Kern County re-opens and celebrates moving beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy

Today, June 15, the state announced that the Blueprint for a Safer Economy is retired and everyday life will feel a lot like before COVID-19, with most places being open and returning to usual operation 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.  Learn more by visiting the state website, http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Beyond-Blueprint-Framework.aspx

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.

“This is a day of celebration for our community and especially our local businesses,” says Brynn Carrigan, Director of Kern County Public Health. “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,” says Carrigan. “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.”

Public Health will continue to monitor our COVID-19 metrics that were part of the state’s Blueprint. These metrics will help us understand how COVID-19 is impacting our community. Public Health’s work continues, and our team remains steadfast as we continue our response to this ongoing pandemic and keeping our community informed. As of today, Kern’s adjusted case rate is 2.2/100,000. The countywide testing positivity is 1.7% and the health equity quartile testing positivity is 1.7%.

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 phweb.kerncounty.com/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=COVID19Vaccination#.