State confirmed Kern remains in red tier for third consecutive week

October 27, 2020 /

California announced Tuesday marked the third consecutive week that Kern County remains in the Red Tier or second tier. Public Health also reported that one metric out of the three meets the Orange Tier requirements. 

The countywide testing positivity was reported to be at 4.2 percent, which meets the criteria of the less restrictive tier, known as the Orange Tier. As of Oct. 27 2020, the county adjusted case rate is 6.3 per 100,000. The health equity quartile testing positivity has increased to 6.3% compared to 5.5 percent last week. 

Kern would not move into the Orange Tier until it meet all criteria under the State’s COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy for two more consecutive weeks.

If the rates increase instead of staying the same or decreasing, Kern County risks moving back to the lowest tier and most restrictive tier known as the Purple Tier. 

The criteria that must be meet to enter to tier 3 are as followed: 

  1. An adjusted case rate of 1 – 3.9 per 100,000 for two consecutive weeks.
  2. And testing positivity rate of 2 – 4.9 percent for two consecutive weeks. 

Kern County residents are urged to get tested so that the testing case rate is not adjusted artificially. Today the testing rate decreased to 181 per 100,000. Kern Public Health continues to use their mobile sites to offer free COVID-19 tests. Locations and dates are available on their website at https://www.kerncounty.com/government/covid-19-testing-sites