California on Tuesday announced a target date for fully reopening the economy as more Californians get COVID-19 vaccines and hospitalization rates continue to decline. The entire state will move into this phase June 15 if two criteria are met: If vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years and older who want the vaccine, and if hospitalization rates are stable and low. California’s mask mandate will also remain in effect, said California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly. Businesses and sectors listed in the state’s current “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” which includes the color-coded county tier system, will be able to resume normal operations “in compliance with Cal/OSHA requirements and with common-sense public health policies in place, such as required masking, testing and with vaccinations encouraged,” according to a statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. Most capacity limits will be lifted, although large-scale indoor events, such as conventions, will be allowed only with testing or vaccination verification requirements, Ghaly said.Tuesday’s announcement comes as more than 20 million vaccines have been administered across the state. “With more than 20 million vaccines administered across the state, it is time to turn the page on our tier system and begin looking to fully reopen California’s economy. We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic,” Newsom said in a prepared statement. “We will need to remain vigilant, and continue the practices that got us here – wearing masks and getting vaccinated – but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”More than 4 million vaccines have been administered in 400-plus ZIP codes considered most vulnerable, based on metrics such as household income, education level, housing status and access to transportation.Vaccine eligibility will expand to people in California 16 and older starting April 15, although some counties, including Stanislaus, have already started vaccinating young adults. The two-month advance notice of the planned reopening should give people enough time to schedule their first dose, wait the recommended three to four weeks for a second shot and get through the two-week period for the vaccines to fully kick in, Ghaly said. It also gives businesses and others time to prepare.”We anticipate 30 million people will have been vaccinated at least one dose by the end of the calendar month,” Newsom said Tuesday at a news conference in San Francisco. “With the expectation of an abundance of doses coming in from the federal government through the end of this month and into May, we can confidently say by June 15 that we can start to open up as business as usual — subject to ongoing mask-wearing and ongoing vigilance.” In the near future, Newsom said he anticipated a “modest” but not “substantial” vaccine supply by April 15, when Californians as young as 16 become eligible for the vaccine. He said it was “going to take some time” for everyone to get the vaccine who is eligible.Newsom encouraged those 50 and older, a group currently eligible statewide for doses, to seek out vaccine appointments. “We are in a race against these variants,” Newsom said. The pandemic has taken its toll in California, with more than 58,000 people dead, businesses closed and students who have been out of classrooms for much of the year.Newsom, who has pushed for in-person instruction to resume, said he expects no barriers to getting students back into classrooms safely by June 15, including college students.— The Associated Press contributed reporting.
California on Tuesday announced a target date for fully reopening the economy as more Californians get COVID-19 vaccines and hospitalization rates continue to decline.
The entire state will move into this phase June 15 if two criteria are met: If vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years and older who want the vaccine, and if hospitalization rates are stable and low.
California’s mask mandate will also remain in effect, said California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly.
Businesses and sectors listed in the state’s current “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” which includes the color-coded county tier system, will be able to resume normal operations “in compliance with Cal/OSHA requirements and with common-sense public health policies in place, such as required masking, testing and with vaccinations encouraged,” according to a statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.
Most capacity limits will be lifted, although large-scale indoor events, such as conventions, will be allowed only with testing or vaccination verification requirements, Ghaly said.
Tuesday’s announcement comes as more than 20 million vaccines have been administered across the state.
“With more than 20 million vaccines administered across the state, it is time to turn the page on our tier system and begin looking to fully reopen California’s economy. We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic,” Newsom said in a prepared statement. “We will need to remain vigilant, and continue the practices that got us here – wearing masks and getting vaccinated – but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”
More than 4 million vaccines have been administered in 400-plus ZIP codes considered most vulnerable, based on metrics such as household income, education level, housing status and access to transportation.
Vaccine eligibility will expand to people in California 16 and older starting April 15, although some counties, including Stanislaus, have already started vaccinating young adults.
The two-month advance notice of the planned reopening should give people enough time to schedule their first dose, wait the recommended three to four weeks for a second shot and get through the two-week period for the vaccines to fully kick in, Ghaly said. It also gives businesses and others time to prepare.
“We anticipate 30 million people will have been vaccinated at least one dose by the end of the calendar month,” Newsom said Tuesday at a news conference in San Francisco. “With the expectation of an abundance of doses coming in from the federal government through the end of this month and into May, we can confidently say by June 15 that we can start to open up as business as usual — subject to ongoing mask-wearing and ongoing vigilance.”
In the near future, Newsom said he anticipated a “modest” but not “substantial” vaccine supply by April 15, when Californians as young as 16 become eligible for the vaccine. He said it was “going to take some time” for everyone to get the vaccine who is eligible.
Newsom encouraged those 50 and older, a group currently eligible statewide for doses, to seek out vaccine appointments.
“We are in a race against these variants,” Newsom said.
The pandemic has taken its toll in California, with more than 58,000 people dead, businesses closed and students who have been out of classrooms for much of the year.
Newsom, who has pushed for in-person instruction to resume, said he expects no barriers to getting students back into classrooms safely by June 15, including college students.
— The Associated Press contributed reporting.