California Gov. Gavin Newsom attended a birthday party for one of his political advisers that included people from several households, despite state guidelines discouraging that kind of activity during the coronavirus pandemic.
Newsom and his wife attended a dinner at an upscale French restaurant on Nov. 6 that brought 12 people together in honor of 50-year-old Jason Kinney, a longtime friend and adviser to Newsom, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Representatives for Kinney and Newsom did not disclose how many households were in attendance but didn’t dispute that it was more than three. California guidelines limit gatherings that are defined as “social situations that bring together people from different households at the same time in a single space or place.”
Newsom later issued a statement saying he regrets his attendance after his office had initially defended his appearance at the event because of its outdoor atmosphere.
“While our family followed the restaurant’s health protocols and took safety precautions, we should have modeled better behavior and not joined the dinner,” the governor said in a statement.
California has been one of the strictest states when it comes to public health measures enacted since the coronavirus outbreak earlier in 2020. The state has had over 1 million cases of COVID-19 and has suffered more than 18,000 deaths.
As cases have been on the rise in recent weeks, Newsom doubled down his efforts to try to corral the uptick, issuing rules ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday season.
Newsom previously restricted gatherings to no more than three households and encouraged masks to be worn after eating and drinking. The gatherings must be held outside, and attendees can go inside to use restrooms as long as they’re frequently sanitized.
Guests should frequently wash their hands, and shared items should not be used. Food and beverages at gatherings should be in single-serve disposable containers or served by a person who is wearing a face covering and is frequently washing his or her hands. Singing, chanting, and shouting are also “strongly discouraged.”
The state also encourages the gatherings to be no longer than two hours.
Earlier this week, Newsom blamed private gatherings for rising numbers in COVID-19 cases.
“It’s for obvious reasons. People are letting their guard down,” Newsom said. “They’re taking their masks off. They’re starting to get together outside of their household cohorts. They’re starting to see businesses reopen, and we’re starting, again, to see more people mixing. As it gets colder, we’ll see more still.”
