Placer County has an order in place for coronavirus. These businesses stayed open
The first COVID-19 death to strike California came in Rocklin on March 4. Gov. Gavin Newsom told all bars statewide to shut down on March 15 to stop the spread of coronavirus. The city of Roseville declared a state of emergency last Tuesday, and Placer County followed with a shelter-in-place directive Thursday.
Yet Saturday was business as usual at West House Tavern & Nightclub when Placer County’s environmental health team reached out, county spokesman Chris Gray-Garcia said. The 113-year-old bar in downtown Roseville has since closed.
“We discovered Saturday night that West House was still operating and followed up with them by phone that evening and by email on Sunday to share the guidance and make sure they’re aware of it,” Gray-Garcia wrote in an email. “We’ll continue to keep an eye out and follow up with any other businesses we may come across who aren’t complying.”
West House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A piece of paper taped to the door with Monday’s date bore the handwritten note “We are closed. Thank you.” A separate sign advertised to-go sales on 375-milliliter bottles of liquor as well as Red Bull, water, Jawbreakers and cigarettes.
A statewide shelter-in-place order issued Thursday mandated that all non-essential businesses close for the foreseeable future to keep the coronavirus from spreading. Restaurants are allowed to serve food to go and may sell mixed drinks with said food, but bars are not considered an essential business. West House does not serve food aside from the occasional catering contract.
West House wasn’t the only Roseville business flouting the order. A couple in their late 20s or early 30s could be seen eating a sit-down dinner at Falafel Corner, 973 Pleasant Grove Blvd. Suite 100, around 6:30 p.m.
Falafel Corner founder Sajad Shakoor said all stores except the Natomas location are owned and operated by franchisees, and that each had received a corporate memo directing them not to allow customers to eat in the store.
“I’m definitely going to have a talk with (the franchisee). We’re not supposed to be doing that,” Shakoor said. “We have people asking us if they can come in and sit and eat (in Natomas), and I say no, we can’t do that. We don’t want to be responsible for anyone getting sick or have anyone get us sick.”
The coronavirus had infected more than 2,400 people and led to 49 deaths statewide as of midday Tuesday, according to a Sacramento Bee survey of numbers released by counties’ public health departments. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people to stay 6 feet apart, not congregate in public areas and remain home when possible.
Placer County law enforcement officials do not plan to arrest anyone disobeying the state order, according to the county website. Anyone with information about restaurants, bars or other is asked to email COVID19Info.NO-REPLY@placer.ca.gov with “Community Concern” in the subject line.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 5:00 AM.