SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) — On the stroke of midnight Sonoma companies started to awaken from months of a pressured shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, however the reopening course of has not been with out debate between some county supervisors and the general public well being officer.
The purpose of competition has been over what companies ought to reopen and the way quickly they need to be allowed to do it.
“We at all times put public well being on the high however I imagine we are able to open up a bit extra broadly and nonetheless be protected,” stated Board Of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin.
Low threat companies such automobile washes and pet groomers will now be allowed to get again to work. Supervisors pushed for this as they listened to issues from native companies, however now they’ve additionally obtained suggestions from the group.
“Our emails simply lit up right this moment concerning the board’s curiosity in opening up too quickly,” Gorin informed KPIX 5.
Sonoma County is taking a cautious strategy to reopening — growing testing and ensuring hospitals are in a position to look after COVID-19 sufferers.
“My response is I perceive. We’re going to essentially watch the instances as they proceed to say no a bit,” Gorin stated.
Proper on the stroke of eight a.m. Friday morning, the nonstop parade of automobiles started streaming by means of Sonoma Automotive Wash on Freeway 12.
Carmen Velasquez was one of many first in line, and was so completely happy and appreciative to be there, she gave the employee an enormous tip.
“I feel everybody’s going to understand every part that rather more, since you don’t know what you’ve gotten till you don’t have it,” stated Velasquez.
When requested if she felt like life was slowly getting again to regular, Velasquez replied, “I really feel like slowly it’s. I really feel like we’re beginning to see that gentle after the tunnel. I feel we are able to all simply hold praying collectively and hoping. And I feel it’s coming.”
My Pal Pet Grooming in Sonoma has been closed for the previous two months, however half a dozen canine have been dropped within the 15 minutes KPIX 5 was there.
Prospects like Joanna Smith handed their canine off on the door and weren’t permitted inside.
“Yeah, I hope we do open up, slowly however safely,” stated Smith.
The County hopes it is going to quickly be capable of open up a few of the driving forces of its financial system, tourism and hospitality. Proper now, the county is a $22 million deficit because of the pandemic.
The shutdown pressured companies corresponding to Russian River Brewing to furlough a big share of their staffers.
“It’s been a problem. We’ve survived wildfires and floods however there’s no playbook for a world pandemic,” Natalie Cilurzo, proprietor of Russian River Brewing, stated.
The pandemic hit simply weeks after Russian River held its most profitable Pliny the Youthful launch in its historical past, producing greater than $5 million for the native financial system.
Since then, the craft brewing firm has needed to shift its enterprise mannequin by doing extra wholesale distribution and taking orders on-line.
Supervisors need to present some reduction to those companies by closing streets to make method for outside eating, an thought Cilurzo is open to if it may be carried out safely.
“I’m conflicted as a result of security is at the start,” Cilurzo stated. “We wish ourselves and our staff and prospects to be protected.”
The county has requested Gov. Gavin Newsom for a waiver to speed up the reopening course of since Sonoma doesn’t meet all of the state mandated benchmarks.
Gorin admits Newsom could not approve it however she calls it a wholesome dialogue to have with the state and the group.
Kiet Do contributed to this report.
