It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new stay-at-home order will be in effect for at least three weeks beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday, in an attempt to reverse spiraling COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations statewide.

But local business leaders and economic experts say the lockdown will be accompanied by significant impacts.

“The closures will likely be devastating for our local economy,” Peter Rupert, a UC Santa Barbara economics professor and executive director of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project, told Noozhawk.

The sting of the original coronavirus shutdown in March, followed by the tiered stages of reopening, have already left long-lasting economic effects.

Many businesses were holding out for the end of the year, and the Christmas shopping season, as potential saves and rescues to the bottom line. Now, that has been taken away.

Rupert said Santa Barbara County usually experiences a hiring of about 2,000 employees during the holiday season.

“Many were hanging on hoping the holidays would give them some breathing room, since the summer was lost,” he said. “We are seeing a third wave from the pandemic, and it will not be until summer (hopefully) that we see a vaccine."

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