Los Angeles County, on the verge of moving to a less restrictive red level, as COVID-19 numbers decline

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – Due to declining number of cases and changes implemented by the state in response to vaccination efforts, Los Angeles County officials said Monday they are preparing to move to a less restrictive level of the COVID-19 economic reopening plan of the state as early as next week.

County public health officials say more than half of the available vaccines now go to the hardest hit areas.

A change in thresholds means that it could lead to a faster transition to a less restrictive level.

The county was initially expected to advance to the “red” level by the end of this month, with the rate of new daily COVID-19 infections expected to fall below the state-imposed threshold of 7 cases per 100,000 residents as of Tuesday. If the county maintained this level for two weeks, it would move from the “purple” level to the “red” level.

However, the state changed the thresholds for advancing through the Four-Tier Plan for a Safer Economy last week, taking into account the volume of vaccines given to lower-income communities affected across the state.

RELATED: Fully vaccinated people can gather without masks, says the CDC

The new thresholds could take effect as early as this week, when the state reaches the milestone of administering 2 million doses of vaccine in those affected neighborhoods.

When this happens, advancing to the “red” level will require a county to have a new case rate of 10 per 100,000 inhabitants – a rate in LA County that would have already met for the required two weeks. Ferrer said that means the county will probably advance to “red” by the middle of next week.

“If the adjusted rate of cases this week remains below 10 new cases per 100,000 people, we understand that within 48 hours from the date the state announces the vaccine has been met, Los Angeles County, along with other counties with rates “We will work with the Board of Supervisors and our industry partners to prepare appropriate changes to the Health Officer’s Order that reflect crossing the county to the red level “

The transition from the “purple” to the “red” level will allow the county to increase capacity limits at retail outlets and reopen indoor restaurants, fitness centers and cinemas. However, the county is not bound by state guidelines and could continue to impose stricter rules.

For example, while the county currently allows outdoor dining in the “purple” category, it still prohibits restaurants from turning on TVs on their terraces as a way to prevent sports gatherings. The state has no such restriction on restaurants.

Meanwhile, vaccination efforts in LA County continue to grow.

A mass vaccination site was opened at the Antelope Valley Fair Center on Monday. Officials say he can take up to 2,000 photos a day.

“This region has been severely affected. It is geographically isolated, transportation is a problem,” LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said.

“We are looking all over the region to raise capital 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 eased some of its COVID-19 safety protocols.

Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people inside without wearing a mask or physical distances, the CDC announced Monday.

The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can be united in the same way – in a single household – with people considered at low risk of severe illness, as in the case of vaccinated grandparents who visit healthy children and grandchildren.

City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.