BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Due to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, Governor Gavin Newsom order all in room services to shut down and return to curbside and to go services Wednesday.
“We are now requiring they close their indoor operations due to the spread of the virus," Newsom said Wednesday.
This announcement is now leaving several local businesses with another harsh reality. Last Sunday Kern County landed on the Governors watch list and he ordered all bars to close back up for the second time this year.
Wednesday morning Kern County was back on the Governors list. However, this time as one of the impacted counties ordered to scale back on reopening due to rising number in positive COVID-19 cases.
The Governor said he is now suspending all indoor operations for the next three weeks in Kern County, “In restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment broadly defined.”
Uricchios Trattoria restaurant manager Brian Porter, telling 23ABC News he wasn't ready for this announcement, “I was shocked to hear it today honestly, I was shocked. I did think that maybe because of the bars the restaurants would follow but this seems pretty sudden.”
Porter said when the first wave of closures hit he had no choice but the cut 30 percent of his staff and he said they will likely have to make cuts again, to help comply with the new mandate. “Even with our limited staff that we have brought back with our half capacity and our shortened hours, now were closed on Sundays and Mondays. With now this recent news with having to shift back to to-go food were going to have an even more limited staff.”
As of now Uricchios Trattoria restaurant will return to take out immediately. However, Porter said he is staying optimistic that his business will survive the second wave of closures, “Yea I think we will be ok.”
The Kern County Public Health Department released a statement following the announcement, stating that they are encouraging residents and local businesses to adhere to the states guidelines. The county health department went on to say they will continue to be a resource for local businesses, providing education on COVID-19 resources and guidance from the state.”
Governor Newsom ended Wednesday's briefing with a stark reminder to Californians, "Wear those mask, practice physical distancing and lets do our best to meet this moment, as we met the moment many months ago and bent the curve the first time, lets do it again.”
Zoos, museums and card rooms are also among the businesses that must close. However, the Governor did not make mention of nail and hair salons during his press briefing Wednesday.
