Newsom Says CA Could Start to Reopen on May 8

[additional-authors]

Aaron Bandler

May 4, 2020

Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said that the state could start to reopen on May 8.

“CA is led by data and SCIENCE,” Newsom tweeted on May 4. “Based off our progress, we’ll begin to gradually move into Stage 2 this FRIDAY. Some sectors where there’s a lower risk of transmission will be able to adapt & re-open with modifications.”

CA is led by data and SCIENCE.

Based off our progress, we’ll begin to gradually move into Stage 2 this FRIDAY.

Some sectors where there’s a lower risk of transmission will be able to adapt & re-open with modifications.

This will include some retail and manufacturing/logistics.

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 4, 2020

The businesses that could reopen include clothing stores, florists, bookstores and sporting goods stores, although they would have to allow for curbside pickup. Shopping malls and dine-in restaurants are still not allowed to reopen.

What DOES this include?
Places like:
– clothing stores
– florists
– bookstores
– sporting goods stores

All with curbside pick-up.

What does this NOT include at this time?
Places like:
– Offices (can continue telework)
– Restaurants (seated dining)
– Shopping Malls

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 4, 2020

Newsom added that he would provide further guidance on the matter on May 7. Local counties can move further into reopening if the county supervisors and health officials sign off on it.

Under Newsom’s plan to reopen California, the state is currently under Stage 1 and would appear to be entering Stage 2 — the reopening of lower-risk businesses — on May 8. Stage 3 is the reopening of higher risk businesses such as movie theaters, nail salons and gyms, and Stage 4 is a full return to normalcy.

FOX 11 Los Angeles reporter Elex Michaelson tweeted, “Will Los Angeles County amend its May 15^th [shelter-in-place] order to be in line with the state? There will be A LOT of pressure to do so.”

Will Los Angeles county amend its May 15th order to be in line with the state? There will be A LOT of pressure to do so. https://t.co/Tk1hosEzyO

— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) May 4, 2020

As of this writing, there are 52,197 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2,172 deaths in the state. Over the past 24 hours, hospitalization declined 1.9%, but intensive care unit (ICU) patients increased 0.9% in California.