April 6, 2021

County Opens Vaccinations to All Residents Age 16 and Older

San Bernardino County officials have announced that every County resident aged 16 and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The decision means thousands of additional residents may now schedule an appointment to receive one of the three FDA-approved vaccines.

“This represents another milestone in our effort to get this pandemic under control and return life to normal in San Bernardino County,” said the County’s Interim Health Director Andrew Goldfrach. “The disease is still with us, and we still need to remain cautious to avoid further outbreaks. Yet we have successfully vaccinated tens of thousands of our most vulnerable residents and have seen new cases and hospitalizations decrease rapidly, so we believe it’s time to open appointments to everyone in the county.”

Residents ages 16 and 17 will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive the Pfizer vaccine (the only one thus far approved for people under 18). The Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to those who are 18 years and older.

More than 785,000 vaccinations have been administered to San Bernardino County residents, according to the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard on the County’s COVID-19 website. The vaccines have been administered through County-run sites and a variety of independent providers such as hospitals, physician practices and major pharmacies. To schedule an appointment, please visit the County vaccination page or call the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

County Moves into Orange Tier Starting Tomorrow, April 7

Life in San Bernardino County is getting back to normal, with officials reporting the County has moved from the Red Tier into the less restrictive Orange Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Beginning tomorrow, April 7, a variety of institutions and businesses may now open to 50% capacity — a notable increase from the Red Tier’s limit of 25%. And some businesses, like bars and bowling alleys, can now reopen for the first time in over a year.

Any bar in San Bernardino County may now open for outdoor service. Movie theaters, museums, and restaurants may double the number of guests allowed inside. Wineries and breweries can allow patrons to enjoy their beverages indoors. And outdoor stadiums can open at 33% capacity.

The Orange Tier means the spread of COVID-19 has now reduced to a moderate level, as the number of cases continues to decline. As of Monday, the County’s daily adjusted rate was 3.4 per 100,000.

“This is a great day for county residents, the vast majority of whom have faithfully followed public health guidelines and patiently waited for a chance to get back to their regular lives,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “This, combined with our successful vaccination efforts, means we are on track for a great summer ahead.”

Hagman said that the county’s key COVID-19 metrics, ranging from its case rate to positivity and health equity positivity rates, have continued to decline, while the number of residents vaccinated against COVID-19 increases daily.

“To put things in perspective, we had 38 new cases of COVID-19 on April 2, compared to 5,315 cases on January 4,” said Hagman. “This is a testament to diligence of residents who have been careful to wear face coverings, maintain physical distancing, and follow the other guidelines we’ve been promoting for the past year.

“With our supply of vaccines increasing, we’re confident this progress will continue to accelerate,” Hagman continued.

The following is allowed under the new Orange Tier, all with modifications. For a complete listing of what can open in the tier and with specific capacity and modifications, see this updated activity tier from the California Department of Public Health. 

• Retailers, malls, and grocery stores can operate at 100% capacity with modifications
• Museums, zoos and aquariums can open indoors at 50% capacity
• Movie theaters can now open with 50% capacity or 100 people
• Hotels can now open their indoor pools, and fitness centers at 25% capacity
• Gyms can now be at 25% capacity, including climbing walls and indoor pools
• Restaurants can open indoors at 50% capacity or 200 people (whichever is fewer)
• Wineries, breweries and distilleries can open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Bars may serve customers outdoors (regardless if serving food)
• Family entertainment centers can open indoors at 25% capacity for naturally distanced activities like bowling and rock-climbing walls
• While telework is still encouraged for non-essential offices, they can reopen in-person staffing
• Outdoor professional sports stadiums can have audiences up to 33% capacity (up from 20%)
• Theme parks may reopen at 25% capacity

For all COVID-19 related information, including case statistics, FAQs, guidelines and resources, visit the County’s COVID-19 webpage at http://sbcovid19.com/. Residents of San Bernardino County may also call the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911 for general information and resources about the virus. The phone line is NOT for medical calls and is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions about social services, please call 211.