The state announced Tuesday that the Blueprint for a Safer Economy has retired, allowing most places to open and operate with no capacity limitations or social distancing requirements.  

The only exception to this is for “mega events,” defined as an indoor event with more than 5,000 people, which requires verified fully vaccinated status or pre-entry negative COVID-19 test and required masking for those who are unvaccinated, Kern Public Health said in a statement.

“This is a day of celebration for our community and especially our local businesses,” said Brynn Carrigan, Director of Kern County Public Health, in a news release. “Together we have navigated many challenges during this pandemic and now are able to get back to a sense of normalcy that we have longed for. I want to thank our community for all their efforts help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ask that we all continue to practice healthy habits moving forward.”

Those fully vaccinated will be allowed to do almost everything they did pre-pandemic without wearing a mask, including grocery shopping, drinking at a bar, and going to the gym. 

If you are not vaccinated, the state’s masking guidance still requires you to wear a mask in “indoor public settings.” That includes grocery stores, shops, restaurants, movie theaters and other indoor businesses. 

Masks are still required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in the following places: 

• On public transit (airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares) and in transportation hubs (airport, bus terminal, marina, train station, seaport or other port, subway station, or any other area that provides transportation).
• Indoors in K-12 schools, childcare and other youth settings.
  • Note: This may change as updated CDC K-12 schools guidance is forthcoming.
• Healthcare settings (including long-term care facilities).
• State and local correctional facilities and detention centers.
• Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers.

Public Health will continue to monitor our COVID-19 metrics that were part of the state’s Blueprint. These metrics will help health officials understand how COVID-19 is impacting our community.

As of Tuesday, Kern’s adjusted case rate is 2.2 per100,000. The countywide testing positivity is 1.7 percent and the health equity quartile testing positivity is 1.7 percent.

Kern Public Health confirmed 56 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 110,673 cases in Kern. Health officials also confirmed 1 more COVID-19 death, bringing the total to 1,401 deaths.

Vaccination appointments can be made at www.MyTurn.ca.gov.  A list of 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#.