Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday that he will be rolling out a new strategy to open up the state again, which should help millions of California residents and business owners who have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a media briefing, Newsom unveiled a six-point roadmap that he says will guide California’s transition from total lockdown to a functioning society and economy. The full reopening of the state’s $3 trillion economy will hinge on enhanced testing and a statewide reshaping of businesses, hospitals and schools to further implement physical distancing.
According to Courthouse News Service, Newsom also addressed how his reopening plan would affect businesses throughout the state:
On the economic side, Newsom said later this week he will be appointing a new taskforce to deal with “every economic sector.” The task force comes less than a week after Newsom’s chief business and financial advisor stepped down unceremoniously.
Newsom said the financial team will play a crucial role in the eventual decision to fully lift shelter-in-place orders that have been in place in some parts of the state for more than a month.
From downsized restaurants, smaller classrooms, banned gatherings and mass, constant sanitizing of public spaces, Newsom predicted major societal changes for the nation’s largest state. Nonetheless, Newsom encouraged residents to stay the course and trust his administration’s vision and timeline.
“Let’s not make the mistake of pulling the plug too early as much as we all want to. I don’t want to make a political decision that puts people’s lives at risk and puts the economy at even more risk by extending the period of time before we can ultimately transition and get people moving again,” Newsom said.
Read more at Courthouse News Service.