Has shuttering businesses and crushing livelihoods worked to control the virus? Here in California, the answer is clearly no.
If businesses aren’t spreading the virus, what is? The response by Dr. Mark Ghaly, the head of California’s Health and Human Service Agency, to the question of where people are getting the virus, is “everywhere.”
Clearly, the state has missed the mark. Focusing on business sectors provides a false sense of security and is not a solution to the spread. Many of the closed and prohibited activities are still taking place, hidden from public view, without the proper safety protocols.
People are on their best behavior when they are out of the house and in public. It is outside in businesses where people are using best practices, including social distancing, sanitation, masks, and limiting capacities.
The closures and mandates did not stop the virus. The closures are driving small businesses into the ground, driving youth sports (and professional sports) to Arizona, and causing church closures in a time of high anxiety when religious and spiritual guidance are needed most.
My push for balance of safe practices and open businesses has fallen on deaf ears in San Diego. I’ve always believed we can open businesses and protect people; it’s not a choice. The spread is still happening, and it’s not the fault of gyms, restaurants, churches, or schools. It’s everywhere.
I believe the rising case numbers are a direct result of the apathy of state residents due to the governor not allowing people to keep their livelihoods, the governor not allowing safely operating schools and businesses to stay open, the governor’s mixed and confusing messages, and the governor setting a terrible example of not following his own rules.
The focus should be on hospitalizations, not case rates. I said it eight months ago; I’ll say it again.
Today, less than 11% of San Diego county’s hospital bed capacity are COVID-19 patients, and we still have over 1,600 empty beds. While not overwhelming, these are not great numbers. We can and should improve them over time.
We must continue to follow the basic safety protocols. Let’s continue to wear masks, continue to wash our hands, and continue to maintain social distancing. We’ve exercised the basic best practices that prevent spread and will continue to do it, but let’s also allow people to maintain their livelihoods.
In the meantime, Sacramento has set the rules. Now, they own the outcome.
Jim Desmond is an elected supervisor in San Diego County.
