In the early months of the pandemic, California seemed to have been spared the worst of the coronavirus.

But after its quick move to reopen, the state is now facing a massive surge of new cases and deaths https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/californias-covid-19-dream-has-devolved-into-a-nightmare?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc

Health experts believe reopening California itself wasn’t the problem.

Many felt the state just went about it the wrong way: officials moved too fast through reopening phases and too many people went to social gatherings without taking proper precautions https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/californias-covid-19-dream-has-devolved-into-a-nightmare?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc

Additionally, early mixed messages on face mask requirements and the growing politicization of even wearing one, to begin with, have left many residents with “a lack of clear understanding of what they should do." https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/californias-covid-19-dream-has-devolved-into-a-nightmare?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc

Gov. Gavin Newsom has since required face mask use in public statewide and rolled back much of the state’s reopening to try to mitigate the spread of the virus.

But business owners are already feeling the burden of what a second shutdown might bring

The state is still in a much better position to handle the virus now than it was in the spring. The challenge that lies ahead, however, is persuading people to continue to social distance, wear masks, and stay home whenever possible https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/californias-covid-19-dream-has-devolved-into-a-nightmare?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc

Public health experts are hopeful that California will get the surge under control, but agree that had precautions been taken beforehand, much of it could have been avoided https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/californias-covid-19-dream-has-devolved-into-a-nightmare?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc