Los Angeles restaurant owners are concerned the newest wave of COVID-19 restrictions, including a ban on outdoor dining, will severely damage their businesses ahead of one of the most important weeks of the year for the industry.
“Spoke to restaurant owners in LA on this latest lockdown. They had spent thousands making outdoor dining feasible,” KTLA reporter Christina Pascucci said on Twitter. “They had prepped for Thanksgiving week, one of their biggest nights for business of the year. This is devastating for them. His one question: where is the science?”
Spoke to restaurant owners in LA on this latest lockdown. They had spent thousands making outdoor dining feasible. They had prepped for Thanksgiving week, one of their biggest nights for business of the year. This is devastating for them. His one question: where is the science?
— Christina Pascucci (@ChristinaKTLA) November 23, 2020
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the new restrictions Sunday, which will be in place for a minimum of three weeks.
“As new COVID-19 cases remain at alarming levels and the number of people hospitalized continue to increase, the LA County Health Officer Order will be modified to restrict dining at restaurants, breweries, wineries and bars, effective Wednesday, November 25 at 10:00 p.m.,” the Los Angeles County Twitter account posted.
As new COVID-19 cases remain at alarming levels and the number of people hospitalized continue to increase, the LA County Health Officer Order will be modified to restrict dining at restaurants, breweries, wineries and bars, effective Wednesday, November 25 at 10:00 p.m. pic.twitter.com/SQo08dF63A
— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) November 22, 2020
County officials made the move after warning that if average daily cases exceeded 4,000 or hospitalizations were above 1,750 per day, all in-person dining would be closed. Average cases reached 4,097 per day in the county on Sunday.
“To reduce the possibility for crowding and the potential for exposures in settings where people are not wearing their face coverings, restaurants, breweries, wineries and bars will only be able to offer take-out, drive thru, and delivery services,” the L.A. County Department of Public Health said.
The new order will take effect Wednesday at 10 p.m., but Health Director Barbara Ferrer said she hopes people continue to support local restaurants in the coming weeks.
“The persistent high number of cases requires additional safety measures that limit mixing in settings where people are not wearing masks,” Ferrer said in a statement. “We hope individuals continue to support restaurants, breweries and wineries by ordering for take-out or delivery.”
Restaurants in L.A. County have been grappling with in-person dining restrictions for months, with many opening up outdoor seating areas on sidewalks and in rented tents in an attempt to comply with the restrictions. But the new restrictions mean a return to takeout-only service that was the policy of the area in the spring.
“Public Health reminds everyone to stay home as much as possible for the next two to three weeks to change the trajectory of surging cases and save lives,” the Health Department said.
Health officials warned that if the infection or hospitalization rates don’t improve, more restrictive orders could be on the way.
