Health officials say the COVID-19 case rate in Shasta County has reached its lowest level since October.
The county is averaging about 15 daily cases per 100,000 residents.
That’s still double the number needed to move to a less restrictive tier under the state’s reopening plan.
But Dr. Karen Ramstrom, the county’s health officer, implored residents to continue wearing their masks and practice social distance measures.
“Even with vaccine rolling out. It’s not to the degree that it’s going to give us community immunity,” Ramstrom said. “We’re not even close to that. Even as we approach that, we have the risk of these additional – these more infectious variants that are becoming more and more prevalent.”
Shasta County remains in the most restrictive, purple tier, under the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The purple tier signals the coronavirus is widespread in the community.
Officials say the test positivity rate – which is about 4 percent – means the county could move to the less restrictive red, or substantial tier, in two weeks.