County: All indoor dining services to stop at midnight

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - After two weeks of rising COVID-19 cases, San Diego County public health officials today ordered a halt to all indoor operations in businesses such as bars, restaurants, museums, zoos, cardrooms, theaters and family entertainment centers, effective at midnight.

   Restaurants that are open with dine-in indoor service cannot allow any new customers inside past 10 p.m. Monday, and all customers must be off the premises by 11 p.m. Outdoor dining will still be permitted for those restaurants, as will delivery and takeout. The restrictions, going into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, will be in place for at least three weeks.

   ``We must slow the spread of coronavirus now to allow our economy to open and thrive,'' said County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher.

   He said ``modest adjustments'' like the ones announced Monday could help prevent full-scale closures once again. The changes are in line with restrictions imposed last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom on counties on the state's coronavirus monitoring list. San Diego County was added to that list Friday due to rising case rates.

   The new health orders came as officials reported 274 new cases Monday, the fewest reported since June 22. The number of COVID-19 cases reported locally since the pandemic began is now 17,000, and the number of deaths remains the same at 387.

   Of the 7,667 tests reported Monday, 4% returned positive. The county's 14-day average of daily positive tests is 5.3%.

   Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer, said more bad news is likely coming.

   ``Deaths lag behind hospitalizations, which lag behind cases,'' she said, comparing the pattern to what health officials see with seasonal influenza.

   Breweries and pubs serving food must stop all on-site consumption effective Tuesday, whether that be indoor or outdoor -- but are allowed to remain open for curbside service of food and beverages, Fletcher said. Wineries and distilleries can have outdoor service. Officials did not clarify why the distinction was made between the alcohol-producing businesses.

   According to Wooten, of the 21 community outbreaks reported in the last seven days, 16 have occurred at restaurants or bars, including one Monday.

   The number of new outbreaks is above the trigger of seven in seven days. A community setting is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a setting from different households.