California Governor Under Fire After Lifting Stay-At-Home Order

On Thursday, stay-at-home orders in California are being lifted, but it’s not coming without controversy. In making this announcement, Governor Gavin Newsom’s said, “Today we can lay claim to seeing some real light at the end of the tunnel as it relates to case numbers.” But the Los Angeles Times says the “abrupt move… represents a gamble that California can avoid another deadly coronavirus surge.”

“Experts said it would not take a lot for the situation to spiral out of control again. UC San Francisco epidemiologist Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo said lifting the order can work if the public — and businesses — follow the rules and show intense caution. This is more essential than ever, she said, because so much is still unknown about these new strains, which adds a new level of uncertainty to fighting the virus.”

Now the Governor is getting heavy criticism from people on both sides of the aisle, for very different reasons.

Newsom has been also been accused of playing politics by lifting these orders as a petition circulates to have him recalled, but during a news conference Monday he said “It’s just complete utter nonsense.” 

Watch more from ABC San Francisco above.