California is set to reopen its schools, bars, film studios, and more on June 12
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William Antonelli
Jun 7, 2020, 05:15 IST
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, California has taken steps to reopen certain industries.Mark J. Terril/AP Photo
The California Department of Public Health announced Friday that schools, bars, restaurants, film and television studios, and more will be allowed to reopen starting June 12.
This reopening plan also includes popular summer spots like zoos, museums, and campgrounds.
Professional sporting events will be allowed to return, but live audiences are still banned.
Citizens are still advised to practice social distancing, and the Governor's Office will distribute approximately 123,000 N95 masks to schools across the state, along with other supplies.
As of Friday, California has reported over 125,000 positive coronavirus cases, with 4,559 deaths.
The state health department's announcement covers a number of other sectors as well. The full list of industries that will reopen on June 12th is as follows:
Schools
Day camps
Hotels
Tribal casinos
Gyms
Bars and restaurants
Museums
Campgrounds
Zoos
Music, film, and television studios
Professional Sporting Events (without live audiences)
Many of these businesses, such as zoos, campgrounds, and day camps, are popular summer hangout spots. The June 12 date will give them time to reopen before the season begins in earnest.
The new rules on reopening schools and day camps will apply statewide, but local health officials in each of California's 58 counties will have the final say on whether the other industries can reopen in their area. These counties will have to have shown "epidemiological readiness" — in other words, there needs to be evidence that the county has the spread of coronavirus under control.
However, even if schools and bars reopen, citizens still need to be careful.
"Guidance doesn't mean 'go,'" Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement. "Just because some businesses are opening doesn't mean your risk for COVID-19 is gone. We all need to continue to keep physical distancing, wash our hands and wear face coverings in public."
This news comes as the state health department tracks "an increase in the number of positive cases," which they attribute to the higher number of COVID-19 tests being taken. As of Friday, the state had confirmed 126,016 positive cases of COVID-19, with 4,559 deaths.
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