• Gov Newsom Shares "Blueprint for a Safer California"

Today, California's Governor Gavin Newsom shared a retooled process for loosening and tightening COVID-19 restrictions.

The new plan requires 21 days before a county can move to a less-restrictive tier in order to know what may be adversely affecting public health. And it features a new process for tightening up if and when conditions worsen.

The tiers are color-coded:

• Purple for Widespread (more than 7 daily new cases  per 100,000;  more than 8% positive tests; most non-essential indoor businesses closed)
• Red for Substantial (4-7 daily new cases per 100,000; 5-8% positive tests; some non- essential indoor businesses closed
• Orange for Moderate (1-3.9 daily new cases per 100,000; 2-4.9% positive tests; some business operations open with modifications)
• Yellow for Minimal (fewer than one daily new case per 100,000; less than 2% positive tests; most business operations open with modifications).  

“We don’t put up green because we don’t believe that there is a green light that says go back to the way things were, or back to a pre-pandemic mindset,” the governor said.

Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties are all in the purple (widespread) tier.

According to the website, that means, "Counties in the Widespread tier (purple, which includes Riverside) may open some businesses and activities with modifications, including all retail, shopping centers at maximum 25% capacity, and hair salons and barbershops indoors."

Santa Barbara and San Diego are in the slightly less restrictive red tier. 

COVID-19 website

Blueprint for a Safer Economy

Will this help our economy?

It's certainly better than nothing...

Still, at this point, there's such a large portion of our economy that is simply waiting to exhale... to continue the metaphor, but I don't see this as assisting the free flow of oxygen they way coming up for air in a pool would. 

I see it more like handing someone a straw to breathe through. Better than nothing, but not life sustaining for many.

The one thing I'd continue to implore among the community is to do your best to maintain your dignity. There is nothing good that is served by being hostile with each other on social media or in public. By all means, if you have a different POV, then share it if you must, but in reality haven't you figured it out yet that NO ONE IS GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND BECAUSE YOU POST A HATEFUL MEME?