Newsom says state to target vaccination target, leaving most SoCal counties in the red

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – Los Angeles and other Southern California counties could move to the state’s less restrictive red level immediately after this weekend, allowing more companies to reopen.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, at an event in South Gate, said the state is on track to reach a key target that allows counties to accelerate change to less restrictive levels.

The state has worked to improve the distribution of the vaccine to the most affected communities and has set a target of 2 million doses distributed to those communities as a measure to enable higher-level changes. The state is expected to reach this mark of 2 million by Friday.

Southern California counties remain below the purple level, but four counties could be prepared for a redshift after the state reaches that mark.

“Today we are at 1.9 million,” Newsom said on Wednesday. “On Friday we will exceed this goal. Once we reach this threshold, we will be able to move faster through these levels. It will allow us to update our level strategy and allow us to start reopening more strategically and safely.”

Exactly when this may happen is still unclear, especially in Los Angeles County, where officials say it could take 48 hours to make the move.

Other counties could reduce restrictions by Saturday.

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said his department is already working on guidelines for the redshift. She expects to launch these guidelines on Thursday. She said it is not yet determined whether the county would allow indoor dining below the new level.

Ferrer added that if businesses and the public follow safety guidelines and protocols, they could make enough progress to move to the even less restrictive orange level in a few weeks.

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

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

LA County has also announced custodians, caregivers, public transport workers, airport ground crew workers, maternity assistants and some social workers are now eligible for the vaccine.