State health officials say 42 of California’s 58 counties have advanced into the second-highest Red Tier in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy recovery plan. That represents nearly 88-percent of the state’s population. The state’s vaccine equity metric allows a county to qualify for the Red Tier if they average less than ten new cases a day for every 100-thousand residents. The prior threshold was seven. The vaccine equity metric refers to the two-million vaccinations that have so far been administered across the state’s hardest-hit communities. There are still 11 counties stuck in the most restrictive Purple Tier.
Meanwhile, with the coronavirus case rate dropping, Napa County expects to be in the Orange Tier soon. Napa County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio said yesterday that the county could be in the Orange Tier by March 30th. That is only if Napa County can meet the criteria for the next two weeks. The last time Napa was in the Orange Tier was last fall before the winter surge in cases brought them into the Purple Tier.
