More Angelenos will soon be eligible to receive coronavirus vaccine shots, according to the city’s plan to lower age restrictions.
On Thursday, anyone aged 50 years or older will become eligible for the vaccine, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Monday.
The change comes as new supplies will allow the city to offer more than 90,000 doses to Angelenos this week.
“Every person who gets vaccinated is helping Los Angeles take one more critical step towards ending the pandemic,” Garcetti said.
Two weeks later, on April 15, anyone 16 years of age or older will also become eligible.
First dose appointments can be made online at coronavirus.LACity.org/vaxappointment.
The changes come as Los Angeles and Orange County prepare to move into the less restrictive orange tier on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Under the orange tier, bars can reopen outdoors without a food order requirement, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Houses of worship, zoos and museums can raise capacity from 25% to 50%.
Restaurants and movie theaters can increase capacity from 25%, or a maximum of 100 people, to 50%, or a maximum of 200 people.
Amusement parks and gyms will be allowed to open with a 25% capacity.
The limit for outdoor sports and live performances, as of April 1, will rise to 33% for counties in the orange tier.
Some health officials expressed concern this week about a possible fourth surge of COVID-19 if people relax their social distancing efforts as a result of state’s reopening plans.
The head of the CDC said Monday she had a feeling of “impending doom” if people ease off too quickly.
President Joe Biden called on Americans to continue wearing masks and asked governors in states that have lifted mask restrictions to reinstate them.