By Aila Slisco
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A county in northeastern California plans to reopen businesses on Friday amid the COVID-19 pandemic, despite California Governor Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order prohibiting all nonessential business throughout the state.
The Modoc County Board of Supervisors voted to reopen after sending Newsom a letter outlining their intentions last week. Only 80 of the rural county's fewer than 10,000 residents have been tested for the virus, with zero confirmed cases as of Friday, although three test results are pending.
"Just as our physical health is vital for our citizens, so is the mental health and the economic health of our citizens," Modoc County Supervisor Ned Coe told The Associated Press.
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On Tuesday, the county released a strategic plan for reopening businesses on Friday. Social distancing guidelines are part of the plan, as is reduced capacity for some of the businesses, like bars and restaurants.
People aged 65 or older, or those with underlying health conditions, "should continue to self-isolate" until May 15 under the plan. The county may revert to abiding by the stay-at-home order if two or more cases are confirmed, health care facilities become overwhelmed or the death rate increases substantially.
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Newsom has not responded to Modoc county's letter but said he was aware of the plan at a news conference Thursday. He did not indicate whether he would take legal action to prevent the country from moving forward but said the stay-at-home-order "overlays" all other local orders and conflicts would present a challenge.
"Nothing would please me more than pleasing those local officials," Newsom said. "But we're not out of the woods. No part of the state, no part of this country, few parts of the globe have been immune to this virus."
"I recognize the nuances and the diversity in this state. We do not adopt a one-size-fits-all, but there are basic foundational principles that we do... want to see advanced throughout the state of California," he added.
The news conference also saw the governor announce the temporary closure of all beaches in South California's Orange county. Newsom had called images of tens of thousands of people packed on beaches in defiance of public health measures last weekend "disturbing."
"Why undo all the great progress?" Newsom said. "My job as governor is to keep you safe. And if my health folks tell me they can't promise that [people will be safe] if we promote another weekend like we had, then I have to make this adjustment."
Newsom said that he plans to begin taking targeted steps to modify some restrictions of the stay-at-home order over the coming weeks with a "health and safety focus." He cited recent spikes of new cases in several countries after restrictions were eased to illustrate why he believes it is important to take a slow, coordinated approach to reopening the economy.
"When you pull back too quickly you literally put people's lives at risk," said Newsom. "People are literally dying because of decisions that were done without a real frame of focus on public health first. And so, that is what ultimately will guide our decisions."
Newsweek reached out to Newsom's office for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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