California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered bars in seven counties to immediately close and urged drinking establishments in eight other counties to do the same to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The counties under the mandatory bar closure order are Los Angeles, Fresno, San Joaquin, Kings, Kern, Imperial and Tulare.
Riverside and San Bernardino counties are among eight other jurisdictions where the state is asking local health officials to order bars to close. Other counties being asked to do so are Ventura, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus.
On June 5, the state posted guidance allowing for the opening of bars in counties as of June 12, if their opening could be allowed by local public health officer order.
At least four counties have not allowed the re-opening of bars, including Contra Costa, Imperial, San Joaquin and Santa Clara. However, Riverside County and San Bernardino County have.
Local authorities appear caught by surprise
Palm Springs City Manager David Ready said Sunday that city officials are "very concerned about the number of COVID-19 cases and the direction of where they’re going." The City Council will address the matter at its meeting on Tuesday and Ready added that the city will be in communication with state and county officials.
“It’s always better to have a regional approach. If Palm Springs closes all the bars and Palm Desert doesn’t, it’s not optimal. The idea is to try and coordinate with the county," Ready said.
In a statement, Riverside County officials said, "We are working closely with the state to determine next steps regarding bar closures, including any potential impacts to restaurants that also have bars. As soon as more information is available, we will share with the community and the media."
San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert said officials are looking for direct word from the state before deciding what they'll do.
"The county hasn’t received word from the state on anything having to do with bars," Wert said Sunday evening. "We’ve seen news reports and a tweet — and a few reporters have forwarded us a news release — but the county will actually have to receive something from the state and have an opportunity to discuss it with the state before deciding a course of action."
The situation was similar in Los Angeles. "We just got the notice. But as of right now, we have not been given any guidance, which way. It's breaking news,'' Officer Rosario Cervantes of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section told City News Service.
"We probably won't know of anything until Monday,'' said Deputy Tina Schrader of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Information Bureau. "We are the last to know.''
“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."
Orders based on time on state's watch list
On Saturday, the state reported a rise of nearly 6,000 confirmed virus cases from the day before. On Sunday, California said it had added another 4,800 cases, bringing to 211,243 the number confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state now has 5,905 deaths from the virus.
The list of counties affected by Sunday’s order was based on daily reports on the spread of the virus, state officials said. Fifteen counties are now on the state's "watch list."
The seven counties that have been on the watch list for more than 14 days were required to immediately close any bar that has reopened for business. (Imperial, Kings, Los Angeles and Tulare counties have been on the list for more than three weeks already.)
The eight counties that have been on the list between three and 14 days were being asked to close bars through local health orders. (Santa Barbara County, while on the “suggested” bar re-closure list, will hit the two-week mark on Monday.)
In multiple emailed interviews with The Desert Sun over the past month, state officials said if a county is on the list for more than two weeks, then the state would step in to help address the growing cases to avoid rolling back of business closures.
However, those moves haven't been seen and when asked multiple times over the past month, state officials declined to say what exact assistance was provided to each individual county, or if assistance was provided at all. The state would only list broad ways they could help – such as providing support for congregate living settings — not ways in which they did.
“We are actively monitoring COVID-19 across the state and working closely with counties where there are increased rates and concerning patterns of transmission,” the state public health officer, Dr. Sonia Angell, said Sunday. “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.”
In justifying its order, the state said: "A bar, foundationally, is a social setting where typically not only small groups convene, but also where groups mix with other groups. Physical movement within the establishment, duration of time spent in the establishment, and the degree of social mixing within individuals and groups are all greater in bars than in other hospitality sectors."
It added that alcohol consumption "slows brain activity, reduces inhibition, and impairs judgment, factors which contribute to reduced compliance with recommended core personal protective measures, such as the mandatory use of face coverings and maintaining six feet of distance from people outside of one’s own household."
Hospital, ICU beds could soon become a concern
The spike in positive diagnoses is particularly a concern for counties as local hospitals begin to become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
Riverside County’s total number of intensive care beds across all hospitals was 99% occupied as of Sunday, said Brooke Federico, Riverside County spokeswoman. This is a 19% increase over the past two weeks.
In addition, of the 380 ICU patients, 28% are confirmed COVID-19 patients.
There are just five empty ICU beds remaining in Riverside County.
Overall, though, the county’s hospital beds are currently 63% occupied. This means hospitals have some flexibility to convert some of those beds to ICU beds under their surge plans, which is what hospitals plan to do in the coming week, Federico said.
“We continue to remind the public about how to protect themselves and their loved ones by slowing the spread of the disease,” Federico said. “First, wear face coverings. When everyone wears face coverings, transmission can be reduced up to 90 percent. Second, keep six feet of distance from others who don’t live in the same household. Frequently wash hands for at least 20 seconds. Finally, only visit places that are taking steps to protect their visitors, customers and employees.”
In neighboring San Bernardino County, ICU beds are at 89% occupancy. County spokesman David Wert said he wasn’t immediately able to provide additional information.
Imperial County reported a week ago that their ICU beds were at capacity.
Local bar operators react
Joseph Miller, the bar manager of Stacy's Palm Springs on Arenas Road, said Newsom's suggestion to close bars in Riverside County was "disheartening."
“I’m under 1,000 square feet of a bar, my people are all separated and I have better control of what my customers get attached to in here," Miller said. "I put in additional HEPA filters at the front door and the back door that run 24 hours a day. We use Clorox bleach on every surface and then sanitize on top of that. Nothing against the protesters, but when you have large groups of protesters without masks and there’s going to be a spike, they automatically think it’s the bars. I’m a small piano bar. I don’t ever have that many people anyway without the music. How do you survive if things are opening and closing?”
The Hood Bar and Pizza in Palm Desert closed on Sunday, according to owner Brad Guth.
The governor “sked for voluntary cooperation out of eight counties, Riverside County being one of them. Until we hear from the county and get new updates, guidelines or mandates, we felt it was our obligation to the community to voluntarily close," Guth said.
In Riverside County, the total number of known infections stands at 16,209, with the death toll at 438 and documented patient recoveries totaling 7,383, according to the state. Riverside has the second-highest case total of any county, behind only Los Angeles, which has reported more than 95,000 cases and almost 3,300 death
State officials noted that the "cacophony of conversation" typical in bar settings requires raised voices and "greater projection of oral emitted viral droplets." Customers, the state noted, need to remove face coverings to consume beverages.
"In their totality, these factors present a higher likelihood of transmission of the coronavirus within groups, between groups, and among the workforce. These factors have led to an increasing concern by public health professionals within California and throughout the nation identifying bars as the highest risk sector of non-essential business currently open," the state said. "There is a growing body of evidence tracing large COVID-19 outbreaks in both urban and rural states, to bars."
Texas and Florida have also taken steps to close bars amid surging case levels.
The order comes as California grapples with a rise in positive coronavirus cases, especially among younger adults, following social gatherings over Memorial Day weekend, reopened businesses in many places, including restaurants, fitness centers and hair salons, and widespread street protests against police brutality.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
Some Palm Springs bars had already closed
Some Palm Springs bars had already closed voluntarily. Hunters Palm Springs, a popular nightclub and bar, and Streetbar closed indefinitely after two employees tested positive for COVID-19, the businesses said on Saturday.
All employees who were in contact with the infected individuals will be tested and quarantined, the bars announced.
"Hunters' owners, management and staff are dedicated to ensuring the safety of our employees and guests by taking the necessary precautionary measures," management wrote on Facebook.
It is unclear how many employees have been in contact with the two employees who tested positive. Reopening dates were not provided.
On Facebook, Streetbar said its infected employee called in sick on June 19 and has not worked since then. The bar learned of his positive test on Saturday and closed the establishment.
Chill Bar management said on Facebook that no employees tested positive for COVID-19 as of Saturday evening, but they would temporarily close too.
"Before we need to come to you with news of positive test results, we'll take a break now. We look forward to seeing everyone again when we can welcome you back safely," management wrote on Facebook.
The closures come amid a steep increase in positive cases throughout Riverside County.
In Palm Springs, face coverings are required in many settings, including picking up food or in-person dining at a restaurant, except while seated at a table or bar.
The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report. This story is developing. Check back for updates.
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