Like other officials across the country, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has enacted far-reaching emergency measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus. However, there’s one crucial idea he has yet to embrace: Suspending enforcement of Assembly Bill 5 until life returns to normal.

That law bans many companies from hiring independent contractors rather than permanent employees with benefits. The measure targeted drivers for Uber and Lyft as well as delivery drivers for firms such as DoorDash.

It also ensnared workers who provide writing, consulting and other freelance services, thus putting at risk the livelihoods of as many as 2 million Californians.

Coronavirus is imposing widespread economic hardship among moderate-income workers, as consumers quarantine themselves at home and stop frequenting restaurants, stores and events.

The state should suspend any law that makes it even more difficult for Californians to pay their bills during this difficult time.

Empty grocery store shelves remind us of the important role of delivery drivers. We desperately need more drivers who can get goods to stores and deliver products to people’s homes. In fact, it’s far safer to have food and household goods delivered directly to people’s doors rather than have people waiting in store lines where the virus can easily be spread.

This editorial board strongly opposed Assembly Bill 5 because it reduces freedom of choice, leads to job losses and arbitrarily exempted whole categories of jobs. California freelance workers have been losing their gigs, which has spurred dozens of bills this year to reform or repeal the measure.

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Anti-maskers, anti-vaxxers; what is the real difference? One sound proposal, Assembly Bill 2075 by Asm. Kevin Kiley, R-Granite Bay, would put the law on hold until 2021, which would hopefully span the peak duration of the current coronavirus outbreak. It would also give lawmakers time to reconsider or at least revise Assembly Bill 5, which, coronavirus or not, is destroying economic opportunities for many Californians.

Lawmakers will resume those debates once the delayed session returns in mid-April, but for now it’s counterproductive to enforce the law.

We urge Gov. Newsom to suspend Assembly Bill 5 right now and allow Californians who are eager to make a living as they were free to do until just this year to do so again.