Even as California begins its gradual reopening, allowing some types of businesses to open their doors under certain conditions, Gov. Gavin Newsom warned residents not to get too hopeful.
“Millions of Californians answered the call to stay home and thanks to them, we are in a position to begin moving into our next stage of modifying our stay at home order,” Newsom said in a press release discussing the state’s efforts to head toward Phase 2 of reopening on Friday. “But make no mistake – this virus isn’t gone. It’s still dangerous and poses a significant public health risk. As we move into the next stage of reopening, we will do so with updated guidance to help qualifying businesses make modifications needed to lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure to customers and workers. Californians should prepare now for that second stage of reopening.”
Operating under a new set of conditions, retail, manufacturing, and logistics businesses will be part of Friday’s reopening. Dine-in restaurants, schools, and shopping malls will not come until later in Stage 2.
But as for complete normalcy? Newsom said earlier this week that there will be no return to the old way of life until “we get to immunity and a vaccine.”
“We’re not going back to normal. It’s a new normal with adaptations and modifications, until we get to immunity and a vaccine,” the governor said Tuesday during a press briefing.
President Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci have said a vaccine might be coming by the end of the year, but there are no guarantees.
While Newsom may be enjoying his emergency powers, Californians are already growing impatient and pushing back. How much more residents in the state will put up with remains to be seen.
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