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California Is Slowly Reopening. It’s Complicated. California Is Slowly Reopening. It’s Complicated.
(8 days later)
Good morning.Good morning.
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On Monday, at the start of another week under California’s stay-at-home order, Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled out slightly loosened criteria for counties that hope to allow businesses to reopen more quickly than the state overall.On Monday, at the start of another week under California’s stay-at-home order, Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled out slightly loosened criteria for counties that hope to allow businesses to reopen more quickly than the state overall.
“This is an important period of time,” he said. “In the next few weeks we are looking at a number of significant milestones.”“This is an important period of time,” he said. “In the next few weeks we are looking at a number of significant milestones.”
Going forward, state health officials said they were no longer requiring counties to have zero Covid-19 deaths for two weeks, for instance.Going forward, state health officials said they were no longer requiring counties to have zero Covid-19 deaths for two weeks, for instance.
[Read More: What Are California’s Phases for Reopening? The Latest Updates.][Read More: What Are California’s Phases for Reopening? The Latest Updates.]
Rather, Mr. Newsom said counties should continue to track hospitalization numbers, and also track positivity rates, meaning the percentage of tests that come back positive. (It should be less than 8 percent for a week.)Rather, Mr. Newsom said counties should continue to track hospitalization numbers, and also track positivity rates, meaning the percentage of tests that come back positive. (It should be less than 8 percent for a week.)
Already, though, 24 counties had been allowed to reopen more businesses under the prior criteria, he said. And the statistics the state has been tracking — including hospitalizations and Covid-19 cases requiring intensive care — have been promising.Already, though, 24 counties had been allowed to reopen more businesses under the prior criteria, he said. And the statistics the state has been tracking — including hospitalizations and Covid-19 cases requiring intensive care — have been promising.
Mr. Newsom estimated that all but a handful of California’s counties may be able to qualify soon.Mr. Newsom estimated that all but a handful of California’s counties may be able to qualify soon.
[See which states have reopened and when.][See which states have reopened and when.]
Still, as The San Francisco Chronicle reported, even within the once-united Bay Area, paths are starting to diverge county by county, and the patchwork of rules has become a little confusing.Still, as The San Francisco Chronicle reported, even within the once-united Bay Area, paths are starting to diverge county by county, and the patchwork of rules has become a little confusing.
Mr. Newsom emphasized that local considerations would continue to drive his conversations with county health leaders.Mr. Newsom emphasized that local considerations would continue to drive his conversations with county health leaders.
Here’s what to know:Here’s what to know:
The governor said 53 out of 58 counties meet the new criteria. So does that mean they can all reopen?The governor said 53 out of 58 counties meet the new criteria. So does that mean they can all reopen?
Not yet. Mr. Newsom said that number was a rough estimate that would become clearer in the coming days.Not yet. Mr. Newsom said that number was a rough estimate that would become clearer in the coming days.
And each county will have to file documentation showing that it meets the criteria and that officials have plans in place to help ensure restaurants keep customers apart and to reinstate restrictions if necessary.And each county will have to file documentation showing that it meets the criteria and that officials have plans in place to help ensure restaurants keep customers apart and to reinstate restrictions if necessary.
Which counties have already been allowed to loosen restrictions?Which counties have already been allowed to loosen restrictions?
So far, the bulk are smaller counties in far Northern California, but the list is expected to grow. You can find the list of counties, along with the documents officials filed with the state, here.So far, the bulk are smaller counties in far Northern California, but the list is expected to grow. You can find the list of counties, along with the documents officials filed with the state, here.
Did we get any more information on when other kinds of businesses can reopen?Did we get any more information on when other kinds of businesses can reopen?
Yes. Mr. Newsom said that in the next few weeks, stores may be open not just for curbside pickup. In the first week of June, sporting events may start taking place, although they’d still be without fans.Yes. Mr. Newsom said that in the next few weeks, stores may be open not just for curbside pickup. In the first week of June, sporting events may start taking place, although they’d still be without fans.
And for those of us feeling a bit shaggy, haircuts could be on the way somewhere in that same time frame.And for those of us feeling a bit shaggy, haircuts could be on the way somewhere in that same time frame.
I live in the Bay Area or Los Angeles. Does that change anything?I live in the Bay Area or Los Angeles. Does that change anything?
Yes. It’s important to remember that all the so-called regional variance also allows counties to keep stricter orders in place than the state’s, if local leaders say that’s appropriate.Yes. It’s important to remember that all the so-called regional variance also allows counties to keep stricter orders in place than the state’s, if local leaders say that’s appropriate.
[See coronavirus cases by county in California.][See coronavirus cases by county in California.]
Tell us how reopening is going in your community.Tell us how reopening is going in your community.
If you live in a county that has been allowed to reopen more quickly, we want to hear about your experience. If you’d like to share for potential publication, please email us at CAtoday@nytimes.com with the answers to the following questions:If you live in a county that has been allowed to reopen more quickly, we want to hear about your experience. If you’d like to share for potential publication, please email us at CAtoday@nytimes.com with the answers to the following questions:
1. What is your name and age, and what county do you live in?1. What is your name and age, and what county do you live in?
2. What was the first newly reopened business you visited?2. What was the first newly reopened business you visited?
3. What precautions, if any, did you take?3. What precautions, if any, did you take?
4. How did it feel to be out? Did you feel like you had a clear idea of how to manage risks?4. How did it feel to be out? Did you feel like you had a clear idea of how to manage risks?
Thanks for reading, and for your help.Thanks for reading, and for your help.
We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.
After about a month and a half at the Port of Los Angeles, the U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy started its slow journey back down the coast to San Diego on Friday.After about a month and a half at the Port of Los Angeles, the U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy started its slow journey back down the coast to San Diego on Friday.
The ship was called as a relief valve for hospitals in the region, if they became overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients. But its mission shifted over the weeks, and late last month, most of the staff were moved into hotels onshore.The ship was called as a relief valve for hospitals in the region, if they became overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients. But its mission shifted over the weeks, and late last month, most of the staff were moved into hotels onshore.
According to the governor’s office of emergency services, medical staff members from the Mercy will stay in the L.A. area to help at skilled nursing facilities and other sites.According to the governor’s office of emergency services, medical staff members from the Mercy will stay in the L.A. area to help at skilled nursing facilities and other sites.
Within minutes of opening up, phone lines crashed as calls flooded in for California’s landmark program to provide aid to undocumented workers — who pay taxes but have been left vulnerable. [The New York Times]Within minutes of opening up, phone lines crashed as calls flooded in for California’s landmark program to provide aid to undocumented workers — who pay taxes but have been left vulnerable. [The New York Times]
A federal judge ordered Los Angeles to move more than 6,000 unhoused people living near freeways into shelters. He said that the freeways and on- and off-ramps were particularly dangerous. [The New York Times]A federal judge ordered Los Angeles to move more than 6,000 unhoused people living near freeways into shelters. He said that the freeways and on- and off-ramps were particularly dangerous. [The New York Times]
A vaccine remains the most elusive and potentially effective weapon in the fight against Covid-19. Researchers in the Bay Area may have a leg up. [The San Francisco Chronicle]A vaccine remains the most elusive and potentially effective weapon in the fight against Covid-19. Researchers in the Bay Area may have a leg up. [The San Francisco Chronicle]
If you missed it, Atwater, a small community in Merced County, declared itself a coronavirus “sanctuary city,” meaning its leaders are refusing to enforce state orders to keep some businesses closed. [Merced Sun-Star]If you missed it, Atwater, a small community in Merced County, declared itself a coronavirus “sanctuary city,” meaning its leaders are refusing to enforce state orders to keep some businesses closed. [Merced Sun-Star]
Disney’s top streaming executive quit on Monday to become the chief executive of TikTok. [The New York Times]Disney’s top streaming executive quit on Monday to become the chief executive of TikTok. [The New York Times]
Can Airbnb survive the coronavirus pandemic? It’ll be difficult. [CityLab]Can Airbnb survive the coronavirus pandemic? It’ll be difficult. [CityLab]
Trying to figure out where to hike or ride your bike in the Bay Area? Here’s a guide. [The San Francisco Chronicle]Trying to figure out where to hike or ride your bike in the Bay Area? Here’s a guide. [The San Francisco Chronicle]
Updated July 27, 2020 Updated August 4, 2020
Not to be corny, but if there is one thing I genuinely hope I will take with me once this is over — once life returns to something like normal — it is the ability to find joy in small things.Not to be corny, but if there is one thing I genuinely hope I will take with me once this is over — once life returns to something like normal — it is the ability to find joy in small things.
Things like deleting mediocre photos off your phone. Like circling your Oakland block on foot, expanding the boundaries of what feels like home. Like lightly indulging a sort of “Little House on the Prairie” fantasy, even though the closest you have to a homestead is your driveway in L.A.Things like deleting mediocre photos off your phone. Like circling your Oakland block on foot, expanding the boundaries of what feels like home. Like lightly indulging a sort of “Little House on the Prairie” fantasy, even though the closest you have to a homestead is your driveway in L.A.
Those are just a few of the subjects of 14 essays my colleagues on the Styles desk put together. They asked writers to write about what’s bringing them joy these days. Maybe you can relate. (And no, this doesn’t have anything to do with the 2015 Jennifer Lawrence vehicle — but it could if it brings you joy!)Those are just a few of the subjects of 14 essays my colleagues on the Styles desk put together. They asked writers to write about what’s bringing them joy these days. Maybe you can relate. (And no, this doesn’t have anything to do with the 2015 Jennifer Lawrence vehicle — but it could if it brings you joy!)
California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.
Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.