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LOS ANGELES, June 14-- Despite a statewide death toll of over 5,000 from COVID-19 as of Saturday, California started this weekend to reopen most retail businesses that can prove they are willing and able to adopt state and county mandated safety protocols. The move has some residents concerned that this could lead to an uptick in cases, while others are jubilant that steps are being taken to return to normalcy and save the local economy. "It could lead to a second wave," Michael Tiberi from Sunland, a community 10 km north of downtown Los Angeles, told Xinhua. "It's not as if the virus has mutated to a benign form or that we have a vaccine in place yet." California has had over 150,000 COVID-19 cases so far, with 5,061 deaths statewide. Almost half of those cases and over 2,800 deaths were reported in Los Angeles County, the lastest data showed. Under rising pressure from business owners, Los Angeles County began on Friday to reopen larger-scale gathering places with more personal contact, such as restaurants, fitness facilities and gyms, zoos, art galleries, museums, day camps, recreational vehicle parks, outdoor recreation sites and swimming pools. Also reopening from Friday in the county were film, television and music production; and pro-league stadiums, but without live audiences and recreational stays in hotels. Large public venues such as bars, houses of worship, concerts and in-person sporting events have not yet been permitted to reopen. | 
