Governor Gavin Newsom turned to the “dimmer switch” today and has
asked
19* counties (see below for list) to close all bars and cease
all indoor activities at restaurants, wineries, and family
entertainment spaces for at least three weeks. These
counties have the option to impose local orders, or the state
will issue county-specific orders.
The Governor took this step in light of a 6.4 percent COVID-19
case rate over the last seven days in the state and as
Californians prepare to celebrate Independence Day this Saturday.
He also urged localities to cancel fireworks shows to reduce
gatherings and crowds. The state is also closing all state beach
parking and limiting access to state parks over the holiday
weekend.
Focusing on the state’s role in enforcement, the Governor also
announced a new strike team concept out of CalOES. Six regional
enforcement strike teams will focus primarily on workplaces and
are made up of personnel from state departments, including
Alcohol and Beverage Control, CalOSHA, Department of Business
Oversight, Department of Consumer Affairs, the Board of Barbering
and Cosmetology, and CHP. The Governor outlined the four levers
of enforcement at his disposal: code enforcement, state
licensing, regulatory oversight, and fiscal consequences, but
hastened to add that the state planned to use an “education
first” approach and deploy “targeted enforcement.”
Counties Subject to Bar Closure and Cessation of Indoor
Activities in Certain Spaces:
The list of counties on the Governor’s targeted engagement list
is available
here:
Contra Costa*
Fresno
Glenn
Imperial
Kern
Kings
Los Angeles
Merced
Orange
Riverside
Sacramento
San Bernardino
San Joaquin
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Solano
Stanislaus
Tulare
Ventura
*Contra Costa dropped off of the state’s targeted engagement list
today, so it’s not yet clear whether this County is subject to
the Governor’s announcement today. Also, Contra Costa had not yet
reopened bars, and so is in compliance with the Governor’s bar
order.
Governor’s Orders Today (applies only to the counties on
the targeted engagement list)
View the Governor’s
new guidance released today:
Close all bars (bars are defined as alcohol establishments
that do not offer sit-down dine-in food)
Close indoor service for these sectors – but take-out is
still permitted:
