California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all bars to close immediately in seven counties across the state – including Los Angeles – citing a rapid spread of coronavirus in the last few weeks.
Newsom’s decision to roll-back reopening efforts, which began just under a month ago, comes two days after similar precautions were taken by Republican governors in Texas and Florida, two states who are also grappling with a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases.
The decision was announced by the governor’s state public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell on Sunday afternoon.
Bars in the seven counties immediately impacted by the state order are: Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kings and Imperial.
Six of the listed counties, excluding LA, are located in the Central Valley, which has seen a rapid increase in coronavirus infection rates in the last two weeks.
Eight other countries have been advised to implement similar closures, however were not ordered to do so. Among those counties is Santa Clara, Riverside and Sacramento.
‘Californians must remain vigilant against this virus,’ Newsom said in a statement. ‘COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. That’s why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases.’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all bars to close immediately in seven counties across the state – including Los Angeles – citing a rapid spread of coronavirus in the last few days
The counties immediately affected by Sunday’s order was based on daily reports about the spread of COVID-19, state officials said.
Counties that have been on the state’s watch list for between three and 14 days are being asked to close bars. Those who’ve been on the watch list for more than 14 days are being ordered to do so.
‘We are actively monitoring COVID-19 across the state and working closely with counties where there are increased rates and concerning patterns of transmission,’ Dr. Angell said in her statement.
‘Closing bars in these counties is one of a number of targeted actions counties are implementing across our state to slow the virus’ spread and reduce risk.’
Governor Newsom’s order is the first major rollback of efforts to reopen California’s economy.
Newsom allowed bars to reopen in the state on June 12 but gave county health officials the authority to keep them shut as long as they saw fit.
The vast majority of California’s 58 counties subsequently allowed bars to reopen, including Los Angeles which moved forward with the plans on June 19.
California issued guidelines asking bars to maintain a social distance between patrons, remove at-bar seating and turn down music volume to mitigate the need for shouting – which reportedly expels at greater distances.
A Big Dean’s employee checks customers temperature before letting them in the bar and restaurant amid the coronavirus pandemic in Santa Monica, California
Earlier this month, Newsom also ordered all Californians to wear face masks in public and during ‘high-risk settings’.
However, photographs that have emerged of bars and nightclubs in the weeks since have shown large crowds of people gathered together without masks on and standing in packed lines without social distancing.
Several bars in Sacramento have even closed of their own volition after learning COVID-19 had been spread within their premises.
Coronavirus cases across the state have now topped 211,000. Hospitalizations and infections rates continue to surge too, with officials citing a number of causes – including premature reopenings.
On Friday, Newsom said he was recommending that Imperial County implement stricter stay-at-home orders after it continued to report the highest per-capita COVID-19 infection rate of anywhere else in the state, as well as the highest number of tests.
Imperial County’s Board of Advisors made no immediate decision to order businesses to close down, A meeting with a state delegation for how to proceed was held Saturday but no decision was publicly made by the time of Newsom’s order Sunday.
In San Bernardino County, officials have warned that its hospitals are fast approaching ‘surge capacity’, with plans being made to open alternative care sites should the infection rate continue as it is.
Similarly, in Los Angeles County, large increases in confirmed cases and hospitalizations have left LA at a ‘critical moment’ in the fight against the pandemic, with eased stay-at-home orders now in jeopardy should the current trend continue.
Los Angeles County public health officials on Saturday reported 2,169 new coronavirus cases.
‘If we can’t find it in us to follow these mandates, including wearing face coverings and distancing when around others, we jeopardize our ability to move forward on the recovery journey,’ county health director Barbara Ferrer said in a Saturday statement. ‘Our collective responsibility is to take immediate action, as individuals and businesses, to reverse the trends we are experiencing.’
This is a developing story