Newsom says the state is about to reach the vaccination target, allowing most SoCal counties to switch to the red level

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – Los Angeles and other southern California counties could move into the state’s less restrictive red layer as early as this weekend, allowing more companies to reopen.

Governor Gavin Newsom, at an event in South Gate, said the state is about to hit an important target that allows counties to accelerate their changes to less restrictive levels.

The state has been working to improve the distribution of vaccines to the most affected communities and has set a target of 2 million doses distributed to these communities as a measure to allow for further changes in level. The state is expected to reach the 2 million mark by Friday.

Southern California counties remain under the purple level, but four counties may be ready for a change to the red level after the state reaches that mark.

“We are at 1.9 million today,” Newsom said on Wednesday. “On Friday we will exceed that target. Once we reach that limit, we will be able to move more quickly through these layers. This will allow us to update our tiering strategy and will allow us to start reopening more strategically and more securely.”

It is not yet clear when this could happen, especially in Los Angeles County, where officials say it could take 48 hours to make this change.

Other counties may ease restrictions until Saturday.

Los Angeles County Director of Public Health, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, said her department is already working on guidelines for moving to the red level. She hopes to release those guidelines on Thursday. She said it was not yet determined whether the county would allow indoor meals under the new level.

Ferrer added that if companies and the public follow security guidelines and protocols, it could generate enough progress to move to an even less restrictive orange level within a few weeks.

With LA County just days away from admission to the red level, fitness centers will be able to open indoors. Sandy Duvall, owner of Sierra Health and Fitness, heard that the gyms will open at 10% capacity. His gym survived because of a 2,000-square-foot outdoor gym built into his parking lot.

The red layer also allows counties to reopen cinemas and expand the capacity of retail stores and malls.

LA County also announced that custodians, caretakers, public transportation employees, airport ground staff, foster parents and some social workers are now eligible for the vaccine.