This week, Santa Barbara County public health leaders announced that Santa Barbara County could move to the orange level in a few weeks. Last week the county turned the corner on the red level.
To enter the orange level requires about two to five cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people in the county, or four million vaccines administered in the state of California.
Dr. Henning Ansorg, a public health officer in Santa Barbara County, said Friday: “[It] it is possible that two [to] in three weeks, we will have reached these thresholds and the door opens to go to the orange with luck. “
Santa Barbara County public health officials say the federal government is sending more vaccines to local pharmacies, which will increase accessibility to vaccines.
“The federal government also sends doses that don’t go through the state system to pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid. [These pharmacies] I also offer vaccines and encourage people to call them or go to their website and check it out because there are more vaccination opportunities that are increasingly available, ”Dr. Ansorg explained.
Vaccines have a shelf life, so people who do not submit their appointments, pharmacies can offer additional doses to community members.
CVS says in a statement to KSBY:
We follow all manufacturers and CDC guidelines regarding proper storage and administration of each COVID-19 vaccine to help ensure that the vaccine is not wasted. Our online scheduling tool also helps ensure that appointments match the available vaccine supply. In case of unused doses in our pharmacies, our pharmacy teams will evaluate how to more effectively vaccinate eligible people with the remaining doses. This includes disclosing eligible patients in their communities, as our pharmacies maintain patient profiles with information that can help identify who is eligible for vaccination.
CVS
Santa Barbara County says that to prevent another rise in COVID, people should stay safe especially during the spring break and upcoming holidays.
San Luis Obispo County is also heading toward the orange level. The latest statistics show that the county’s positivity rate already meets the requirements, but officials have not indicated when the move to orange may occur.
The orange level allows for the reopening of more businesses and recreational activities.
Click here to see what can be opened at the orange level.