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California said Monday it was lifting a regional order that called on residents to stay home except for “essential activities”, with the state citing “positive signs” regarding the spread of COVID-19.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has long been one of the most belligerent state leaders when it comes to pandemic restrictions. He imposed the first statewide shutdown in March. Newsom instituted this more recent regional stay-at-home order in early December before extending it to the end of December.
“California is slowly starting to emerge from the most dangerous wave of this pandemic yet, which is the light at the end of the tunnel we were hoping for,” Secretary of State for Health and Human Services Mark Ghaly said in a statement. “Seven weeks ago our hospitals and frontline medical staff were being pushed to their limits, but Californians heard the urgent message to stay home when possible and our wave after the December vacation did not overwhelmed the health care system as far as we feared. “
In this Friday, May 22, 2020, file photo, California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville, California, California on Monday lifted its regional stay order at the house that had been in place since December. (AP Photo / Eric Risberg, swimming pool, file)
FOX 5 reported earlier Monday that Newsom was to lift the stay-at-home order.
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According to a statement from the California Department of Public Health, “nearly all” areas that were previously under a stay-at-home order will revert to the state-level system for coronavirus restrictions in the “purple” level on more severe. At this level, “most indoor businesses are closed,” but places of worship and many outdoor businesses can open with modifications.
Hair salons, tattoo parlors, nail salons and other similar places can also open with changes in the purple level.
The move comes as the United States aims to increase its vaccine distribution with the aim of potentially getting the country back to normal later this year. Meanwhile, the threat of new strains of coronavirus, which could be more transmissible, is looming.
“Californians have heard the urgent message to stay home as much as possible and have accepted this challenge to slow the outbreak and save lives,” said Tomas Aragon, director of the California Department of Public Health. “Together, we changed our business knowing that our short-term sacrifices would lead to longer-term gains. COVID-19 is still here and still deadly, so our job is not done, but it is important to recognize that our collective actions have saved lives and are turning us in a critical moment. “
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Newsom has come under heavy criticism for its strict handling of the pandemic and has been instrumental in efforts to trigger a recall election. The recall effort is approaching the number of signatures it will need to muster to force a recall election, which could be the best hope Republicans have of winning a statewide election in the Blue State deep.
“It is absolutely gaining traction. We are getting petitions not only from Republicans, but also from Democrats and non-addicts,” John Cox, Newsom’s 2018 Republican challenger, who recently launched an exploratory committee, told Fox News. to challenge the governor again in 2022. “It has gone on too long – the mismanagement that has accompanied this pandemic.”
Newsom and California have also faced lawsuits from business owners and parents over state business closings and in-person meals.
Fox News’ David Aaro and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
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