For the past two and a half months, most of Placer County has been quarantined, all schools have been shut down, and there has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding when it will be safe to return to a normal lifestyle. As the local shelter in place order in Placer County was officially lifted May 2, the county is now looking to reopen many non-essential businesses to the public. With May 29 as the last distance learning day for students and a long summer ahead, there are mixed opinions on the rehabilitation of the economy.

“I’m pretty excited about things opening back up again, I think just for the most part that it brings back that sense of normalcy I feel like we’re all kind of craving at this point. But on the other hand, it is a little concerning just because I don’t want to see a second wave of the virus, and I know a lot of people in Rocklin can be kind of careless when it comes to making sure that we are socially distancing around people we don’t know,” Juliana Seltzer said.

As the reopening of some businesses starts, many people are excited for a return to regular living.

“I feel that things starting to open back up to the public will help a lot of people feel almost normal again, as they’ll be able to do more day-to-day things like they would before quarantine,” Madelyn Makis said.

Although many are eager to get back to the way life was before quarantine, there are also some concerns about going in public.

“I think people should still be able to still hang out with friends, but just as long as it’s not a big group of people. I am concerned that it might be a little too soon to open up big places like the mall and lakes because that just draws more people outside, which is the opposite of what we need right now,” Sydney Gladden said.

The Westfield Galleria Mall in Roseville opened to the public May 22.

“I don’t think the mall opening back up is the best idea. I feel like that should be one of the last things to open back up because it’s such a huge place, which is a good thing because I guess you can keep your distance a little better, but it’s also not good because it can get very crowded. You’re in an enclosed space, so that’s basically inviting the virus in. It’s going to be nice to go back to stores, but at the same time, it’s like a breeding ground for the virus,” Seltzer said.

There are concerns about the safety of being in public, so many people are still hanging out with friends, but doing so in safe ways.

“I think hanging out with friends is okay as long as both families are clear of the virus. As long as people stay safe, I don’t have many concerns about it,” Makis said.

Whether they’re going out with friends, or just going to the store, the precautions that people are taking vary.

“In public, especially places where it’s really easy for the virus to spread, I definitely wear a mask. So that includes places outside of Rocklin, sometimes grocery stores, going to appointments, and some places require masks. That means always having a mask handy, always having hand sanitizer handy, because even though the cases are not very high in Rocklin, it is always a great idea to take that extra step to ensure that nothing happens,” Seltzer said. 

While some people are taking many extra steps to ensure safety, others haven’t been as concerned when going out in public.

“I haven’t been using any masks or gloves when I go out. For the most part, I’m just trying to stay distanced from people and not come into close contact with others,” Makis said.

Throughout the quarantine, many have missed the routine social interaction with friends, whether that be at school, at home or at different places around town.

Gladden said, “I am excited for when the movie theaters and Taco Bell open up because that’s where my friends and I used to hang out. I also am looking forward to school starting back up in the fall, seeing all my friends, going to football games, and just getting back to some sort of reality.”

With restaurants, stores and services in the community each opening a different pace, it can be hard to keep up with the guidelines and rulings in effect. Placer County officials continue to post updates and policies on this site to inform the public about what’s open, what’s safe and what’s permissible in this stage of the Phase 2 and 3 transitions.

BY ANGELA ROBERSON