California's New Guidelines Will Help Counties Exit Purple Tier

California's reopening system will soon undergo changes made to allow counties to move more quickly through the color-coded tiers, announced Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, March 10.

In addition, Newsom also announced the state is expected to reach its goal of administering 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in over 400 ZIP codes that have been appointed as vulnerable areas by Friday, March 12.

As of Wednesday, March 10, the state was at 1.9 million doses administered in those areas, reports KCRA3.

"Because once we reach that threshold, we'll be able to move more quickly through these tiers," said Newsom during a speech at a vaccination site in Los Angeles County. "It will allow us to update our tier strategy and allow us to start reopening more strategically and more safely, sectors of our economy."

Currently, a county can exit the purple tier once it reports seven or fewer new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per day over several weeks.

However, once the goal of 2 million people vaccinated is met, the requirement will change to 10 or fewer new cases.

"Moving from the weekend into next week, you will see more activity, a more loosening of the tiers," said Newsom.

Sacramento and Fresno are among the 34 counties still in the most restrictive purple tier.

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