California will be able to fully reopen June 15 if the State continues to see an increase in COVID-19 vaccine supplies, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday at a San Francisco vaccine clinic.
Newsom spoke of the progress the state has been making over the last few weeks. Last week alone, 2.5 million Californians were vaccinated, according to Newsom. State officials also anticipate more than 30 million Californians will have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the month.
“If we keep the pace, we are moving now beyond the blueprint,” Newsom said. “We are announcing today that on June 15, we will be moving beyond the blueprint and will be getting rid of the colored tiers.”
Although Newsom plans to rid of the colored Tier system in June, if the state meets certain criteria, Kern County remains in the Red Tier (Tier 2) of the COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Kern Public Health said Tuesday Kern County meets the Orange (Tier 3) metrics as of Tuesday, and if Kern’s metrics continue to meet Orange Tier thresholds next week, then it could progress into the Orange Tier as early as April 14.
Newsom stressed the importance of continuing to take precautions, such as wearing masks and becoming vaccinated.
“On June 15, we can start to open up as business as usual subject to ongoing mask wearing and ongoing vigilance,” said Newsom.
As of Tuesday, California had more than 3.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in more than 58,000 deaths. Kern Public Health officials announced 63 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 106,543. There have been 1,292 COVID-19 deaths in Kern.