Many businesses that were told they could reopen are now being told to keep the doors closed, and Public Health says Sunday’s Cottonwood Rodeo is to blame. A regional variance would have allowed Shasta County to open most retail stores, dine-in restaurants, shopping malls, office-based businesses and more. Shasta County Public Health Officer Karen Ramstrom says the Cottonwood Rodeo put the community at extremely high risk of Covid spread and jeopardized the county’s economic recovery. The usually low-key rodeo attracted around 2,000 members of the event-hungry public, few of them practicing social distancing or wearing masks. It also caught the attention of national news, including Good Morning America, as well as the Governor. That prompted his order to delay the implementation of full business opening for Shasta County. Although sit-down dining is postponed, some retail businesses can open with an option for curbside pick up. Some of those include sellers of books, jewelry, toys, clothing, shoes, furniture, sporting goods, antiques, musical instruments and flowers. Supply chains for those businesses are also open. People should wear masks when visiting any public place.