Monday, May 4, Gov. Newsom announced that California’s economy would begin to reopen slowly, including some retail and hospitality businesses. The Gov. stated that companies would start to open up later this week with limited restrictions as California moves to the next stage of controlling the coronavirus pandemic. 

Newsom stated that businesses considered low risk in the retail and hospitality industry, such as clothing, florists, bookstores, and sporting goods were authorized to reopen for curbside pickup and can open by the end of this week. Businesses that will remain closed are dine-in services at restaurants, shopping malls, and offices. 

“This is a very positive sign, and it’s happening only for one reason — the data says it can happen,” Newsom said.

The governor released a plan that provides health officials in counties that have not been affected by COVID-19 like those in the Bay area and Los Angeles to move forward and open more businesses. 

In order for counties to move ahead, they must meet specific health requirements before opening up. These requirements include hospital bed capacities, testing capabilities, and plans to track infected individuals and those they came into contact with, Newsom stated. On Thursday, there will be detailed guidances released for business authorized to reopen, including sanitation and social distancing requirements.

As of Monday, it was reported 55,000 people in California had been infected with COVID-19, and over 2,200 people have died. Newsom expressed his confidence in the state’s ability to have enough hospital beds for patients to medical protective equipment for health care professionals to conduct testing to tackle the healthcare demands of the disease.

Currently, the state has more than 10,000 ventilators that are not being used and are administering about 30,000 tests a day, as stated by Newsom. However, Newsom advised the adjustments made to his statewide stay-at-home order could be reversed if the number of COVID-19 patients in ICUs and hospitals starts to increase again.

Sources: 

1. https://www.ocregister.com/2020/05/04/california-to-begin-reopening-at-end-of-this-week-newsom-says/
2. https://wordofhealth.com/2020/03/21/coronavirus-update-california-issued-statewide-stay-at-home-order/

The total coronavirus death toll in the U.S. climbed to 11, with the majority reported in Washington except for one. The first death in California due to COVID-19 led Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. Placer County officials confirmed the patient was an elderly man who had underlying health conditions. He was most likely exposed to the virus while on a cruise ship that left from San Francisco to Mexico from Feb. 11-21. 

The patient tested positive Tuesday, March 3rd, and was placed in isolation at Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center. Those who were in contact with the patient are now in quarantine and monitored for the infection. Other individuals placed in quarantine consist of ambulance responders and Kaiser Permanente health care workers who were exposed to the patient before placed in isolation.

After a trip to Hawaii, the same ship canceled its stop in Baja, California. The ship was scheduled to return early to San Francisco on Wednesday, but it remains off the coast to allow proper screening for everyone on board, Newsom stated.

Officials are trying to pinpoint other Californians who might have contracted the virus on the Grand Princess ship in San Francisco last month after a trip to Mexico. Passengers previously and currently aboard the ship explained to the Times the errors both from the company and health officials. Initially, the Grand Princess failed to provide health screening procedures to passengers. Management also did not disclose any information regarding potential risks occupants could face, even when the ship’s condition became known to the public.

Newsom assured Californians his state of emergency declaration is to help the state prepare and contain the spread of the coronavirus to obtain the necessary equipment and services needed for patients. The declaration also reduced restrictions held on the use of state-owned properties and facilities. Vice President Mike Pence announced that 1.5 million tests would be ready for distribution by the end of the week. 
Check out our previous article to find out what precautions to take for the coronavirus here.