Restaurants, bars, fitness studios among businesses impacted
By Sam Catanzaro
The City of Santa Monica has joined the City of Los Angeles and ordered the closures of bars and restaurants, among other businesses to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
On Monday morning Santa Monica issued a supplement to the City’s local emergency proclamation that requires two-week closure of the following businesses:
- All bars and nightclubs that do not serve food will be closed to the public.
- Any bars or nightclubs that serve food may remain open only for purposes of continuing to prepare and offer food to customers via delivery service or to be picked up. Dine-in food service is prohibited.
- All restaurants and retail food facilities are prohibited from serving food for consumption on premises. Restaurants and retail food facilities may continue to operate for purposes of preparing and offering food to customers via delivery service, to be picked up or for drive-thru. For those establishments offering food pick-up options, proprietors are directed to establish social distancing practices for those patrons in the queue for pick-up.
- The following are exempt: (i) cafeterias, commissaries, and restaurants located within hospitals, nursing homes, or similar facilities; (ii) grocery stores; (iii) pharmacies; and (iv) food banks.
- Trucks and other vehicles that deliver grocery items to grocery stores, when such items are to be made available for sale to the public, are exempt from having to comply with any City rules and regulations that limit the hours for such deliveries, including, without limitation, Section 9.28.080 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code.
- All movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys and arcades will be closed to the public.
- All gyms and fitness centers will be closed to the public.
- All businesses providing physical health and beauty services, including spas, hair salons, massage parlors, and nail salons, that do not provide medical care or services that supplement medical care as directed by medical professionals will be closed to the public.
“This virus knows no boundaries. Cities working together is the way to have the most impact and the least confusion,” said City Manager Rick Cole.
According to the City, the Order will go into effect at noon on March 16, 2020, through March 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.
This order comes just after City officials called for Santa Monica Pier to be shut down.
As of Monday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has identified 94 cases of COVI-19
All confirmed cases are being isolated and close contacts are quarantined, according to county health officials.
“We anticipate more cases and increased community spread as more testing occurs,” said Barbara Ferrer, Public Health Director. “We are asking everyone to expect more social distancing requirements as more cases are identified.
