Kern County reverts back to most restrictive tier

November 17, 2020 /

Kern County, along with 40 other counties across California, has reverted back into the purple tier, a more restrictive tier, causing many businesses to halt indoor operations effective Tuesday, public health officials said at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

This change will impact restaurants, movie theaters, gyms, churches, retail shops and more, Matt Constantine, the Director of Public Health, said.

“This makes it difficult for local businesses to make quick changes,” Constantine said.

The state is also discussing new guidance that may or may not go into effect. According to Constantine, counties that are in the purple tier may have to remain in the purple tier, despite meeting red tier metrics, until the Governor’s office allows it to move into the next tier. Constantine said there has also been discussions about stricter masking guidance, curfews, and travel advisories.

“We expect more information this week,” Constantine said. “But the bottom line is we are seeing an increase in cases in Kern.”

The Kern County Public Health Department confirmed Tuesday 222 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 37,141 cases in Kern.

Constantine also announced the Kern County Public Health Department has begun it’s canvassing efforts in the most impacted Census tracts in Kern. Public Health employees were in Delano Tuesday, knocking on doors to inform people of an upcoming testing site in Delano.

Constantine said the department is hiring more people to partake in the COVID-19 canvassing effort.

For more information on testing, head to KernCounty.com.

Elizabeth Sanchez

Elizabeth Sanchez is the program associate for South Kern Sol. She can be reached at elizabeth@southkernsol.org.