Kern County remains in the Orange Tier (Tier 3) of the COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the State announced Tuesday.

This marks the fourth week Kern County has been in the Orange Tier. 

Every county is assigned to one of four tiers based on the adjusted case rate, testing positivity rate, and health equity metric. As of Tuesday, Kern’s adjusted case rate was at 2.8 per 100,000 people. Kern’s countywide testing positivity rate is at 1.3 percent, and it’s health equity quartile testing positivity rate is at 1.8 percent.

Kern County must remain in the Orange Tier for at least three weeks before moving into the least restrictive Yellow Tier (Tier 4). Additionally, Kern must meet the Yellow Tier metrics for at least two consecutive weeks to be able to progress forward.  

“Vaccination remains the safest and quickest way to immunity and those 16 and older are encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” Kern Public Health said in a news release.

The Public Health COVID-19 vaccine nurse hotline is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Call or text 661-677-4177 to ask vaccine related questions.   

The Kern County Fairgrounds Mass Vaccination Clinic offers the Pfizer vaccine in walk in appointments and drive-thru appointments. Currently, Pfizer is the only authorized vaccine for persons 16 and 17.

The clinic operates Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments can be made at www.MyTurn.ca.gov but are not required.  Other vaccinating providers are available throughout the community, and can be found on the Vaccinating Providers Map at https://phweb.kerncounty.com/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=COVID19Vaccination#.