How can I get rid of these two eighth rests so that the repeat sign moves over to the far left?
Turn on Insert mode and press Delete.
It would be useful to see what you have before (probably an incomplete bar with only a quarter note?). It looks like Bach’s 2nd cello Suite, in which case you could do the following: select the half‑rests (including the one in the bar before), activate Insert mode, press Delete, then deactivate Insert mode!
Wow.
Jesper