California Gov. Gavin Newsom
California governor Gavin Newsom waits to speak at a news conference in San Diego, California, US. REUTERS/ Mike Blake/File Photo

A possible surge in COVID-19 cases may happen as a result of California's reopening, which state health official, Dr. Sara Cody finds, way too fast. The said official was the one who issued California's "shelter-in-place" directive and now, she is expressing concern about what will happen after the state reopens. Speaking on Tuesday, to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Dr. Cody shared her apprehensions for the state which currently permits "gatherings of 100 people" for different purposes.

The health officials also noted that this particular pace at which California is reopening "at large" is quite worrying. Specifically, she said, the announcement of authorizing health officers of the county to allow gatherings, particularly religious, political, and cultural events of up to 100 people postures a very serious danger of widespread contagion of COVID-19.

Cody's expression of concern came after, early this week, the California Department of Public Health, announced the reopening of places of worship in the whole state, for religious activities. In-store retail shopping has also been restarted although, certain procedures should be followed.

Raising a Red Flag

Early this week, California health officials announced as well, that counties that have committed and confirmed they were meeting the criteria for the acceleration of the reopening can already start to reopen barbershops and salons provided that they are following certain limitations too, which include the "mandatory use of face masks."

However, for Cody, more extensively easing of restrictions may raise a red flag. Essentially, Cody has been attributed to the creation of the order of the nation's first shelter-in-place. Specifically, according to reports, the regional shelter-in-place order of the San Francisco Bay Area affected almost seven million individuals across the nations.

Meanwhile, California's broader state hurriedly followed the model. The other severely affected states like New York did the same thing. Since early this month, Cody explained, the state has moved away "from a stay-at-home model" hand has made considerable amendments with rising frequency.

Additionally, she said, the pace at which California has made such amendments "is concerning to me." Relatively she noted that the state could perhaps, see a surge in COVID-19 cases associated with the fast-paced reopening. Experts who spoke to a news agency, for example, said, "a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area" may be connected to the easing of restrictions in the place.


Gov. Newsom: "We're not looking back."

The state "is not looking back." This was what California Gov. Gavin Newsom said after he spoke to several countries across the state, entering the reopening's Phase 2. Earlier on, the governor's reopening strategy has encountered criticisms too, from several lawmakers.

Gov. Newsom on Tuesday's briefing said, "We're making progress" and moving forward. He added, though, that the state is walking into what he considers "the unknown, untested," and thus there is a need to be guided by the data that took California back to where it is now.

The health official's expression of concern came out as the state, this week, turned out to be the fourth among the states to surpass 100,000 COVID-19 cases with 2,908 cases in the Golden State reported on Tuesday. This, according to reports, is currently the highest daily total number of cases.

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