While business owners and residents of California expressed relief over the reopening, some public health experts and county health officers voiced out their scepticism about levelling up as COVID-19 cases in the state continuously increase.

Governor Gavin Newsom defended the state's wide-scale reopening as positive results of tests for the virus continue to rise.

Newsom said there is a certain point where you have to acknowledge the fact you cannot be in a permanent situation where people are locked out for so many months.  

The state leader also cautioned of more extensive public health effects of witnessing "lives and livelihood" being totally wrecked.

58 Counties Authorized to Reopen Commercial Activities

The state, in recent weeks, has sanctioned its 58 counties to restart a surging number of commercial activities including dine-in restaurants, nail salons and bars.

According to news reports, the governor gave counties the go signal after "they faced weeks of weeks of increasing pushback from local officials" who contended the economic consequence was concealing public health risks.

Specifically, the new cases' seven-day average continues to rise in California while it has dramatically dropped in other high-impact states like New Jersey and New York.

Meanwhile, imageries of packed businesses such as bar scenarios over the weekend have highlighted growing concern or apprehension.

Indicators Justify Decision to Reopen

Governor Newsom, reports said, presented on Monday, a long series of indicators that justify the decisions of reopening, noting "that infection rates have stabilized." 

He also argued that the health care system of the state had retained its capacity "to handle a flow or upwelling of new COVID-19 cases. He highlighted too that counties are exercising the final say in terms of reopening.

In addition, the governor also stated that the positive rate, or the percentage of individuals who tested positive with the virus, had dropped as there comes an increase in test access, and with the state reaching a goal of having the ability to conduct "60,000 days" each day.

He also said California was spreading personal protective equipment or PPE like masks, adding, "We have a state" that holds firm when it comes to case rates stability.

Currently, the state is tracing persistent, multi-le-day red flags surrounding indicators such as rates of hospitalization in seven counties of the state including Los Angeles. 

Relatively, skilled nursing homes and facilities, accounting for most deaths, stay the government's top priority, said the governor. Also, African-American Californians and Latinx continue suffering unreasonably.

Gov. Newsom implored people of California to stay vigilant in the coming weeks and months, saying, "As we reopen unavoidably," there will be a rise in the total number of cases.

Lastly, he also urged Californians to continue practicing social distance, putting on face masks and often washing their hands. These things, he said, are essential for everyone in the state "to avoid the second wave.

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