Santa Cruz County gears up to reopen retail

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) The Santa Cruz County Public Health Department is expected to issue a revised shelter-in-place order on Tuesday, according to Jason Hoppin, a spokesperson for the county. The order will follow the state's lead in reopening retail stores. Those businesses will be able to open in Santa Cruz County on Wednesday.

But locals said they're hesitant to go.

“I hope it’s not rushing things for folks. And that everybody knows it’s not a sign just to go crazy,” Santa Cruz resident Jessie Schecter said.

“Personally, I might for a little bit, but I know they’re going to have certain restrictions around it,” local employee Jalen Ross Graves said.

Those restrictions involve keeping customers at least six feet apart, limiting the number of people inside to half the maximum occupancy and designating separate entrances and exits.

“So it’s going to look different to people, but we do want to move slowly through this process,” Santa Cruz County Communications Manager Jason Hoppin said.

Hoppin said the hope is that these guidelines will help make the public feel safer as they go out to support these businesses. Without people taking advantage of this opportunity to shop, local economies won't kick up again.

But residents said, even with the protective measures, they can't shake their fears.

“I feel like it might be a good idea, but eventually probably cases are going to go back up and might have to take away that privilege,” Graves said.

This move for retail stores is separate from the county's status in reopening. Santa Cruz is still in the early part of phase two, so restaurants are still take-out only. And personal services, like salons, are still closed.

Along with retail, office space and outdoor museums will also be allowed to open on Wednesday. But the county said telework is still encouraged.