Kern County might soon see a light at the end of a months-long tunnel as Public Health officials said we are about halfway to moving into the red tier status.
Public Health said Tuesday that the state is set to announce Kern County's metrics meet those needed for red tier status and has done so for seven days. If Kern continues to meet these metrics for another seven days, on Oct. 13 Kern will officially move into the less restrictive red tier.
Last Wednesday, the state released details for the health equity measure for the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Under the new measurement, Kern was classified as a larger county within the state, meaning we will now be measured by the testing positivity rate within the lowest quartile with the state's health places index.
"The measure went into effect today and we are actively working on strategies to address these areas," said Assistant Director of Kern County Public Health Brynn Carrigan.
Carrigan said that the state will announce Tuesday that Kern's adjusted case rate is 5.5%, the testing positivity rate is 4.7%, and the lowest quartile aggregate testing positivity rate of 6.2%.
The less restrictive tier allows schools, restaurants, gyms, houses of worship and other businesses to reopen with modifications.
