholds and ensure clear expectations are provided about future mandates when necessary.