Though State Street is largely empty this week, groups of young people can still be found clustered on Santa Barbara’s beaches, seemingly unaware of the global pandemic infecting their community.
Most Santa Barbarans, however, are painfully informed about the planet’s current health crisis — overwhelmed by news about it, losing jobs because of it, and for parents, turning into full-time home-school teachers during it. Still many are still confused about Governor Newsom’s executive order to shelter in place. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
What is considered an essential business and who are its workers? Pot dispensaries, farmers’ markets, liquor stores that sell food, laundromats, and any restaurant delivering food and alcoholic beverages are all considered essential during the shelter-in-place order. Dining in restaurants, drinking in bars, and hanging out in theaters, clubs, or music venues is illegal. Of course, grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, and other critical government functions are considered essential, too. The full list is broken down at covid19.ca.gov .
