New rules for reopening the California pandemic could enable more parts of the Southern California economy to get back on track as quickly as this week.
It still depends on when the region achieves certain coronavirus-related criteria. And even then, there is still the question of exactly what businesses and facilities would open and when.
This is what we know:
What do the new rules say?
Of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the state, 40% will now be dedicated to residents in California’s most disadvantaged areas – a major commitment officials say will help address the inequalities in vaccine administration.
Once 2 million doses have been administered in these communities, the state will relax the threshold required for a province to exit the purple, or most restrictive, category of the four-tier, color-coded reopening map.
Currently, provinces must have an adjusted daily rate at or below seven new cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people to move to the more permissible red level. But after the state reaches its 2 million dose target, which it is likely to do this week, provinces with a case rate of up to 10 new cases per day per 100,000 people will be eligible for the red level.
According to state data, nearly 1.88 million doses of vaccine were administered in the targeted communities as of Monday – those in the lowest quartile of the California Healthy Places Index.
Where does Southern California stand then?
The provinces of LA, Orange and San Bernardino were among adjusted cases last week of less than 10 new cases per 100,000 people. If they fall below the threshold again on Tuesday, the provinces will be allowed to advance to the next level of reopening.
LA County officials said they believe that once the province’s business figures reach the target level, some reopening could take place within 48 hours.
Which businesses reopen in the red level?
Provinces in the red level can have indoor restaurant and movie theaters reopened with 25% capacity or up to 100 people, whichever is the least. Indoor gyms and dance and yoga studios have a capacity of 10%. Museums, zoos and aquariums can open indoor activities with a capacity of 25%, and non-essential shops and libraries can open at a capacity of 50%, as opposed to a capacity of 25%.
However, the red level still keeps a number of venues closed – including convention centers; pubs, breweries and distilleries where no meals are provided; indoor pools; indoor entertainment areas such as bowling alleys, escape rooms and laser tag facilities; and indoor card rooms.
Provinces may allow such activities, although mainly in an adapted manner, when moving in the orange and yellow levels.
Do provinces have the discretion to be stricter than the state?
Yes they do.
All of the level rules serve as the basis for local health institutions, which can adopt even stricter regulations if they deem it necessary, although it cannot be softer.
“As we plan to move to the red level, where additional reopening will be allowed, we are looking closely at science to understand what practices may help reduce the transmission of COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer , director of public health in Los Angeles, said. .
She gestures after a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that the death rate from COVID-19 has slowed down in provinces where countries need masks, and in provinces where countries have allowed restaurants.
“This is something we need to consider when we start more reopening in our restaurants,” she said.
What is the timeline for LA schools?
Officials said Monday that middle and high schools throughout Los Angeles County could be eligible within days, with LA Unified aiming to reopen its secondary campuses by the end of April.
However, several bottlenecks could lead to further delays in the country’s second largest school district, including the time it takes for teachers and school staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and the ability of the district and its teachers’ union to reach an agreement on school days and working conditions.
LA County elementary school campuses were again eligible to reopen on Feb. 16, but high schools and high schools had to wait until virus levels were lower because older children were more prone to COVID-19. Ferrer also said that their class schedules usually require more mixing.
“In elementary schools, it’s really easy to keep people in relatively stable groups,” Ferrer told a news conference on Monday. “It’s easier to spread with a lot of people, and it’s going to be harder to mix in high schools and junior high schools.”
An announcement by Austin Beutner, principal of schools in LA, about the reopening of secondary schools came a week after setting a mid-April target for elementary schools, and falling slightly back from an original target of April 9 . could have opened last month.
LA Unified is among the school systems that are reopening much more slowly. Some, including Long Beach, are moving faster because they were able to access vaccines earlier.
Other school districts, mostly in more affluent areas, began to reopen without vaccines. State and federal guidelines have encouraged schools to open to employees without vaccinations, provided strict safety protocols are followed.
What’s Happening Outside Southern California?
Based on the latest state data, 12 provinces could possibly proceed in a less restrictive reopening this week, including nine currently in the press category: Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Imperial, Mono, Placer, Santa Cruz, Solano and Tuolumne.
Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, El Dorado, Napa, Lassen and Modoc entered the red level last week.
Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Plumas, Yolo, Marin, San Mateo and Mariposa were already in the red level. Two provinces – Sierra and Alpine – have taken a step further into the orange level.