Assuming that the state of California meets the projected vaccination targets, Riverside County could reach the case rate levels that would put us at the Red Level as early as Friday.
However, it is not yet clear whether the state will change these measurement limits and, if so, when after that we will see the restrictions lifted in Riverside County.
“This week, Riverside County is eligible to advance to the next level in the state’s reopening structure for the first time since the end of September. The accelerated progression is due to the low rate of positive tests in the most disadvantaged communities in the county,” said Brooke Federico, Riverside County Public Information Officer.
“The state requires that the specified metrics be met for two weeks before entering the next level of reopening,” said Federico, “Riverside County must continue to meet current metrics or less to officially move to the red level on Wednesday Monday (March 17) or earlier, if the state raises the case rate limit to 10, as predicted at the end of this week. “
“It remains to be seen whether the governor’s planned change in the case rate limit later this week will allow Riverside County to move to the red level before Wednesday,” county officials said in an online statement.
Governor Newsom plans to expand the metrics needed to move from purple to red once the state is able to meet its goal of administering 2 million doses of COVID vaccine in low-income and hard-hit communities.
Newsom said the state is expected to reach the 2 million-dose target by Friday. As of Wednesday, California administered 1,926,968 doses to affected communities.
When the state reaches the milestone, the “Safer Economy Project” will be adjusted so that a county can move to the Red Level if the average rate of new daily COVID-19 infections is 10 or less per 100,000 residents, a standard more flexible than the current 7 per 100,000 residents.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
This week, Riverside County qualifies to move to the next level in the state’s reopening structure for the first time since late September. The accelerated progression is due to the low rate of positive tests in the most disadvantaged communities in the municipality.
The state requires compliance with specified metrics for two weeks before entering the next reopening layer. Riverside County is expected to continue to meet current or lower metrics to officially move to the red level on Wednesday (March 17).
It remains to be seen whether the governor’s planned change to the case rate limit later this week will allow Riverside County to move to the red level before Wednesday.
Once the county is moved to the red level, more companies can resume internal operations, including restaurants, cinemas, museums, zoos, aquariums and gyms with specific capacity limitations.
This week, the county’s overall positivity rate is 4.1% and the health equity positivity rate is 4.2%. The adjusted number of new cases per 100,000 is 8.3.Riverside University Health System – Public Health
From March 9, Riverside County has an adjusted case rate of 8.3, meaning that the county would now qualify for the red level. What is still unclear is whether the county needs to be at the most recent metric level for up to two weeks before releasing restrictions. That’s the difference between reopening more businesses over the weekend or next Wednesday.
Riverside County officials hope to have more clarity from the state on this in the coming days.
“And over the course of the weekend and next week, you will see more activity, more loosening of the layers,” said Newsom during a visit to a mobile vaccination clinic in South Gate.
“Once the county is moved to the red level, more companies can resume internal operations, including restaurants, cinemas, museums, zoos, aquariums and gyms with specific capacity limitations.” Federico continued in a statement to News Channel 3: “This week, the county’s overall positivity rate is 4.1 percent and the health equity positivity rate is 4.2 percent. The adjusted number of new cases per 100,000 is 8.3. ”
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said earlier
this week, it will take 48 hours after the state announces that the vaccination limit has been reached for the county to officially move to the “red” level.
If the goal is reached by Friday, as Newsom announced, LA County will move forward on Sunday.
As soon as the county moves to the Red Level, it would be up to county officials to decide whether to fully align with the state’s business reopening guidelines or to maintain stricter regulations.
Federico confirms to News Channel 3 that Riverside County will remain in line with state guidelines and will not maintain stricter regulations than those required by the state.
What changes from purple to red?
- Indoor restaurants (maximum capacity of 25% or 100 people, whichever is less)
- All retail in-house (max. 50% of capacity)
- Indoor shopping centers (max. 50% capacity, closed common areas)
- Museums, zoos and indoor aquariums (maximum capacity 25%)
- Manicure salons: can open indoors with modifications
- Worship places inside the house (maximum capacity of 25% or 100 people, whichever is less)
- Internal cinemas (maximum capacity of 25% or 100 people, whichever is less)
- Closed gyms and fitness centers (max. 10% capacity)
The change to the red level also means that when outdoor sports and live events can resume on April 1, events in Riverside County will have a maximum capacity of 20%, as opposed to the 100 limit, as would be the case in purple level.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuous updates.
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Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story noted that some restrictions could be lifted “as soon as 48 hours after” the 2 million vaccine milestone is reached. County officials confirm that they are awaiting clarification from the state as to when we may see changes in Riverside County once the vaccine target is reached, lowering the threshold for movement between levels.