California aims to fully reopen economy on June 15

California aims to fully reopen its economy on June 15 – the clearest end date for restrictions that have besieged businesses and disrupted daily life throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The date is not fixed. And officials point out that getting to the point where California can reopen widely for the first time in more than a year will depend on two factors: a sufficient supply of vaccines to immunize all who are eligible and a stable number of people hospitalized with it. disease. .

June 15 will not bring a full return to pre-pandemic life either. Notably, California’s mask mandate will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

But officials said they were confident the state, with continued improvement in its coronavirus parameters and regular vaccine roll-out, is now able to start actively planning what will follow COVID-19.

“With over 20 million vaccines administered across the state, it’s time to turn the page on our tiering system and start looking to fully reopen the California economy,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a report on Tuesday. communicated. “We can now start planning our lives after the pandemic. We will have to remain vigilant and continue the practices that brought us here – wearing masks and getting vaccinated – but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.

If all goes as planned, June 15 will see the official end of California’s current reopening roadmap, which ranks counties in one of four color-coded levels based on three parameters: coronavirus cases, adjusted according to the number of tests performed; the rate of positive test results; and a health equity measure designed to ensure that the rate of positive tests in the poorest communities is not significantly higher than the county’s overall figure.

“The whole state will move on to this phase as a whole. It won’t be county by county, ”California health and human services secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said in a telephone interview with reporters.

In a statement, officials said areas included in the state’s plan to reopen would be allowed to “resume normal operations in accordance with Cal / OSHA requirements and common sense public health policies in place, such as masking, testing and vaccinations required. encouraged. Large-scale indoor events, such as conventions, will be allowed to occur with vaccination testing or verification requirements.

Ghaly stressed that “if we see a worrying increase in our hospitalizations, we will take the necessary precautions. But for now, we’re optimistic in what we’re seeing as we continue to build on the 20 million vaccines already given. “

A successful statewide reopening in June has a major political advantage for the governor, who is likely to face a recall election in the fall.

Newsom’s chances of surviving a recall could be higher if Californians reverted to a pre-COVID-19 life form when they voted. Mass vaccinations and the return of in-person education are essential to this sense of normalcy.

Newsom was the first governor in the country to issue a stay-at-home order in the early days of the pandemic last year, an action widely touted as the right call to protect California’s fragile healthcare system.

The governor has not received the same praise for his handling of reopening.

Health experts said Newsom lifted restrictions too quickly and failed to reinstate them quickly enough when the number of cases increased, adding to outbreaks of COVID-19 in summer and winter. Health and Human Services Secretary Ghaly, one of the state’s most senior health officials, said he would have slowed the pace of change last summer if he could do it all over again.

The cancellation of restrictions and the launch of a radical reopening create risks for Newsom. If the virus reappears or unexpected problems arise, the boost from the governor’s ever-changing rules could be fresher on the minds of voters, who could blame him at the polls.

Political experts say the more Californians think about the pandemic in the past, the more likely Newsom is to keep its seat.

The announcement of the targeted reopening date came on the same day that California reached its goal of delivering 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to its most vulnerable communities – a milestone not only in the ongoing fight. to distribute the precious injections more equitably, but also in the push to further reopen the state economy even before June 15.

Hitting the target means the state will revamp the reopening roadmap to implement new criteria that will allow counties to ease some of the restrictions on business and public spaces more quickly.

The changes will indeed apply an orange layer to the Golden State.

The levels outlined in California’s current reopening strategy range from purple, in which transmission of the coronavirus is considered widespread, and domestic operations are severely limited or suspended across a wide range of business lines; to red, with fewer restrictions; to orange, with even less; and finally, yellow, in which most businesses can open indoors with modifications.

Before Tuesday, counties had to register less than 4.0 new cases per day per 100,000 inhabitants to move to the orange level. The target of 4 million doses having now been met, the requirement has been reduced to less than 6.0.

The change to the orange level has significant economic implications.

Counties may allow outdoor bars to reopen with some modifications, and bars are no longer required to serve food.

Amusement parks can reopen up to 25% of their capacity and fan participation is allowed at 33% of capacity for outdoor sports and live performances.

Capacity restrictions can also be lifted in stores, although social distancing and other security changes still apply; places of worship, museums, zoos and aquariums can increase their indoor capacity by 25% to 50%; restaurants and cinemas can increase indoor capacity to 50% of capacity or 200 people from 25% or 100 people (whichever is less); and indoor gyms and yoga studios can increase capacity by 10% to 25%.

Bowling alleys can reopen with changes at 25% capacity. Card rooms and satellite betting sites can also reopen indoors at 25% capacity.

Offices in non-essential industries can reopen, though the state says workers should still be encouraged to work remotely.

The state’s goal of first administering 2 million, then 4 million doses in targeted communities – that is, those in the bottom quartile of a socio-economic measurement tool called the California Healthy Places Index – n was just one aspect of a larger effort to ensure fairness. access to COVID-19 vaccines.

California has allocated 40% of its COVID-19 vaccine supply to residents of these deprived areas in the past month, an allocation that state officials would not only help address inequalities in inoculation deployment , but to ensure that vaccines are available to those most at risk of a pandemic.

To date, providers across California have distributed 20.3 million total doses of COVID-19 vaccine and 34.2% of residents have received at least one vaccine, according to data from the state Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. -United.

About 18.1% of Californians are fully vaccinated at this point, which means they have either received the Johnson & Johnson single injection vaccine or the required two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.

Nationwide, 32.4% of Americans have received at least one dose and 18.8% are fully immunized, according to CDC data.

During the early stages of the vaccine rollout, California restricted access to vaccines to those considered most at risk of coronavirus infection, either because of their age, occupation, or health concerns under -jacent.

This will change from April 15, when anyone aged 16 and over will be able to book appointments.

The state expanded vaccine eligibility last week to include all people 50 and older.

President Biden initially said states should make all adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccines by May 1. But he is expected to announce a more aggressive schedule on Tuesday – setting a new deadline of April 19.