Gavin Newsom has ordered most of the state to follow stricter guidance on indoor activities. This significant step backward in the reopening process is an attempt to slow down an alarming surge of the pandemic in nineteen counties.
Donald Trump continues to promote the reopening of businesses across America, despite some state witnessing an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. Keeping in line with that, Newsom restricted visits to indoor bars, restaurants, wineries, and tasting rooms, along with card rooms, museums, zoos, movie theaters and entertainment centers for the next three weeks in regions that have been hard hit by the virus. These areas include Sacramento, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, Los Angeles counties.
The reason behind imposing these restrictions is to restrict people from gathering indoors in the wake of the July 4 holiday weekend, when health officials have warned of disaster if Californians continue ignoring safety guidelines and areas experiencing significant spikes in coronavirus infections continue to keep businesses open.
As of July 1, data tracked by Los Angeles Times recorded 237,068 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California, after record increases earlier in the week and 6,152 people succumbing to the deadly virus. Newsom urged people to be more vigilant when it comes to maintaining physical distancing from each other, adding that it is imperative to be more careful as it relates to the possibility of being in situations where people could be transmitting COVID-19.
Newsom said the decision to implement stricter restrictions is done soberly, yet thoughtfully and deliberately in a bid to restrict the spread of coronavirus. The change does not coincide with the state’s reopening plans that kicked off early May and later allowed retail stores, bars, dine-in restaurants, gyms, hair salons, religious services, and several other businesses to reopen with modifications in counties that followed state guidelines.
The governor is also recommending the affected counties to cancel all fireworks shows on the Fourth of July and is urging Californians to avoid having large get-togethers with neighbors and friends to celebrate the holiday. Newsom said the new mandates will allow businesses to offer outdoor service and takeout.
Drinking establishments including bars in the affected counties are allowed to seat guests outdoors provided they sell a meal with drinks in the same transaction and follow the same safety requirements as restaurants. Admitting that the new rules will be difficult, Newsom advised state officials to first try to convince non-compliant businesses to follow restrictions before penalizing them, ABC7 reported.