Governor Dangles ‘Could’, ‘May’, & ‘Soon’ But Offers No Specifics To Help Beleaguered Businesses, Laid-Off Workers

Citing decreasing coronavirus hospitalization and ICU rates statewide, California Governor Gavin Newsom is eyeing a relaxation of restrictions that could allow more businesses to reopen quicker in a majority of the state’s counties.

But Newsom is short on specifics.   He says if the current trends continue, the state may be able to significantly ease restrictions statewide in the next few weeks, allowing businesses to reopen soon.

For people out of work, and businesses on the brink, the lack of specific dates offers them nothing in terms of when money will be coming in.

The looser restrictions are that counties have no more than a 5% increase in hospitalizations over a seven-day period, have no more than an 8% positive rate among people tested for coronavirus, and have 15 trained patient-contact-tracing workers per 100,000 population.

Riverside County formally complained, joining San Diego, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties, to oppose Newsom’s stance that counties had to go for 14 days without a COVID-19-related death in order to be eligible for the next Phase of business reopening.

Newsom now says local jurisdictions have a better sense of what is happening locally when it comes to the spread of Covid-19.

There are plenty of masks and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, which the Governor referred to as an “unprecedented number of masks” and other personal protective equipment being distributed throughout the state.

Governor Newsom reinforced his $125 million state relief program to provide financial assistance to illegal immigrants during the coronavirus pandemic.

Applicants for the disaster relief fund locally may apply for a one-time sum of $500. A household will be limited to $1,000. Interested applicants should call 858-206-8291 to get more information.

 

 

Photo from Alpha Media USA Portland OR