SAN DIEGO — County Supervisor Jim Desmond and North County mayors held a Zoom media conference Tuesday to call for some businesses to be reopened on Friday, May 1 and for recreational activities to be opened immediately.
The mayors that were in attendance at Tuesday's media briefing included, Carlsbad Mayor, Matt Hall, Escondido Mayor, Paul McNamara, Oceanside Mayor, Peter Weiss, San Marcos Mayor, Rebecca Jones, and Vista Mayor, Judy Ritter.
The North County leaders said they are eager to get businesses open and people back to work. They said the economic toll COVID-19 has taken on small and large businesses is devastating, and has caused recreational areas to be shut down, limiting outdoor options for individuals and families.
County leaders also said coronavirus has and will continue to cause significant, detrimental impacts to local businesses in San Diego County.
Desmond said it's time to get people back to work so that they can take care of their families.
"It won’t happen overnight, but consumer confidence is huge so we need to take some time to get the economy going again -- if we can move thousands of people through Costco then we should be able to do the same thing with smaller businesses, too," Desmond said.
County officials said non-essential businesses that have been required to close has led to a collapse in revenues and a huge increase in unemployment claims.
Carlsbad Mayor, Matt Hall, said businesses in Carlsbad have been hit really hard and it's essential that they reopen now.
"The most profitable time for this industry is May, June, July, August, and September -- so not only is COVID an issue, also this is time sensitive for many businesses and these businesses need to get open sooner than later," Hall said.
All of the mayors seemed to be in agreement that businesses have come up with plans and have showed their willingness to reopen in a safe and effective manner.
The next Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on May 5.
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BACKGROUND
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. Coronavirus is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China in December 2019. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine, however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, as with any other respiratory illness:
Know how it spreads
There is no vaccine
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus
It is thought to spread mainly from person-person between people in close contact
And believed to be spread by respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes
Protect yourself
Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds
If soap and water aren't available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Put distance between yourselves and others
Protect others
Stay home when you are sick
Wear a facemask if you are sick
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
If you don't have tissue, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow
Immediately wash your hands after coughing and sneezing
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
You can find information on disinfecting and cleaning on the CDC's How to Protect Yourself page.
The California Department of Public Health has issued guidance on the use of cloth face coverings to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
The County of San Diego has made face coverings mandatory for those working with the public including grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and similar businesses.
While officials say these face coverings are not a substitute for practices like social distancing and handwashing, there is evidence to suggest that the use of cloth face coverings by the public during a pandemic could help reduce disease transmission. Officials do not recommend the public use N-95 or surgical masks which are needed by health care workers and first responders.