We should be able to choose when to enter Phase Three

We're now eight weeks into sheltering in place (SIP). The amount of devastation within our small business community is a sobering reminder of the implications that policy decisions made by a few can have on the masses. As a supervisor, I am regularly confronted with balancing policy that impacts public health and economic health. As I mentioned in my column last month, in my conversations with health experts, most, if not all agree that it's impossible with any policy to stop the virus. The purpose in all of this early on was to flatten the curve so as to avoid overwhelming our healthcare system, not to eradicate the disease. But we have now clearly gone beyond merely lessening the burden on our healthcare system. We have quite a dichotomy and must ask ourselves: why can a restaurant remain operational, while a small brewery or winery cannot? Why can you go to Walmart but not a church service? Why is a haircut or visit to the library more dangerous than a trip to the liquor store? These are ridiculous discrepancies with no merit, and we need to ensure we are consistent, clear and justified in these types of delineations. We need to rid the terms "essential" and "non-essential" from our vocabularies and remember that every small business is essential to the families that run them. I am thankful that here in Placer County, we are now in "Phase Two" of the governor's reopening plan. Placer is well-positioned for this transition and our local chambers and economic development departments have been working diligently with local businesses to come up with well-thought-out plans for reopening some sectors safely. However, there have been indications from the state that all of California would need to move into Phase Three together. This would be even more devastating for our business community, particularly hair and nail salons, and many other businesses who have been waiting patiently for the green light to reopen. If a jurisdiction such as Placer does well reopening Phase Two businesses with no major surges that overwhelm our hospitals, we should similarly have the ability to continue to move forward into Phase Three when ready. I have been working with county staff and Stanford University faculty to bring forward a seroprevalence study (antibody testing) here in Placer similar to what Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties conducted. This data would help provide solid information about what the current infection rate is in Placer County, which would thereby provide a more accurate picture of mortality rates. By having this information, we can make better-informed policy decisions, with science to back up those decisions. I am excited about the potential for this study and hope that we will have something completed in the next few weeks. While we must consider the safety implications of reopening, we must also carefully examine the "collateral damage" of keeping people from their livelihoods. A recent ABC News article stated that "Last month, the "Disaster Distress Helpline" at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) saw an 891 percent increase in call volume compared with March 2019." Governor Newsom recently stated in a press conference that "Unemployment numbers in California will be north of 20 percent." The mental stress and burden on those who are struggling to pay bills and support their families can only go on so long before the system breaks. It is imperative that Governor Newsom continue to allow local jurisdictions to move forward through phases if the healthcare system has capacity, and hospitalizations and mortality rates remain stable. While this time and situation is unprecedented, I will remain vigilant to be a strong advocate and voice for our residents, and will do everything I can to champion local governance. Please feel free to reach out to my office via my District Director, Shanti Landon, at any time should you have questions or concerns. She can be reached at slandon@placer.ca.gov. Robert Weygandt is the Placer County supervisor for District 2, which covers Lincoln, Sheridan, and the western portions of Rocklin and Roseville. To contact Weygandt, call 916-408-1264 or email slandon@placer.ca.gov.