LA County could ease virus restrictions later this month as cases fall

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County could move into the next phase of reopening with fewer restrictions as early as next week, though any actual lifting of coronavirus-related constraints would not happen immediately, health officials said Wednesday.

The county, the nation’s most populous with its 10 million residents, has recorded more than 1.9 million COVID-19 cases during the pandemic. It is currently in the state’s most restrictive category — known as the purple tier — because of widespread transmission.

Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director, said she expects the county to move into the red tier as early as next week. The tiers are based on test positivity rates and adjusted case rate figures.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said at an event Wednesday that he wants to incorporate vaccination rates into the tier system and has already been talking with local health officials about it.

California’s overall positivity rate has fallen to its lowest level during the pandemic and the 7-day positivity rate stood at 2.2 percent Wednesday. In Los Angeles County, the 7-day positivity rate is 3.5 percent. The county would need Newsom’s permission to advance and must remain within the red tier’s requirements for two weeks before anything reopens.

Most San Francisco Bay Area counties have advanced to the next phase, which allows restaurants and movie theaters to open indoors at 25 percent capacity and gyms to operate at 10 percent capacity.

Ferrer said there is a “high likelihood” the reopenings would begin sometime this month.