Newsom recommends closure of bars in Riverside County

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Riverside County public health officials have not yet made a public response to the recommendation today by Gov. Gavin Newsom that they order the closure of bars throughout the county because of an increase in COVID-19 cases.

The California Department of Public Health today made the announcement along with Newsom in a press release. The same news release announced a state order to close bars in five counties – Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare. These counties have been on the state’s monitoring list for at least 14 days because they exceed the state’s established threshold – a case rate of more than 100 per 100,000 residents or a case rate of more than 25 per 100,000 and a positive testing rate of more than 8 percent.

Riverside County is one of six other counties that have been on the monitoring list for a period between three and 14 days. The other counties are San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus and Sacramento. At this point, according to the release, Newsom is calling on those individual counties to consider their own closure orders for bars, which were just allowed to re-open on June 12.

“Closing bars in these counties is one of a number of targeted actions counties are implementing across our state to slow the virus’ spread and reduce risk,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, State Public Health Officer and director of the California Department of Public Health. “We all have our part in the fight against community spread of COVID 19. If you go out, then remember, wear a face covering, keep your distance and wash your hands frequently.”

According to the news release, “Bars are social environments where groups of people mix. In these environments, alcohol consumption reduces inhibition and impairs judgment, leading to reduced compliance with recommended core personal protective measures, such as the mandatory use of face coverings and the practice of social and physical distancing.

“Bars are generally louder environments requiring raised voices, leading to the greater projection of droplets. These factors present a higher likelihood of transmission of COVID-19 within groups, between groups, and among the work force. Public health professionals within California and throughout the nation have identified bars as the highest risk sector of non-essential business currently open.”

According to the Riverside County Health Department, 501 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three deaths were reported on Friday. In total, 15,643 cases and 438 deaths have been reported in the county, with 7,383 patients now recovered.

As of Friday, there have been 273 reported cases of COVID-19 in Menifee – an increase of 58 cases in the last two weeks. In total, there have been six deaths reported in Menifee.