Across the US, we are seeing COVID-19 cases surge. California is no exception. In fact, it’s one of the places hit the hardest during the winter surge.
I’ve spent the bulk of my quarantine in Southern California, specifically in San Diego County. I’d like to speak candidly about my experiences and fears during the pandemic. Anyone who watches the news has heard about California’s response to COVID. There are many areas that have rising numbers of cases, specifically Los Angeles, but there are also times when the state is praised for its response to the virus.
Keep in mind, this is a personal assessment. As much as I listen to the news and take precautions, I am no expert. I can only speak from my experiences and my opinions are not fact. Everyone has their own experiences with the pandemic, and mine has been heavily impacted by shutdowns and hotspots.
Early in the Pandemic
I remember spending St. Patrick’s Day 2020 watching the world shut down. I went into work, but was instructed to keep my door closed and encourage distanced contact. A couple days later, I was working from home and watching all businesses and stores shut down. This was the point when it was impossible to get toilet paper, grocery stores shelves were deserted, and local businesses were instructed to let no one in.
Like most places, the early weeks were marked by uncertainty. During this time is seemed like San Francisco was going to be the hotspot. Gavin Newsrom was quick to enforces closures and instate mask requirements. For the months of March and April, this seemed to slow the spread. However, masks were hard to find and the lack of direction made it difficult for people to follow guidelines. This was a time when people chose to stay in and watch Tiger King, hoping “normal” would return in a couple more weeks.
In all actuality, this was a good time to be in Southern California. We were able to get outside to exercise or walk. Even with all of the closures, we had a luxury other states could not depend upon. Many people took the opportunity to explore nature and new parts of their environment. The weather helped to make lockdowns more manageable, though it would also prove to be a burden as time progressed.
Summer: When Pandemic Fatigue Set In
After about ten weeks, it became clear our efforts were not going to stop COVID from spreading. Cases were down, but as we moved closer to summer people wanted to get outside. Businesses also started to reopen, though with some modifications. Restrictions eased, and people started to meet up.
Initially, beaches reopened and people kept their distance from other groups. I walked on the beach and felt I was safe, but it was clear people were gathering. When public spaces started to open, people started to connect with others outside their bubbles. People still seemed to be taking precautions, but they also seemed to be more relaxed with them.
San Diego County had fewer cases than other areas of the country. Specifically, Los Angeles started to see a surge in cases around the Fourth of July. This meant there was an influx of tourists coming to the San Diego beaches for the Fourth. I’d spent my whole quarantine in San Diego, and our county didn’t close when places like LA did. This meant people would migrate to San Diego for summer trips.
Unsurprisingly, cases went up in the summer. This heightened concerns among the people who still had fears, but others did not seem to care. Restaurants stayed open, bars continued to serve people, and streets were crowded with people.
Fall: Going from Bad to Better to Worst
As the summer started to fade, it seemed the number of cases started to decrease. Other parts of the country were seeing increases and some very public figures were diagnosed with COVID. At the start of fall, it seemed like we were taking some very positive steps.
During this time, I travelled. Obviously, this was a risk, and I tried to take every precaution possible. Like everyone else I growing tired of lockdowns and restrictions. So, I moved from one bubble to another and saw my family for the holidays.
Starting around Thanksgiving, the entire nation saw a sharp rise in cases. California was noted for having restrictions put in place at the beginning of December. Since then, people generally fall into one of two camps: those concerned about the virus and those who are tired of the restrictions.
To make matters worse, San Diego seems to have a rising number of cases of the “new” strain of COVID first found in the UK. Suspected to be more contagious, this makes the fear stronger for those who are still concerned. If you took a drive down the street, you’d see many people afoot. It’s clear a lot of people aren’t concerned.
What California Did Well
The number of cases have been a roller coaster, but right now we seem to be creeping higher each day. It’s hard to give praise as we watch the increased infections across the nation and California is helping the number move upwards. What I can say: they are at least trying to take action.
Gavin Newsrom has been fairly quick to announce restrictions, at least when we compare California to other parts of the nation. Early in the pandemic (around May), we saw the number of cases decrease with strict restrictions in place.
I also think most counties did a good job easing restrictions when more information became available. This specifically applies to outdoor activities. Beaches and parks saw restrictions eased to permit exercise and leaving your home safely. As we learned that outdoor environments decreased the risk of infection, California separated outdoor spaces from indoor regulations.
What Hasn’t Worked
There are many places where restrictions and guidelines have not been enforced. It seems the general public has a really hard time understanding protocols for social distancing. Every time I see lines outside stores, people ignore the markers indicating six feet of distance. You can also find many people walking around without a mask. Having access to outdoor space gives people a false sense of security. They’ll run on busy sidewalks without any face coverings.
We also see businesses struggling, and they’re only being half-supported. There are some grants available, but most places are forced to restrict traffic or provided outdoor services. Restaurants are taking sidewalk space to serve customers, and guests have limited time dine. They’re struggling to stay afloat while regulations aren’t providing them with enough leeway to earn profits. Of course, there is no clearcut answer here. It’s a struggle between businesses and slowing the spread, but the government doesn’t want to take a firm stand.
By this point, it feels like we’ve gone though a few cycles. Stricter regulations slow the number of cases, but people get antsy. Then, we have looser regulations and the number of cases spike. It seems we’re yo-yoing the number until we have a vaccine.
With the vaccine on the horizon, there should be some hope. Then we consider the fact there’s a more contagious strain of COVID now and people are protesting the current regulations. After ten months of lockdowns, the future seems just as uncertain as it was day one.
People now know what they can get away with. It doesn’t seem like we’re going to improve until we have significant number of vaccines administered. This could be in a couple of month, but in the meantime we’re very limited. It seems unsafe to go to for a walk, let alone eat at a restaurant or gather in public. Yet many people do these things, and they’re the same people shopping with me in the grocery store.
Moving Forward
Looking into the future, it seems hopeful that a vaccine will help bring life back to normal, or at least close to it. As I write this, the relief would be much-needed. ICUs are reaching capacity and businesses are struggling. All people are looking for answers, but we don’t seem to have them.
I’m very fortunate to be in an area where I can still enjoy the weather despite the pandemic. I also need to be aware of the people around me, as many disregard protocols and do whatever they please. By this point, social distancing and masks have become part of daily life. It’s such a simple effort, yet one many people find restrictive.
For the past ten months, fear never left. I have never felt fully safe leaving the house nor have I felt the state government has a secure plan. With future threats looming, it would have been nice to have some type of organization. It’s a tough situation for everyone, and it’s important to remember we all experience it differently. Lives are lost every day, and the simple precautions should be no-brainers if they can save someone. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Keep six feet apart. Also, be grateful for what you have.