Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that some retail stores in California can reopen, with some modifications, as early as Friday. The major move comes during mounting pressure to ease the stay-at-home order that has largely crumbled the state’s economy. “We are entering into the next phase this week,” Newsom said at a news conference. “This is a very positive sign and it’s happened only for one reason: The data says it can happen.” As of Friday bookstores, music stores, toy stores, florists, sporting goods retailers and some other businesses can reopen for pickup. More details will emerge later in the week, Newsom said.
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The U.S. Senate reopened today alongside the Supreme Court, which will hold its cases, for the time being, by phone.
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I saw a headline on The Today Show out of New York this morning: “Millions head out this weekend as the death toll climbs.” Protests are springing up around the country, including here in Santa Cruz County about stay-at-home and social distancing orders regarding COVID-19. About 20 people marched and waved signs Friday starting at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. With large signs that read COVID is a Lie, Stop the Lies, and Re-Open Santa Cruz, the noisy group marched to downtown Santa Cruz chanting. Meanwhile, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, resisted pressure on Sunday to lift his stay-at-home order. Demonstrators gathered over the weekend to protest the restrictions. “Everybody has a right to protest and express their feelings,” Hogan said. “Sadly, we had far more people die yesterday in Maryland than we had protesters.”
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While most people seem to be taking the new order to close beaches in Santa Cruz County from 11 am to 5 pm (except for those heading into the water for surfing and other water activities), others seemed to ignore it over the weekend. On Sunday there were well over 100 people on Main Beach in Santa Cruz. While some were indeed splashing around in the surf and cooling off in the shallows, others set up tents, umbrellas, and blankets, with ice coolers, picnic baskets and other beach articles for a day of fun on the sand. Police from various agencies fanned out and reminded many of them of the rules.
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There are now 1,167,241 cases in the U.S. with 52,197 deaths.
The local COVID-19 cases are:
• Santa Cruz County, 137 cases, 2 deaths, 94 recoveries.
• Monterey Co. 235 cases, 6 deaths, 65 recoveries.
• San Benito Co. 51 cases, 2 deaths, 46 recoveries.
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Costco stores and their adjoining gas stations are returning to regular operating hours today. Six Bay Area counties are lessening some restrictions starting today.
