Hip Hip Hooray! California is reopened and back in business!!
Current Events
California was a disaster when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic. Like New York, COVID hit the west coast state hard and shut it down completely. However, unlike New York, California went for the “quick fix” solution and attempted an early reopening of the state in May of 2020 for the purpose of boosting the economy. Needless to say, it did not go well.
Almost immediately, COVID cases and deaths went through the roof and the virus was spreading throughout the state like a west coast wildfire. The reopening less than 2 months after the world went silent due to the pandemic was much too soon. Californians were forced to go back to hunkering down and Gov. Gavin Newsom was left with no alternative but to take the conservative and safer approach (that should have happened the first time) and shut it all down… AGAIN!
Since then, several states (including New York) have reopened gyms, restaurants, and more — but, Californians were understandably skittish and remained on lock-down longer than any other state.
However, that was then and this is now!
On Tuesday, California officially reopened the state back to a level of normalcy and removed capacity limits, physical distancing, and mask requirements for those who’ve been fully vaccinated.
“California is turning the page on this pandemic, thanks to swift action by the state and the work of Californians who followed public health guidelines and got vaccinated to protect themselves and their communities,” Gov. Newsom said. “With nearly 40 million vaccines administered and among the lowest case rates in the nation, we are lifting the orders that impact Californians on a day-to-day basis while remaining vigilant to protect public health and safety as the pandemic persists.”
Now, residents are jumping for joy and dancing in the streets at the return to a regular way of life.
Just after midnight early Wednesday morning, the popular LGBTQ spot Abbey Restaurant & Bar in West Hollywood brought back dancing and DJs and allowed patrons to sit at the bar for the first time in over a year in celebration of the end of restrictions. Baseball’s LA Dodgers scheduled a “Reopening Day” promo and said they will give away 25,000 Justin Turner bobbleheads as a welcome gift to a full-capacity home crowd.
Additionally, residents took to the streets and are happily taking advantage of the lifted restrictions.
“I’m very happy about it. I think as long as we’re safe, it’s great,” San Francisco resident Jim Bloedau said. “Go out and get vaccinated. It’s safe and everybody should take care of themselves and take care of each other.”
To date, the coronavirus has infected some 3.8 million Californians and killed more than 63,000 residents — more than any other US state. To see them return to a long-awaited and much-anticipated sense of normalcy is undoubtedly a reason to celebrate!
They had it real bad in California. I have some family out there. I am happy for them.