The improving COVID-19 vaccination rate in California, as well as the drop in new case numbers prompted the state to open the door to larger gatherings, with a number of capacity limitations.
One of the keys for increased indoor capacity for events will be a requirement that all people attending an event have proof of vaccination, or of a negative test for the virus.
135 new COVID-19 cases were reported on the Central and South Coasts Friday. Ventura County had 57, Santa Barbara County 53, and San Luis Obispo County 25.
Santa Barbara County Public Health officials say they are concerned that the drop in numbers has flattened out in the last week. They say if this continues, the county won’t be able to move from the state’s red, to the more liberal orange tier. Ventura County officials say the county is on track to move to orange as soon as next week.
133,591 cases have been diagnosed in the three counties since the start of the pandemic, with 79,774 in Ventura County, 33,270 in Santa Barbara county and 20,547 in San Luis Obispo County.
The three COVID-19 related deaths reported Friday brings the region’s overall total to 1682 in the last year.
