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In the wake of increasing COVID-19 infections, California has decided to continue shutting down bars, movie theaters, indoor entertainment locations, museums, and indoor facilities. On Monday July 18, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a reversal of his four stage reopening plan.

Stage 3 of reopenings, where higher risk businesses – such as bars and gyms – can reopen contingent on following social distancing guidelines, was originally implemented beginning June 12. Following a sharp increase in cases shortly after, California has now shut down most indoor public activities. Essential services, including Edward’s Enterprises and other similarly necessary maintenance services, continue to remain in operation.

For further reading, the state of California offers COVID-19 related resources at covid19.ca.gov. By county, Ventura County’s Health Care Agency, Los Angeles County Public Health, and Santa Barbara County Public Health Department all provide additional resources, including safety precautions and where to get tested.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, which belongs to a large family of coronaviruses known to infect both humans and animals. While some coronaviruses cause mild illnesses like the common cold, SARS-CoV-2 triggered a global pandemic due to its high transmissibility and potential for severe respiratory complications.

As for its origin, scientists generally agree that the virus likely emerged from a natural spillover event, where it jumped from animals to humans. The most probable original reservoir is horseshoe bats, with possible intermediate hosts like pangolins or raccoon dogs facilitating transmission to humans. The earliest known cases appeared in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, with many linked to the Huanan Seafood Market. However, there is ongoing debate about whether the virus could have accidentally leaked from a laboratory. While some intelligence agencies have considered this possibility, they report low confidence in that conclusion, and no definitive evidence has emerged to support it.

The scientific consensus still leans toward a natural origin, though the exact pathway remains unresolved.