California has officially administered the vaccination to 2 million people in some of the most at-risk neighborhoods, including areas in the Central Valley, since the launch of its new equity initiative weeks ago.
State health officials said that as soon as 2 million people in these areas received their first doses, they would begin to loosen the requirements of the current level system, making it easier for counties to move to less restrictive levels.
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On Sunday, 13 counties across the state will come out of the purple layer. They are: Amador, Colusa, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Mono, Orange, Placer, San Benito, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Sonoma and Tuolumne.
Health officials said that next Tuesday, they predict that another 13 will transition to the red layer based on county data under the new formula, which now allows counties to leave the purple layer if they have 10 or fewer cases. of COVID per 100,000 people.
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These counties include Kings, Tulare, Sacramento, San Diego, Lake, Monterey, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Sutter, Tehama, Ventura and Yuba counties.
Kings and Tulare counties would be officially in the red tier, allowing more companies to open with an increased capacity, starting on Wednesday, March 17. This will be the first time that Tulare County will come out of the purple layer since the state established its system layer last year.
Fresno, Madera and Merced counties in central California are expected to remain in the purple layer. Mariposa County is currently in the orange layer.
The state has eased restrictions as the number of people receiving the vaccine increases. On Thursday, California announced new guidelines that would allow breweries, distilleries and wineries to reopen outside operations at the most restrictive, restricted purple level.
For counties that are moving to less restrictive levels soon, such as Tulare and Kings counties, entering the red level means that a mix of businesses, including gyms, retail stores and restaurants, can receive a limited number of people from return.
For restaurants, it is 25% of the capacity, or 100 people, whichever is less.
“Anything helps,” said Alejandra’s restaurant manager, Celini Alvarez. “Any extra space will help.”
The restaurant, in the center of Visalia, follows state rules, offering only take-out food and, where permitted, al fresco dining.
It already had a patio, but managed to attract more customers with the addition of a few tables on Main Street.
Now he is looking forward to serving a limited number of customers in the countryside.
“This change is very favorable and shows that, because we have done our due diligence across the county, to vaccinate the most vulnerable, they are easing these restrictions because the vaccine shows that it is spreading in Tulare County.” Carrie Monteiro of Tulare County HHSA says.
Monteiro warns that the municipality of Tulare is not yet out of danger.
Many residents have not yet received their first dose of the vaccine and COVID-19 is still a threat.
“It will take some time,” says Monteiro. “So we ask the people of Tulare County to remain vigilant, wait a little longer, continue to wear your mask and limit interactions with others outside your home.”
At Alejandra’s home, employees will continue to take security precautions.
But they wait for the day when they can take off their masks and show their smiles again.
“We are curious to see what comes next – the next chapter,” says Alvarez. “And it seems that with vaccines, it has helped a lot, tremendously and very quickly.”
All education levels in Tulare County can now be reopened for face-to-face classes.
Visalia Unified School District is already offering classroom teaching for pre-K to 6th grade.
They plan to bring back students from 7th to 12th grade on March 25th.
RELATED: Coronavirus California: The Map Shows Which Counties Can, Cannot Reopen at Reopening Levels
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