California Governor Newsom Orders Bar Closures Over COVID-19 Fears

Isabel van Brugen
By Isabel van Brugen
June 29, 2020US News
share
California Governor Newsom Orders Bar Closures Over COVID-19 Fears
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to the press in the spin room after the sixth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by PBS NewsHour & Politico at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 19, 2019. (Agustin Paullier/ AFP via Getty Images)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered the closure of bars in seven counties which have seen a surge in cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus.

In a statement, Newsom also recommended that eight other counties in the most populous U.S. state close their bars, as he urged Californians to “remain vigilant” against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

“Due to the rising spread of #COVID19, CA is ordering bars to close in Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, San Joaquin, and Tulare, while recommending they close in Contra Costa, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, & Ventura,” Newsom said on Twitter.

“COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger,” he said in a statement. “That’s why it is critical we take this step.”

Newsom’s order for bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties followed moves by Texas and Florida to shut all their bars on Friday. Public health officials in California and throughout the United States have identified bars as the riskiest non-essential businesses currently open.

A closed Nickel Diner
A pedestrian wears his face mask while walking past a closed Nickel Diner in Los Angeles on May 7, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Consuming alcohol reduces inhibitions, which leads to less mask-wearing and social distancing, health officials warned. Patrons in noisy bars often shout, which spreads droplets more widely.

The surge in cases has been most pronounced in Southern and Western states that did not follow health officials’ recommendations to wait for a steady decline in cases before reopening. More than 2.5 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the United States and more than 125,000 have died.

Newsom’s decision marked a shift from earlier in the week, when he told reporters that each county was being monitored for increases in virus cases.

“I can’t say this enough, California is not one size fits all,” Newsom said. “Each county has unique criteria and conditions. And within those counties, unique conditions as well.”

Los Angeles County Mayor Eric Garcetti welcomed the move, saying it will help curb transmission of the virus.

“As we started reopening more businesses, we cautioned that we may need to change course to protect public health from this deadly virus,” he said in a statement on Twitter. “I support @CAGovernor’s order to close bars in LA County and other counties to limit the spread of COVID-19.”

Mayor Eric Garcetti
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks at a Los Angeles County Health Department press conference on the CCP virus in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 4, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Los Angeles County remains the epicenter of the outbreak in the state, reporting an additional 2,542 cases by Monday—making up more than half of new transmissions in California.

“From the start of our reopening process we’ve said that we would be led by the facts and the data. I support Governor @GavinNewsom’s decision to close bars in several counties in California, including here in LA County and Long Beach. We must continue to prioritize public health,” Long Beach City Mayor Robert Garcia said.

Elsewhere, in states which have seen cases drop, bars have been a source of outbreaks. One bar in East Lansing, Michigan, has been linked to more than 85 cases, and local health officials say that number is likely to rise.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments