BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — According to Kern County officials, a committee has been created called the Kern County Task Force. They are charged with finding initiatives to reopen Kern County's businesses.
Megan Person, the County Spokeswoman publicly announced the creation of the task force on Thursday, during the Kern County's Public Health department’s briefing.
"During the last Board of Supervisors meeting, the board proposed the creation of the committee to assist Public Health as they review the governor's order in reviewing businesses returning to work," Person said.
"They will work directly with local industry sections to ensure the exchange of communication and information on state directive."
Person adds that their roles are to provide solutions to county officials on the safest and most efficient ways of moving forward.
"The intention is to have a committee in place, working now to allow a swift and smooth reopening of our economy-- when the governor decides to lift the order," Person said.
On Friday, during Governor Gavin Newsom's daily COVID-19 briefing, he shared in the last 24-hours 91 people have died from the coronavirus.
So far 2,000 California residents across the state have died due to COVID-19.
The governor listed this as a reason for residents to be patient regarding when the state will reopen businesses back up.
"We are working very hard day-and-day-out to advance," Newsom said.
"I can only say this, we are getting close to making some announcements that I think will be very meaningful to people in retail and hospitality, again with serious modifications."
Also on Friday, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood released a short video discussing the reopening of Kern County.
He shared it is a complicated situation but is calling on the governor to let local officials decide.
"The message I am sending to the governor and I think the Board of Supervisors is doing the same thing is let us control our county with our businesses," Youngblood.
"We need to put people back to work. We need people to be able to make a living, our economy is suffering."
Youngblood says he hopes by next Friday to give the community an update on the county's next steps.
