The state’s economy is expected to reopen on June 15 provided that the hospitalization rate remains low and the vaccine supply is sufficient to inoculate Californians who are 16 years and older, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic,” said Gov. Newsom said in a statement online. “We will need to remain vigilant, and continue the practices that got us here – wearing masks and getting vaccinated – but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”
NFIB California Director John Kabateck told the Southern California Record that he received a call from Gov. Newsom’s business team just hours before he announced that COVID restrictions would come to an end in June.
“The comment that I received was that they are extremely confident that there will be enough vaccine supply in California for those 16 years and older and that the hospital levels will remain stable and low,” Kabateck said.
Although the Blueprint for a Safer Economy will end, mask measures will remain in place across the state.
As of April 10, there were 3,590,758 confirmed cases of the coronavirus statewide, resulting in 58,943 deaths, according to the state’s dashboard.
“We put a lot of trust in our elected leaders and health officials that they're giving us honest, accurate, and current information and that's the best we have to work with,” Kabateck said. “From that point, it's up to our business community, non-profits, and other leaders to ensure that they are enacting the best, safest, and most responsible policies.”
Some 20 million vaccines have been administered across the state, according to a press release, and Kabateck added that there is no reason to push the pause button any further on small business owners or their eager consumers.
“Our advice to small business owners is to have conversations with accountants, legal and human resources experts now so that you're not only planning for effective infrastructure and service to your customers but that you also have the right legal and accounting plan in place,” he said.
The California Department of Public Health states on its website that beyond the blueprint, conventions will be capped at 5,000 persons until October 1 unless testing or vaccination status is verified for all and international convention attendees will only be allowed if fully vaccinated.
“We're eager to hear more guidelines and clarification around conventions, stadiums, and larger-scale events because most of those events co-exist with small businesses that provide them food, lighting, sound, equipment, beverages, and other types of supplies and services,” Kabateck said.