Written by Michael Palomba
With news coming out that Pfizer’s vaccine is looking to be over 90% effective, many may be thinking that COVID lockdowns will soon come to an end. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Not only are the lockdowns not ending anytime soon, they are actually getting more severe, at least in California.
While states like Florida and South Dakota have essentially ended their lockdowns, California has made no effort to follow in their footsteps. And as of today, San Diego is being forced into the state’s most restrictive “purple tier.”
#BREAKING: San Diego County has been moved into the most-restrictive purple tier on the state reopening system. https://t.co/gDk7thS1yf pic.twitter.com/ZY3piqS3hn
— FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) November 10, 2020
San Diego’s positive case rate has remained over 7 per 100,000 people for 2 consecutive weeks; it is currently at 8.9. Under Governor Newsom’s strict COVID restrictions, that means we have to lock down all over again.
What does this mean for our daily lives? Well, indoor dining is over, gyms and fitness centers may only operate outdoors, retail store capacity is reduced to just 25%, and any brewery or bar that does not serve meals must close indefinitely. Additionally, any schools that were not already operating in person are now mandated to only offer distance learning.
The economic and social effects of locking down again are going to be detrimental. Countless businesses have already had to permanently close their doors due to financial hardship, and unemployment levels, which were trending down, will likely spike again. If that isn’t bad enough, domestic violence, suicide, depression, and a plethora of other social and mental health issues are on the rise.
There comes a point where one must think, “Is all of this worth it for a virus with a ≈99% survival rate?” And that is a question many San Diegan’s are probably asking themselves right now.
We’re reaching a point where the consequences of the lockdowns are worse than the consequences of the virus, and it is time for Newsom and his friends in Sacramento to come up with a new plan to slow the spread of COVID-19.
For more information on the latest lockdown information for San Diego, visit covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/
