County public health officials say more than half of the vaccines available are now going to the most affected areas.
A change in the boundaries of the layer means that it can lead to a faster change to a less restrictive layer.
The county was initially anticipated to advance to the “red” level later this month, with the rate of new daily infections COVID-19 expected to fall below the state’s required 7 cases per 100,000 residents as early as Tuesday. If the county maintained that level for two weeks, it would move out of the “purple” layer and move to the “red” layer.
The state, however, changed the limits to move through the four-tier plan for a safer economy last week, taking into account the volume of vaccines being administered in hard-hit low-income communities across the state.
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The new limits may come into effect as early as this week, when the state reaches the administration mark of 2 million doses of vaccine in the hard-hit neighborhoods.
When that happens, advancing to the “red” level will require the county to have a new case rate of 10 per 100,000 residents – a rate that LA County will have already achieved in the required two weeks. Ferrer said this means that the county is likely to advance to the “red” level in the middle of next week.
“If this week’s adjusted case rate remains below 10 new cases per 100,000 people, our understanding is that within 48 hours after the state announces that the vaccine trigger has been fulfilled, Los Angeles County, along with other counties with Qualified case rates would change to the red layer, “LA County Public Health said in a statement. “We will be working with the Board of Supervisors and our industry partners to prepare appropriate modifications to the Order of the Health Officer, reflecting the shift from the County to the red level.”
Moving from the “purple” restrictive layer to the “red” layer will authorize the county to increase capacity limits at retail establishments and reopen in-house restaurants, fitness centers and cinemas. However, the county is not subject to state guidelines and may continue to impose stricter rules.
For example, while the county currently allows outdoor dining at the “purple” level, it still prohibits restaurants from turning on television in their courtyards, as a way to avoid meeting sports fans. The state does not have this restriction on restaurants.
Meanwhile, vaccination efforts in LA County continue to grow.
A mass vaccination site at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds opened on Monday. Authorities say he can administer up to 2,000 injections per day.
“This region has been hit hard. It is geographically isolated, transportation is a problem,” said Kathryn Barger, LA County supervisor.
“We are looking across the region to increase equity in the Antelope Valley,” she added.
As the number of vaccinated people continues to grow across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has simplified some of their COVID-19 safety protocols.
Fully vaccinated Americans can meet with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or physical distance, the CDC announced on Monday.
The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can meet in the same way – in a single household – with people considered to be at low risk for serious illnesses, as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.
The City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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