TOPLINE
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday the state’s first known case of community spread occurred in a nail salon, explaining why the governor is being cautious about reopening nail salons even as they begin to operate again in other states.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom looks on during a a news conference about the state’s efforts on the … [+] homelessness crisis on January 16, 2020 in Oakland, California.
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
KEY FACTS
When asked by a reporter why nail salons aren’t included in “Phase 2” of the state’s reopening plan, Newsom said: “This whole thing started in the state of California, the first community spread, in a nail salon… I’m very worried about that.”
The governor added that community transmission occurred even though nail salon workers already wear gloves, masks and clean more often.
Community spread is defined as when the origin of an infection can’t be immediately determined, meaning that a COVID-19 patient didn’t travel recently to China or had immediate contact with an infected person.
The first reported case of community spread in the U.S. was confirmed on February 26 outside Sacramento, but it is unclear if Newsom is referring to that case or another case not made public yet.
It’s also unclear how the state was able to confirm that a nail salon was the origin.
Newsom’s office declined to answer questions from Forbes asking for more details about the case, including whether the infected person was a worker or customer, where in the state the salon is located and how many other infections are linked to that nail salon.
News peg
Newsom’s reluctance to reopen nail salons stands in contrast to other states, some of which, such as Georgia and Tennessee, began opening nail salons with limited capacity last week.
KEY BACKGROUND
California’s reopening plan is divided into four phases, with retail business, manufacturing, offices and dine-in restaurants included in stage 2. Newsom announced this week the state would slowly enter “Early Stage 2” by allowing retail businesses to offer pickup orders only. Salons, gyms, movie theaters and in-person church services are part of Phase 3, which doesn’t yet have a timeline.
tangent
A woman in Texas was jailed for seven days for operating a nail salon last week despite the state’s stay-at-home order.
