April 7, 2021- 9:20 a.m
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that California could fully reopen in June if coronavirus vaccines are readily available to the public and hospitalizations remain low, raising hopes for businesses and households that have been upended by some of the toughest pandemic restrictions in the U.S.
Newsom said the state could reopen June 15 only if there are enough vaccines for all Californians 16 and older who want one and hospitalization rates remain stable and low.
While that would put an end to the county-by-county restriction system for businesses and individuals in California, a statewide mask mandate would remain in place indefinitely.
The recall effort gained steam over the past year as Newsom announced stay-at-home orders and other restrictions in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 555,000 Americans. The restrictions, which were some of the most stringent in the nation, drew praise from public health officials early in the pandemic but sparked anger among Republicans and business groups.
Those frustrations came to a head after photos surfaced of Newsom out to dinner at the swanky Napa Valley restaurant French Laundry in November, even as he urged Californians to stay home and avoid gatherings. The number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state have declined in recent weeks, but public health officials have continued to recommend precautions as variants emerge and the vaccination campaign continues. California plans to open up coronavirus vaccinations to all adults on April 15.
