The San Francisco Experience

California's  total Covid-19 infections have been remarkably low as compared to New York State. There are a host of reasons for the fact California ranks 5th in the Covid-19 stakes, with New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Massachusetts having more cases and fatalities. As California embarks on a limited re-opening next week, we explore what could throw off the Golden State from a successful re-opening.

California’s Covid-19 cases and fatalities is a fraction of New York’s. As the Golden State begins to re-open next week, can we keep the Coronavirus in check ? While our weekly death rate remains about 500, that number has been stubbornly resistant to coming down. Why, after 8 weeks of Shelter in Place ?

A wrap-up of reopening news in California and Western Europe.

In 1847, at the height of the Irish Potato Famine, the Choctaw Nation donated $170 to Irish famine relief. Returning the favor, 173 years later, many Irish are donating to a GoFundMe page for Navajo, Hopi and Choctaw Covid-19 relief.

California announced milestones that must be achieved by its 58 counties before shops and businesses re-open. France began a full scale but progressive re-opening Monday May 11th. Other EU countries are also opening shops, schools and parks, permitting team sports. But the UK imposed a 14 day quarantine on most foreigners entering the country.

The dedication ceremony of the worlds tallest high rise at 138 stories in San Francisco, is the setting for this 1974 disaster film. The film unintentionally provides an eerie foreshadowing of the events of 9/11 and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

San Francisco’s 8000 homeless people are crowding into the Tenderloin District, pitching tents on city streets. The neighbors have sued the City to compel City Hall to clean up the streets. The Mayor has committed to rent 8250 hotel rooms to house the homeless, but so far only 1000 homeless have moved in. The Mayor has a comprehensive plan to fix the Tenderloin problems but neighbors are skeptical.

Silicon Valley is beginning to experience a wave of layoffs - a rarity as tech firms considered themselves immune from such cuts in the past. But the Gig Economy with its ride hailing apps and home stay apps will have the biggest challenges to face post pandemic.

Work.com, a creation of Salesforce based in San Francisco, will provide managers the tools to keep employees safe from the Coronavirus in the workplace, as America goes back to work.

As the US moves to the next phase of the pandemic with almost half the country re-opening for business, California is slower off the mark. Why ? And why has Ireland been able to craft such a winning Roadmap to Re-Opening with the apparent full backing of its citizens ?