Health comes first. The very sharp rise in positive cases and hospitalizations required a pause, as that rate of infection is not sustainable (with exponential growth). Widely growing infection rates aren't good for business, either. The County really should've been able to assess this on its own, without the State stepping in.

A positive is that businesses have all now been provided the framework regulations established by the County, so they can be fully prepared and ready when the shutdown ends...it won't be a case of being told they can open, but not knowing the rules.

It seems that now that businesses have the framework, they can more easily adapt to "on" or "off" County orders as the Covid cases fluctuate.

The business rules seem fairly sound. It's up to us as a community to work hard to prevent spread in our everyday lives.

Let's get creative. Getting a haircut outdoors is very low risk, the stylist and customer both masked, not facing one another, in the open air for a half hour haircut. That is far safer than being inside a grocery store, Target or Costco with dozens of customers and employees.

This is surprising especially in light of data a study of two hair stylists in MO who interacted with 139 clients while they both (unknowingly) were infected. No one else got infected. Source: Web Link

Please wear masks so less people and businesses suffer. If we did our part as a community, this wouldn’t be happening.

It is shameful that the local and state governments cannot act cohesively for the benefit of the people. This is a travesty for the small businesses.

It is unfortunate that Santa Clara County (SCC) is treated as one single entity for these type of things. Mountain View only represents 2% (141 of 6725) of the positive cases in SCC. The first positive case was 148 days ago, so we’ve averaged less than 1 positive case a day during this pandemic (yes I know more people have had the virus that haven’t been tested, but that’s true everywhere). I think that data speaks to the fact that this community has by and large been responsible during this pandemic, and it’s a shame that we have to suffer because many parts of SCC aren’t doing as well.

Gerard:

Any loss of life or disability occurring at this time is not tolerated.

What you are saying if so what if anyone dies or are disabled, I WANT MY WAY.

EVERY single persons rights to LIFE simply overrides the financial interests of anyone. You are just like Ford when they designed the Pinto to burn up from rear end impacts. The Ford company chose to not modify the manufacture of the Pinto which increased the unit cost by $11.00 and instead thought it cost less to deal with lawsuits. These companies simply say, if anyone dies so be it. The Government cannot act that way.

Your playing games with peoples health. WE cannot play your game.

The actions of the State ignores the pain being caused by this shutdown for thousands of people who have not been allowed to work in months. It is also ignoring the fact that, despite a rise in the number of cases, the rate that we are seeing deaths doesn't appear to be following.

The state and Gavin Newsom have acted without reason for much of this crisis. The governor was the one that thought it was reasonable to insist that sick people be placed back in eldercare facilities, despite the fact that we knew this disease was easily spread and very dangerous to elderly people. The deaths in those facilites have been the single largest group of people affect by this disease. Also, for some reason, the state has grouped gyms and bars together in their orders, despite the fact that they are VERY different operations. There is no comparison between a bar, where you sit indoors and elbow to elbow with others for several hours while consuming product that impairs judgement, and a gym, where most people spend less than an hour, are seldom very close to each other and already wipe down equipment between uses. These are just a couple of examples of the poor reasoning and bad judgement shown by the California government.

Barbers and hair salons can do much of their work outside (like my grandfather did when he was barbering about 100 years ago), they already sterilize equipment between clients and their are few places where the operators can be SEEN washing their hands constantly. To send mixed signals as has happened in the last few days smacks of a lack of organization and knee-jerk reactions to a rise in cases. It also punishes local businesses for the actions of others, which is totally unfair.

Rather than making sweeping rollbacks, we should be taking the information from the contact tracers that will tell us what activities are risky and where they are. Punishing a gym in Mountain View for the actions of a bar in Los Angeles shows a lack of ability to gather and analyze data properly. It also is patently unfair to people who need to make a living.

I was just thinking, if the Voice wants to attract readers and advertisers, they would be well advised to simply ban the “Business Man” and all his nonsense and rants. I rarely visit this site any more because I’m tired of being accosted for money from a business that should be supported by its advertising revenues and [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

Everybody wants to make Either Gavin Newsom or me a SCAPEGOAT.

NO one wants to accept reality.

You all have your opinions, you have the right to express them.

But many of you are acting like Costco Ken, you want to take out your anger against the easiest targets you can find and not the REAL problem. The fact that COVID is beating us.

I used to play a game called Plague Inc, and the objective was to kill all people on earth. I don't play it anymore because reality changed my perspective. I just learned that there is good evidence that you can get COVID 19 again after recovery.

With all the PROMISES of a medication or a vaccine, not one exists yet. This is the same problem that got Theranos is so much trouble. They made promises they couldn't keep.

The "FAKE" it until you "MAKE" it idea is nothing but a disaster when it comes to medical issues. These people are going to wind up creating too much false hopes. WHY?

Because once reality hits and the people know there is no light at the end of the tunnel instead it is the light of an oncoming train on the same track, all you know what will happen.

Which is scaring our social stratification structure leadership like nothing else.

So they attack and attack those they find a good target.

Maybe like restaurants the hair salons can too utilize thier services outside. Now that they are considering closing down Castro street; maybe this can be considered with the blessing of the city counsel?? Just a thought.

By the way

Santa Clara County is back on the Governors COVID Watchlist as of yesterday

This is getting to be a REAL nightmare

If the reports are true that you can be reinfected with COVID 19.

There are reports coming that indicate that even with the previous antibodies, some patients are getting sick again. Here is one of them (Web Link

and this one

(Web Link

So it can be that this virus is the ultimate weapon against humanity. It will continue to disable and kill people until a REAL vaccine or a REAL medicine is discovered.

Or is the world going to allow itself to go into possible extinction simply because of a simple piece of metal or paper representing commerce?

IDK

Re-infection. Previously unknown harm even to non-symptomatic recipients. Viral load is one key to the spread. As children are herded together in large groups indoors, the virus is bound to spread. Masks and distancing would help - but that won't be enough. You might have read that the county board of education in Orange County, CA has just recommended that schools just reopen with few precautions. The board members are Trump supporters. The school boards for the two dozen districts in Orange County are not going along - so far. I suggested in a letter just now to the largest newspaper there, the Orange County Register, that instead of experimenting on all of the public school children at once, Orange County could accept volunteers (parents and their children) to hang out together at Disneyland day after day - including in confined areas - and see what happens to the children and their parents. Simulated school. I suspect the newspaper will send my email-letter to the trash and some school districts in that county will reopen as recommended by Trump supporters unless sooner halted by the State of California. Schools need to operate using small groups and distance learning - not COVID-19 parties with 2000 high schoolers or hundreds of younger students.

This situation is getting worse by the day:

Let’s address the Moderna vaccine story. It was a test on 45 healthy people and they suffered a variety of symptoms after receiving the vaccine. Yes there is an “antibody” response but the report shows they never were exposed to COVID. Thus they are not PROVEN to be immune to COVID. The report is in many ways misleading by the methodology and the results.

Next, the CDC is now being bypassed regarding the COVID data and treatment by the White House. This means that a political office, the Health and Human Services will distribute information it sees fit. This is VERY concerning because the evidence of the current surge in infections shows no signs of reduction.

Next, the marketing of PHRMA to claim it is making progress on COVID where there is NO EVIDENCE of this actually happening is scary. There is NO medication that actually is designed to address COVID, people are just trying out and using medicines that are only thought to be effective, but no proof of effectivity has been produced.

Finally, the idea that Business and the Government is acting on wishful or best case information and not addressing the worst case means we are all at risk. There has been no scientific proof that we have an effective vaccine or medication that actually DOES treat COVID. WHY?

Because the “RULING CLASS” of the country is terrified with the idea that if the people realize how dangerous and out of control the COVID is the increased risk of loss of their CONTROL over the people will be. Imagine if all the people realize that these systems are all failing them? The people will revolt in such a number that the Business and Governments will collapse.

This is why you have so many people trying to attack anyone demonstrating that the situation is NOT improving, it is in fact getting WORSE.

Agree re comment re Missouri Great Clips where Covid not transmitted to clients with all wearing face coverings and as of yesterday they have put that example on the CDC website: Web Link
Has anyone heard of an outbreak linked to a hair salon around the world? eg in Australia they have remained open throughout any lockdown and not heard of any outbreaks (there are some there now from bars/pubs that have reopened ) I just tried googling covid and hair salons and can't see any examples of outbreaks. I hope they can do outdoor hairdressing or something. It is also unfortunate that San Mateo is open while Santa Clara is closed. I support Newsom in making things safe but felt that when entire Bay Area had same restrictions it felt more fair. I hope those businesses affected can get some more relief.