Many California stores can reopen Friday from coronavirus lockdown, Newsom announces

Many California retail businesses will be able to reopen with some modifications by the end of the week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Monday, signaling an easing of the restrictions he handed down on March 19 to slow the coronavirus outbreak.

Retailers such as florists, book stores and clothing outlets will be able to open their doors for curbside pickup by Friday, if certain specifications are met, Newsom said.

His administration also plans to allow for some regional variation, meaning local public health officers will have the authority to let other kinds of businesses reopen based on conditions in their communities. Newsom said that could mean restaurants will open in some communities.

“This is an optimistic day as we see a little bit of sunshine on the horizon,” he said at a news conference.

Newsom spoke as some local governments have been pressing him to lift the stay-at-home order. Modoc, Sutter and Yuba counties have allowed some businesses to reopen. Others, including Stanislaus, San Luis Obispo and El Dorado counties, have advocated for more flexibility.

More than 4 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits since the outbreak halted economic activity throughout the state. Many retailers are eager to reopen.

“It’s not just opening retail for retail’s sake. It’s opening so people can get back to work,” said Rachel Michelin, president of the California Retailers Association.

She called the governor’s announcement good news, but said that she hopes to see further opening up of business soon. Many small businesses lack the infrastructure to adopt a curbside pickup model, she said. Also, shopping malls are expected to remain closed, leaving those retailers shut for the time being.

“It would be nice to see more of a level playing field for all retail in California,” Michelin said.

Protesters urge reopening

Many Californians also are anxious to resume everyday activities, like going to playgrounds and workplaces.

Last week, hundreds of people outside the Capitol protested the stay-at-home at order and more rallies followed in Orange County, where Newsom closed beaches after tens of thousands of people crowded them the previous week.

Newsom did not announce a timeline for opening up more activities. He previously announced a plan to reopen the state in four phases depending on infections and medical capacity, culminating with permitting large gatherings like concerts. Allowing retail stores to operate is part of the second phase in his reopening plan.

California Department of Public Health Director Sonia Angell said the state is ready to relax some stay-at-home restrictions in part because coronavirus-related hospitalizations had stabilized and because the state had expanded its capacity to handle another potential surge of cases.

“This is a very positive sign and it’s happened for only one reason: the data says it can happen,” Newsom said.

For instance, the state now has access to 14 field hospitals that can be used if hospitals become overwhelmed. California also has more than 10,000 ventilators on hand, which was a target Newsom set in March when the state had fewer than 5,000 of the machines.

As of Monday, more than 54,000 Californians have contracted the coronavirus and more than 2,200 have died from it.

More than 3,300 Californians have been hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19, with more than 1,160 in intensive care. Those numbers have held fairly steady since April 20, according to the health department.

Retooling for curbside pickups

Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Tehama, who has advocated for Newsom to relax the order for rural counties, praised the announcement.

“Now that our state has experienced the effects of this virus on our healthcare system, and we know which counties are hardest hit, this is the logical next step to get Californians back to work,” he said.

Small business owners say they look forward to opening their shops, although the still have to figure out how to operate while many customers are worried about the virus.

“I’m kind of optimistic but I’m still realistic about this,” said Lauren Lundsten, owner of the Swanberg’s on J clothing shop in midtown Sacramento. “There’s a lot of businesses that are just going to drop, and I hope I’m not one of them. I don’t have enough room in my garage for my inventory.”

Lundsten said it’s going to be difficult for many merchants like him to do business without allowing customers inside.

“Curbside — I don’t know how that’s going to work for me,” he said. “They can look in the window and say, ‘Give me one of those.’”

He said he’s lost so much money in the past six weeks, he doesn’t have “enough money in the kitty” to start a traditional ad campaign. “I guess I’m going to have to work harder on the internet, Facebook.”

This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 12:47 PM with the headline "Many California stores can reopen Friday from coronavirus lockdown, Newsom announces."