While the Regional Stay at Home Order has been lifted, Santa Barbara County remains in the most restrictive Purple Tier. All businesses in Santa Barbara County, which are open or will be reopening, must follow all State guidance for their industry and self-certify that they are ready to reopen through completing the Online Self-Attestation.

Some additional businesses which may reopen outdoors with modifications in the purple tier include personal care services, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters, museums, and zoos and aquariums. For more information about changes in the purple tier, visit https://publichealthsbc.org/purple-tier/. 

“We are pleased the Stay-at-Home Order has been lifted and that California as a whole is moving in the right direction with decreasing hospitalizations and case counts. Now more businesses will be able to open in Santa Barbara. This is so important for the health of our community. In reference to this virus however, we have more work to do. Our case rates remain high and our ICU capacity is still very low. Please stay the course. Avoid gatherings, wear your face covering, and stay 6 feet from those you do not live with. We are getting closer, but this is not yet over.” states Dr. Henning Ansorg, Public Health Officer for the County of Santa Barbara.

Let’s work together to decrease disease transmission so we can move into the Red Tier.  Tier Updates are provided by the State weekly on Tuesdays. 

Getting vaccinated is one of the most important ways you can help end the COVID-19 pandemic and get Santa Barbara County’s local economy and our communities back to some level of normalcy while increasing our safety. 

A COVID-19 Vaccine will:

• Reduce number of people with COVID-19
• Reduce severity of illness
• Reduce hospitalizations
• Reduce deaths

We applaud our local health officials and collaborative partners who are taking on the monumental and historic mission to get everyone in our County vaccinated. The top priority is making sure those most at risk get the vaccine first including those working on the front lines such as our health care workers, paramedics, EMTs, those in long term care settings, and persons ages 75 and older.

Santa Barbara County Vaccination Clinics are focused on making sure those who received a first dose are scheduled to receive a second one. If you did not receive your second appointment along with your first, your provider (pharmacy, doctor or whomever gave you your first vaccine) will contact you to make your next appointment. If you are unsure, call 2-1-1 for additional support.

The next population in line to receive the vaccine are community members who are 65 and older and sectors of the population who are at a higher risk of being exposed to the virus including grocery store workers, educators, agricultural workers and emergency services (i.e. firefighters, law enforcement…).

Santa Barbara County Public Health Department’s vaccine distribution plan & timeline is available here: https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/. 

Santa Barbara County Public Health is asking all residents to sign up for the County COVID-19 Vaccination Newsletter to receive notifications on vaccine distribution and for how to make an appointment. Please note, signing up for the newsletter is not signing up for a vaccination appointment.

If you need help making an appointment, you can call 2-1-1 and select option 4. Questions about COVID-19 vaccinations? Email vaccine@sbcphd.org.

California will soon transition to a unified state network called My Turn that will allow the healthcare system and providers to streamline the vaccine process.  A roll out of the new system is expected soon.

My Turn (myturn.ca.gov) is an on-line registry, that once it is up and running, will be a central site where Californians can register to be notified when it’s their turn for a vaccine and can schedule an appointment.

Right now the system is a work in progress and is only being offered to health care workers and individuals 65 and older in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties.  We will let you know when online appointments are available for Santa Barbara County.

Details will be provided as soon as they become available.