California Governor Gavin Newsom says some businesses will be able to reopen as soon as this Friday, as the state moves into Stage 2 of its reopening plan.
Stage 2 will allow retail businesses to reopen with curbside pickup. That includes bookstores, clothing stores, florists, and sporting goods stores. Associated manufacturing and supply chains will also be able to operate.
Operations that would be excluded from Stage 2 include offices, seated dining at restaurants, and shopping malls.
State health officials say individual counties can move more quickly through Stage 2 if they meet the state's readiness criteria and submit a plan to the state.
Contact tracing, identifying and tracking individuals who have had contact with an infected patient, is key to the state's reopening plan, and officials say they are identifying 10,000 people who will be able to help conduct contact tracing statewide.
Gov. Newsom says 23 counties are already conducting contact tracing.
The governor also says any indication that coronavirus trends are worsening after businesses reopen could lead to the state bringing back stricter stay-at-home orders.
Additional details from the state about the safety protocols businesses will need to follow in order to reopen are expected to be released on Thursday.
