On May 8, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hinted at further relaxing cautionary restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some locals disapprove of the plan, resulting in #DoNotOpenCalifornia trending on Twitter.

Industries that do not require workers to be close together and some retailers (with the exception of in-store shopping) have reopened on May 8 with protective measures and requirements in place.

On March 19, the state was the first in the country to issue its stay-at-home order, confining over 35 million people to their homes. Since then, the government has slowly and progressively begun opening itself to prevent the state’s economy and businesses from falling.

The slow process has resulted in the state becoming divided. Residents have commented their mixed disapproval and approval of the government’s agenda. Supporters of the order believe it’s time for the state to resume normal activity whereas opposers believe the state is opening too soon.

Despite relatively stable hospitalization rates related to COVID-19, the opposition to California’s relaxing restrictions believe in a “better-safe-than-sorry” mentality. Twitter user
D E L E N A (@DelenaKim) tweeted, “I didn’t sit at home for weeks and see my tired mom go to work as an essential worker just for people to be impatient and we all end up getting the virus. We are not out of the woods.“

Twitter user AltEPA (@ActualEPAFacts) also stated their disapproval of the California government. They tweeted, “#DoNotOpenCalifornia or any state until the MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS say it’s okay to do so. Not the politicians.”

Some Californians believe that the state is exercising too much power by restricting access to certain industries and businesses. Cmike (@TheCmikePro), however, disagreed. He said, “Our freedom isn’t being taken away- We voted people in to govern us (local/state) the job we gave them was to make big overseeing decisions to better our lives, improve the overall well-being of people.”

Despite mixed reviews, the state plans on continuing its approach to resume normal life. Newsom stated that an upcoming Phase 3 will allow workplaces with a greater risk of community spread to open. These include salons, movie theaters, gyms, and other establishments that require people to be in close proximity.

According to the governor, it won’t be long for the plan to take effect. He said, “It may not even be more than a month away. We just want to make sure we have a protocol in place to secure customer safety, employee safety and allow the businesses to thrive in a way that is sustainable.”