A BREAKDOWN OF GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S FOUR STAGE PLAN TO REOPEN CALIFORNIA AND MY FEELINGS TOWARDS OUR CURRENT SITUATION
Hillary Altes
Health Head
Uncertainty is an aspect of life that is becoming increasingly prevalent as the pandemic progresses. It is difficult to plan for the future, both at a personal and societal level, without knowing what will come next as a result of the coronavirus. However, some information has been released regarding both the state of California as a whole as well as San Diego County. There will indubitably be modifications and challenges to the manner in which society moves forward, but I found it relevant to break down the situation in a comprehensive fashion while offering my feelings towards the situation from the perspective of a high school student.
On a state level, Governor Newsom has released his four stage plan to reopen California in a gradual and safe manner. We are currently in the first stage, which is focussed on making sure that essential businesses are operating safely and expanding the state’s testing capabilities. Hospitals are also being prepared for a potential surge in the number of cases. Phase two of Newsom’s plan will begin on Friday, May 8th. Some nonessential businesses will be able to open if they meet the state’s guidelines and make the necessary modifications to their practices. This includes retail stores with curbside pickup and the manufacturing of toys, clothes, and other items that are considered nonessential. On Friday, some public spaces such as trails and parks will also open up.
Certain aspects of stage two will not occur for weeks or even months, depending on the status of each county. For example, offices and dine-in restaurants will not be reopened until later on in stage two. Additionally, child care centers and schools will not be in operation in most areas for at least a month. One aspect of the eventual reopening of these facilities is that schools may be able to start their 2020-2021 academic years as early as late July. While I recognize the potential need to catch up on work that could not be accomplished from online learning, I personally do not think that schools should start that early. After all of the changes that we are experiencing due to the pandemic, most teens are hoping for as close to an ordinary summer experience as possible. Starting school earlier would detract from the normalcy that our generation is craving.
Stage three of Governor Newsom’s plan entails opening higher risk businesses. Places like nail or hair salons, gyms, and entertainment venues may not be open for months because people usually sit close together, which would allow for the virus to spread easily. With modifications, these businesses as well as in-person religious services and sporting events without audiences would be allowed during phase three. Eventually, we will reach the fourth stage of the plan that entails lifting the stay at home order entirely and the ability to have events like concerts and sporting events with live audiences.
I am just as excited to reach stage four and have life go back to normal as everyone else. It would be a dream to have a beach day with my friends where we are allowed to walk within six feet of each other, not wear masks, and have a relaxing time without the concern of catching the virus in the back of our minds. However, I would much rather quarantine for longer than face a possible resurgence in the number of cases. I believe that it is every individual’s responsibility to stay updated on the impacts of the virus as well as the laws surrounding mask use, the stay at home order, and other aspects of the pandemic. These laws are in place for a reason, and the only way we will be able to move forward to normalcy as a society is if everyone obeys them.
Unfortunately, many people have started to forgo social distancing as the pandemic progresses. More and more often I am seeing photos of teenagers hanging out with their friends, and they are in no way six feet apart from each other. While it is extremely irresponsible of them to be violating social distancing at all, it is even worse that they are advertising their actions through social media. Posting photos or videos of hanging out with your friends on apps like Instagram and Tiktok promotes the message that it is acceptable to ignore social distancing rules and encourages similar behavior. In order for businesses to reopen and for society to return to normalcy in a healthy manner, these actions need to stop. Social media is a tool that can also be used to encourage socially responsible behavior, and I hope that it is utilized in such a manner in the upcoming weeks. Everybody must act responsibly by practicing social distancing to avoid delaying the onset of Governor Newsom’s plan and society’s return to commonality. If we want to “save summer” and avoid a potential resurge in cases, there can be no exceptions.
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