91茄子

Los Angeles County reported 10,500 new cases Sunday, marking the seventh consecutive day of record-breaking Coronavirus hospitalizations in the county.聽

The county implemented a ban on outdoor dining the week of Thanksgiving, limiting restaurants to only offer takeout, drive-through and delivery.

County Board Supervisor Kathryn Barger is one of the few public officials who have voiced opposition to restaurants鈥� restrictions, calling the ban on outdoor dining an 鈥渁rbitrary and capricious restriction鈥� in a press release.

91茄子 previously reported on outdoor dining in Bethesda, Maryland. Outdoor dining is still allowed in the District, but with several restrictions and permit requirements.聽

However, the Wash found that several restaurants were not in compliance with permit requirements, or all together did not have any permits on file but were still operating.聽

The report found that several locations did not meet the minimum required three feet for pedestrian pathways.聽

Additionally, if restaurants have tents set up for outdoor dining, they must use electric heaters. 91茄子 found that many restaurants were using propane heaters instead, which would be a fire code violation.聽

91茄子 contacted Supervisor Barger鈥檚 office and spoke to her communications director, Michelle Vega.聽

鈥淥utdoor dining had been open for five months while we saw the greatest decline in cases,鈥� said Vega.聽

She added that the data and science do not support the need for the ban and that it will hurt businesses that have already been struggling since the pandemic hit.聽

The county鈥檚 health department has reported that 10-15% of new cases were connected to restaurant dining, while over half were from private gatherings.聽

A CDC released in September found that restaurant dining is inherently prone to spreading the virus since patrons gathering do not wear masks while being served.聽

Vega said that the study doesn鈥檛 鈥渄istinguish between outdoor and indoor dining鈥� and that Supervisor Barger is only advocating 鈥渇or the continuation of outdoor dining鈥� since it provides more space and an open-air environment for patrons.聽

91茄子 tried reaching out to the county鈥檚 health department for public comment but did not hear back. However, during a press briefing Monday, L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said that daily hospitalization projections could surpass 4,000 this month.

Paul Scrivano, owner of Blue Dog Beer Tavern in Sherman Oaks, is infuriated with the dining restrictions, 鈥淢y sales are down, I don鈥檛 know, 85% now? I had 29 employees in my restaurant in March. I have six now.鈥�

Scrivano mentioned that he鈥檚 a part of a restaurant association that laid off 800 employees when the lockdown began in March. He declined to name the group out of fear of any 鈥渂acklash.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 not going to close that f—ing restaurant, and I will not lay off another employee,鈥� Scrivano exclaimed.聽

The county has offered several assistance programs for struggling and workers. The offers $30,000, though since it went live Monday, it has already received 2,500 applications and is closed to further applicants until further notice.聽

鈥淭his ain鈥檛 about me, this ain鈥檛 about the company, this is about the people that work for us who are suffering, real big right now,鈥� said Scrivano.

The county鈥檚 health department has also provided for workers struggling or laid off due to the pandemic.