Kern County Moves to Red Tier (Tier 2) on State’s COVID-19 Framework

Additional Businesses and Activities Allowed to Resume with Modifications Under State Regulations

(Kern County, CA) – Today the State announced that Kern County has moved from the Purple Tier (Tier 1) to the less restrictive Red Tier (Tier 2) on the State’s COVID-19 blueprint, effective immediately. The State’s framework allows counties moving from the Purple to Red Tier to reopen indoor operations at additional businesses and allows certain activities to resume, as long as appropriate protocols and protective measures are followed.

The following businesses and activities are now allowed to resume with modifications:

 Personal care services are allowed to open indoors.

 Museums, zoos and aquariums are allowed to open indoors with 25% capacity.

 Places of worship are allowed to open indoors with 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

 Gyms and fitness centers are allowed to open indoors at 10% capacity.

 Restaurants are allowed to open indoors with 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

 Movie theaters are allowed to open indoors with 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.

On October 28th, two weeks following the County officially entering Tier 2, schools (including higher education) can open for in-person instruction, with modifications.

As a community we have made tremendous progress in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 in Kern County. While moving into the Red Tier is exciting news for our local businesses and residents, we encourage everyone to remain vigilant and continue practicing healthy habits including social distancing, wearing face coverings and washing hands frequently.

If these metrics continue to improve, the County would be eligible to move forward in the framework to a less restrictive tier after three weeks. If these metrics worsen, the County would revert into a more restrictive tier as soon as two weeks from now. To learn more about the State framework, visit www.covid19.ca.gov or www.kernpublichealth.com/2019-novel-coronavirus/.

The Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force is announcing three additional FREE COVID-19 testing sites to be held as it continues to work toward increasing Kern County’s testing numbers and access for local residents.

The testing sites will be as follows: 

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 23, from 9 a.m.to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Vallarta Supermarkets, 5951 East Niles Ave., Bakersfield.

Dignity Health to provide free hand sanitizer at this site.

Walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged as there is no pre-registration requirements. The collaboration asks people to please wear a mask and social distance while on site.

The Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force is announcing three additional FREE COVID-19 testing sites to be held as it continues to work toward increasing Kern County’s testing numbers and access for local residents. 

The testing sites will be as follows:

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Di Giorgio Park, Arvin.

The City of Arvin will be providing free facemasks at this site.

Walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged as there is no pre-registration requirements. The collaboration asks people to please wear a mask and social distance while on site.