Yes, you read that right.
This Wednesday, San Diego County decided to temporarily suspend enforcement of the state’s Covid restrictions against restaurants and live entertainment centers, amid confusion of Superior Court Judge Joel R. Wohlfeil’s injunction to allow two strip clubs to remain open.
To seek clarification, the County requested an emergency hearing on Thursday, where the judge confirmed that “all businesses which provide restaurant service, meaning, all restaurants in the County of San Diego are encompassed within the scope of the court’s order.”
Not surprisingly, Governor Gavin Newsom promptly appealed the ruling, which clearly contradicts the statewide Regional Stay-At-Home Order. Reactions to the ruling seem to be mixed amongst local officials, but the County maintains that it will not enforce public health orders at restaurants until more clarification is reached.
County response to judge's ruling: pic.twitter.com/DtPzr1GoX4
— SanDiegoCounty (@SanDiegoCounty) December 17, 2020
A meeting with the San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors is scheduled for today (Friday, December 18) to determine next steps.
Since the ruling, San Diego County has seen the reopening of a handful of restaurants in the area. Others that had already decided to remain open in protest of the shutdown orders are now technically free to operate without risk of citation – at least for now.
Most restaurants remain closed, and the extent to which some locales have opened varies. Some have decided to keep diners outdoors while others have decided to allow customers to be served indoors as well.
Only restaurants have been included in the judge’s order, which means other businesses like salons, museums and personal care services must remain closed under the statewide order.
The stay-at-home order is set to be in place until ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15% in the Southern California region, which could be a while given the region’s recent drop to 0% on Thursday.
[Featured image: Unsplash]