Amid the new COVID-19 rollbacks, what venues are closing in Sacramento and why
Many Sacramento indoor businesses must halt or scale back their reopening plans. But some, including gyms and salons, can remain open under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s newest orders to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Newsom on Wednesday directed 19 California counties, including Sacramento County, to close certain non-essential indoor businesses again starting July 2 in response to a new surge in the number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations . Indoor dining is prohibited and movie theaters, indoor family entertainment centers and card rooms need to close under an updated Public Health Order released Thursday by Sacramento County. Bars and breweries must cease both indoor and outdoor operations. Wineries can operate outdoors only.
A number of outdoor activities are still permitted under the new guidance. Restaurants can continue offering outdoor dining as well as takeout and delivery services, and people can visit outdoor attractions at zoos and museums.
Gyms, salons and shopping malls also remain open.
The rules aim to specifically limit indoor gatherings, said Sacramento County public health officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye.
“We have been doing contact tracing, and one of the factors that has come up as a recurring theme is gathering,” Kasirye said. She said public health officials have identified private events such as birthday parties, graduation parties and funerals as environments in which the virus often spreads. But the new rules also strive to limit gatherings in public spaces.
Public health officials have identified bars as particularly risky for the spread of the coronavirus because they are a space in which groups of people tend to mingle and talk loudly, and because alcohol impairs judgment, making people less likely to observe social distancing protocols.
Newsom’s announcement marked a retreat from reopenings that started in May. After the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rose in many counties over the past two weeks, Newsom said a rollback of reopenings was necessary. The new orders will remain in effect for at least three weeks.
Kasirye said an increase in the coronavirus positivity rate — the percentage of tests that come back positive for COVID-19 — indicates that the infection is on the rise in Sacramento County.
“There was a time when our positivity rate was as low as 1 percent, and the average over time is about 3 percent, but within the last week it’s over 5 percent,” Kasirye said. “There’s definitely an increase in infections in the community in addition to the fact that we are doing more testing.”
Public health officials have continued to emphasize social distancing, hand washing and face masks to decrease the spread of the virus.
“For the indoor businesses that will remain open, we continue to provide education. We’re reviewing their protocols and reminding them how important it is that all of us play our part in keeping this virus at bay,” Kasirye said. “Because if the trends continue in the wrong direction, then we have to look further at other businesses that might need to be shut down.”
The new guidelines preceded a holiday weekend that traditionally involves large gatherings. Sacramento has canceled fireworks and parades, in keeping with pleas from Newsom and public health officials to celebrate the Fourth of July safely.
This story was originally published July 3, 2020 at 11:53 AM.