June 27 marks 100 days since the state of California issued an order for all residents to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
CapRadio Visual Journalist Andrew Nixon has documented that time. The photos show snapshots of life in the Sacramento region since that March 19 order to stay at home, and how the coronavirus has disrupted so much so quickly.
Early Days
As cases of the coronavirus first started appearing in the Sacramento region, leaders and officials began to make decisions to cancel events and pause normal activities.
One early disruption came when the Elk Grove Unified School District announced it would cancel classes and student activities — putting one high school team's championship basketball hopes on the line. Sheldon High School eventually won a rescheduled playoff game March 11, but the remainder of the tournament was canceled the following day.
Parents and student-athletes fill the press conference room at the Sacramento County administrative building downtown on Sunday, March 8, 2020, advocating for the top-ranked Sheldon High School boys basketball team.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
The bear statue outside the governor's office, which people are known to touch as they pass by, becomes aptly nicknamed "Bacteria Bear" and is roped off and adorned with signs encouraging handwashing and an NPR comic about COVID-19, Thursday March 12, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Jacob Morgan, 12, and his father, Tim, enjoy a lunch of grocery store sushi on the nearly-deserted waterfront in Sacramento on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
A sign over Interstate 50 advises motorists on avoiding COVID-19 Thursday, March 19, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadioResponding To A Crisis
After Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the statewide order March 19 asking all Californians to stay at home except for essential activities, the reality of the pandemic began to settle in.
The state struggled to expand testing for the virus, people began stockpiling grocery items like toilet paper and flour, and governments and organizations began responding with creative solutions to help combat COVID-19.
The shutdown put millions of Californians out of work and forced many local businesses to stop operating. While there has been some support for businesses, it didn't reach all parts of Sacramento equally.
Certified Medical Assistant Ashlee Wright and Nurse Lisbet Real swab a patient showing symptoms of COVID-19 at the Ampla clinic's drive through testing center in Yuba City Wednesday, March 25, 2020.. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Downtown Sacramento has much less traffic as residents stay home Tuesday, March 31, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
A Target in Arden-Arcade is out of toilet paper Friday, March 13, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
California Army National Guard soldiers pack boxes at Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services in place of the food bank's regular volunteers, Saturday, March 21, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Mayor Darrell Steinberg demonstrates how to wear a protective mask to prevent spreading coronavirus to others if the wearer may unknowingly be infected and asymptomatic, Friday, April 3, 2020.Andrew Nixon /CapRadio
Joshua Morris tends to a rack of 3D printers making parts for face shields needed for medical care on Friday, April 3, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Mark Lytal finishes spraying disinfectant after a patron uses a mobile shower in Downtown Sacramento on Friday April 10, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
T & Y Market CEO Julie Lynhiavue organizes produce between other tasks at her store Friday April 10, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadioProtests Against Shutdown
As the shutdown wore on, some residents skeptical of public health officials and the government began protesting the order to stay at home.
Multiple protests were held at the state Capitol, with one resulting in 32 arrests. Many did not practice social distancing measures as they carried signs decrying the governor and questioning the virus’ impact.
Protesters pass the Capitol with signs, stopping traffic as part of "Operation Gridlock" Monday, April 20, 2020 in Sacramento.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
A demonstrator in opposition to California's stay-at-home order is arrested at the state Capitol Friday, May 1, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadioPhased Reopenings Begin
In May, the state began modifying its stay-at-home order to allow some businesses and activities to resume in phases, depending on risk.
Counties were allowed to apply to reopen some parts of their economy faster than others if they met certain state guidelines for health and safety.
Meanwhile, some businesses such as hair and nail salons had to wait even longer, and other aspects of daily life continued in modified forms.
Salon owner Stephanie Hunter-Ray sells hair products and jewelry while she is not able to cut hair due to social-distancing restrictions Wednesday, May 13, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Rental and personal rafts enter the water at the Sunrise Recreation Area Sunday, May 24, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Rabbi Reuven Taff teaches a class over Zoom for 10th graders that are part of the Mosaic Law Congregation from his home on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Robert Cummings, a local printing press operator, has his hair cut by Sean "Smiley" Christensen, owner of Smiley's Barbershop on Fruitridge Wednesday, May 27, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadioProtests for Black Lives
People hit the streets once again. Instead of demanding an end to shelter-in-place orders, crowds demanded an end to deadly encounters with police.
The killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police sparked protests across the world — and Sacramento was no exception.
Demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism began the week following Memorial Day and have continued since. Thousands marched in the streets for changes to policing, accountability in recent deaths, and the value of black lives.
A protest starting in Oak Park works its way down Franklin Blvd in support of Black lives on Friday May 29, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
Demonstrators march down L Street in support of Black lives on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadioMore Than A Moment
As of June, many of California’s restrictions have been lifted and businesses have been allowed to reopen.
But life is far from back to normal.
Drive-through graduation ceremonies, curtains between restaurant tables and a new statewide order requiring masks in public are just some of the ongoing adaptations to life amid COVID-19.
Calls for police reform continue throughout the state and region, and an end to fears about the virus is nowhere in sight as case counts continue to climb.
And as California reaches 100 days under the stay-at-home order, cases and hospitalizations are beginning to spike throughout the state. June 24 marked the largest single-day increase in cases since the start of the pandemic.
As of June 25, more than 5,700 Californians have died from the virus.
Ezavion Coner poses for a graduation photo with a cloth mask matching his graduation robe Tuesday, June 2, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
University of beer uses shower curtains to separate customers for COVID-19 June 12, 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
People work on chalk art in support of Black lives outside Sacramento City Hall on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadioAndrew Nixon / CapRadio
For Nixon, these photos show how much we've given up as a community in the past 100 days and how it's affected many different people in the region. And the past few weeks seem to show that we're still a long way from the end of the pandemic.
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