SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — San Diego County health officials provided an update in response to COVID-19 during a media conference Thursday, as vaccines become available to everyone in California age 50 and older.
"We do see continued progress on efforts to move into the Orange tier. We have two consecutive weeks in what will be the Orange tier when the state hits that 4 million mark for vaccines in the top Healthy Place Index (HPI) Quartile -- we are not there yet, but at the point that we arrive there we should be prepared to move and descend into that Orange tier, perhaps as early as next week," Fletcher said.
San Diego County has reported 290 new coronavirus cases -- increasing the total number since the pandemic began to 270,287. An updated death toll was not announced Wednesday because of Cesar Chavez Day.
More than 1.73 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to San Diego County, according to the San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency, and more than 1.64 million have been logged as administered. This number includes both county residents and those who work in San Diego County.
COVID-19 vaccines will be made available to everyone in California age 50 and older beginning Thursday, then everyone age 16 and up on April 15, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last Thursday.
WATCH: San Diego County COVID-19 update Thursday (4/1)
Churches across San Diego that serve predominantly Black congregations are expanding COVID-19 testing ahead of Easter celebrations this weekend, according to an announcement Wednesday by the African American Community Empowerment Council.
Testing at participating San Diego churches, supported by the county health department, Tabernacle Community Development Corp. and the empowerment council, will start Thursday and be free through June 30 and available regardless of insurance status.
More information about the testing effort is available here.
WATCH: County Health Officer Wilma Wooten receives her vaccination (3/23)