California is imposing an overnight curfew on most residents as the most populous state tries to head off a surge in coronavirus cases it fears could tax the state’s health care system, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.
What officials are calling a limited stay-at-home order requires nonessential residents to stay home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Saturday.
It affects counties with the most severe restrictions, 41 of the state’s 58 counties that are in the “purple” tier under California’s color-coded system for reopening the economy. That covers 94% of the state’s nearly 40 million residents.
Critic says governor's plans are 'unfair, confusing'
For one, State Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), charges that three counties in particular are being given preferential treatment - not required to be placed under the curfew. Nielsen says in a news release, "Today, Californians living in “Purple Tier” counties were told to comply with a draconian curfew from 10pm to 5am. Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) issued the following statement: “It concerns me that the Governor has an ever-changing policy that attempts to dictate our way of life and commerce. It changes weekly. Over the months, this inconsistency has led to much confusion and contributed to the disruption of lives, the loss of jobs, and closures of schools and small businesses.
"Add to this the apparent preferential treatment given to three extremely wealthy and very Democratic counties, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo (Silicon Valley). It would seem that in the eyes of our Governor, there are really two Californias - one for the uber-wealthy entitled class, and all the rest of us.
“This is just insane. It is confusing. There is no clear plan. This is no way to address a pandemic.”
Nielsen's office notes: "San Mateo, Marin and San Francisco do not have to comply to this curfew as they are categorized in the Red Tier, while rural counties with lower positive rates are in the more restrictive Purple Tier."
The governor's move comes only days after the state imposed restrictions limiting business operations in those 41 counties, which have the most significant increases in virus cases.
“The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be critical to stop the surge. We are sounding the alarm,” Newsom said in a statement.
The order will last one month, until Dec. 21, but could be extended if infection rates and disease trends don’t improve.
Newsom's dinner dilemma
Newsom continues to take blowback after attending a birthday dinner in Napa County, where none of the guests - including the governor - were wearing masks or practicing social distancing:
Newsom later offered his apologies for the dinner saying his actions contradicted what he's been asking others to do. He claimed when he arrived at the exclusive restaurant, he realized the party was larger than he anticipated, "And, I made a bad mistake. Instead of sitting down, I should have stood up and walked back and got in my car and drove back to my house."
But the fallout from that episode continues
Today California State Senator Melissa Melendez (R- Lake Elsinore) responded to Governor Gavin Newsom’s new month-long curfew saying, "The ‘Do as I say not as I do’ principle is on full display with this unscientific edict. The governor has shown he’s capable, as a responsible adult, to make the decision for himself about whether it’s safe to attend a birthday party without masks and social distancing. Apparently this order doesn’t grant that same courtesy and responsibility to us common people."