EDITORIAL: California, like most of the nation, is under lockdown in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, but is the response worse than the disease? This question is the leading debate among citizens and government officials coast to coast. The initial move to force social distancing was made to “flatten the curve” or reduce the spread of the virus. Governors and county officials shut down schools, bars and other businesses deemed unnecessary and restaurants have been limited in their ability to operate or shut down altogether. In California, over the weekend, beaches, parks, and trailheads were also shuttered in an effort to further enforce social distancing.

These measures are controversial and everyone is scrambling in reaction to these historical times. There seem to be two camps in the nation including California. One camp wants everyone to hunker down, even use Marshall Law if needed to enforce quarantines. They think it is worth the sacrifice for business owners to risk their livelihood and lay off employees. The other camp believes this lockdown is not sustainable and it is time to get back to work and allow people to make their own decisions on social distancing.
Both camps have valid concerns, the spread and risk of deaths due to COVID-19 are unknown but what is known is if the nation remains locked down, the damage from bankrupt businesses, high unemployment rates will damage the economy and create further complications. The government can not fund every missing paycheck, and small business loans may not be enough to save many companies.
California and the nation were seeing the lowest unemployment rates in ten years according to the Department of Labor and overnight the market plunged and filings for unemployment soared.

The DOL reported on March 19, the unemployment claims rose to 281,000, an increase of 70,000 claims in one week. These numbers are the largest seen since the 2008 financial meltdown. The market seems to be in a free fall and the number of people trying to file unemployment claims is expected to skyrocket. People across the nation are having a difficult time filing, the phones to unemployment departments are jammed, employees are miss classified by employers so unable to qualify along with a plethora of other issues. https://twitter.com/kittykatt527/status/1240101336919703553?s=21

According to the DOL report, “During the week ending March 14, the increase in initial claims is clearly attributable to impacts from the COVID-19 virus.”
Interestingly California had the nation's highest unemployment claims in the nation on March 7, less than two weeks before the COVID-19 self-isolation exploded. https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf

The nation's leaders and citizens continue to grapple with the shutdown and best practices to implement when the shutdown ends, even if COVID-19 is not eradicated.
The great shutdown debate is taking place everywhere at local grocery stores to social media sites and even among the wealthiest on Wall Street.
Investment banker and former CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein tweeted, “Extreme measures to flatten the virus “curve” is sensible-for a time-to stretch out the strain on health infrastructure. But crushing the economy, jobs and morale is also a health issue and beyond. Within a very few weeks let those with a lower risk to the disease return to work.” https://twitter.com/lloydblankfein/status/1241907502662418437?s=21

Blankfein’s position outraged hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman who countered the registered Democrats tweet, “A coordinated Federal-led shut down for 30 days and then a gradual reopening with testing, testing, testing so we can kill the virus when it reappears.” https://twitter.com/billackman/status/1242068987112030209?s=21

On Tuesday President Donald Trump tweeted, “Fifteen days to slow the spread.”
The White House also tweeted Tuesday, “Small businesses power our economy—and President Trump won't let them weather this alone.”
Trump tweeted, “Our people want to return to work. They will practice social distancing and all else, and seniors will be watched over protectively and lovingly. We can do two things together. The cure can not be worse (by far) than the problem. Congress must act now. We will come back strong.” https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1242455267603877894?s=21

The shelter in place debates will lead to politicians picking winners and losers. Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley sent a letter to Michigan Governor Whitmer on Friday, March 20, recommending against a “Stay at Home” or “Shelter in Place” Executive Order that states that most, if not all, 877,000 businesses in Michigan should be closed, while a select few are allowed to stay open. The full letter can read here: https://www.michamber.com/sites/default/files/Shelter%20In%20Place.pdf
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered the state to “take heed” in staying home and self-isolating. County officials at the same time made policies that led to state officials closing parks, beaches, schools, and non-essential businesses. 

http://sunnewsandreview.com/item/15260-gov-gavin-newsom-did-not-actually-order-40-million-californians-to-shelter-in-place

While the debates continue for this unprecedented, historical situation the one thing everyone agrees with is the importance of washing hands, wiping down surfaces, and reducing the risk among the most vulnerable.