Newsom says the state is about to hit the vaccination target, allowing most SoCal counties to go red

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – Los Angeles and other Southern California counties could move to the state’s less restrictive red level as early as this weekend, allowing more businesses to reopen.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, at an event in South Gate, said the state is about to achieve a key goal that allows counties to accelerate their changes to less restrictive levels.

The state has been working to improve the distribution of vaccines to the most affected communities and a target of 2 million doses distributed to these communities has been set as a metric to allow for higher-level changes. The state is expected to reach $ 2 million on Friday.

Southern California counties remain below the purple level, but four counties could be poised to move to the red level after the state reaches that mark.

“Today we’re at 1.9 million,” Newsom said Wednesday. “On Friday we will exceed that goal. Once we reach that threshold, we will be able to move faster through these levels. It will allow us to update our level strategy and allow us to reopen more strategically and more securely.”

It is still unclear exactly when it may happen, especially in Los Angeles County, where officials say it could take 48 hours to make that move.

Other counties could ease restrictions until Saturday.

Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer said her department is already working on guidelines for change at the red level. Expect to post these guidelines on Thursday. He said it is not yet determined whether the county would allow covered food below the new level.

Ferrer added that if companies and the public follow guidance and security protocols, enough progress could be made to move to the even less restrictive orange level in a few weeks.

With LA County just days away from the red level entrance, fitness centers will be able to open indoors. Sandy Duvall, owner of Sierra Health and Fitness, has heard that gyms will open at 10% capacity. His gym has survived because of a 2,000-square-foot outdoor gym built in his parking lot.

The red level also allows counties to reopen movie theaters and expand capacity for retail stores and malls.

Los Angeles County also announced that guardians, janitors, public transportation workers, airport ground crew workers, foster parents and some social workers are already eligible for the vaccine.