Governor Orders Solano County To Close Bars, Indoor Businesses

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — Solano County is among 18 California counties ordered Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, in coordination with the California Department of Public Health, to close down bars and indoor operations at dine-in restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, family entertainment centers, indoor movie theatres, indoor zoos and museums and cardrooms effective immediately, the county said in a news release.

"Bars must close regardless if they serve drinks indoors or outdoors," County Spokesperson Matthew Davis said.

The news comes after Solano County was on the state's coronavirus County Monitoring List for three consecutive days or more.

"The Governor has placed Solano County on his County Monitoring List because we have had several days of upticks in the number of people requiring hospitalization for COVID-19 disease," said Dr. Bela Matyas, Solano County Public Health Officer.

As of Wednesday, there have been 1,402 total confirmed cases of coronavirus in Solano County, including 25 deaths. Forty-one people are currently hospitalized in the county, with 32 percent of Intensive Care Unit beds available for use and 92 percent of ventilators available for use.

According to the state, one of the drivers of the number of cases in Solano County is a large outbreak among farmworkers in the vineyards in Sonoma and Napa counties who are residing in Solano County. (See the state's full statement below.)

The county and others on the list must close bars, brewpubs, breweries and pubs, as well as indoor operations in certain business sectors for a minimum of three weeks, maybe longer depending on epidemiological indicators.

"As we continue to monitor the situation, we encourage everyone to wear a face covering in public, adhere to social distancing best practices, get tested and stay home if they feel ill, and, most importantly, refrain from hosting gatherings that lend themselves to close contact – as these are the activities that lead to the spread of infection," Matyas said.

Effective Wednesday, the Governor and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have revoked the state’s concurrence and delegated authority to the Solano County Public Health Officer that allowed the reopening of certain businesses’ indoor activities, the county said.

The order remains in effect for at least three weeks, maybe longer, depending on epidemiological indicators, including the rate of infection and number of individuals requiring hospitalization due to COVID-19 disease, according to the county.

"We know the Governor is closing these specific business sectors because they lend themselves to a higher risk of disease transmission based on the kinds of activities that take place," Matyas said. "Our goal in Public Health is to help all local businesses, including those affected by the Governor’s most recent orders, to continue to operate safely — in whatever capacity they are allowed — for the benefit of their employees and the community."

The county says businesses affected by the Governor’s orders may modify their operations to provide services outside or by pick-up. All brewpubs, breweries, bars and pubs in Solano County must shut down immediately, including both their indoor and outdoor operations.

According to the Governor’s County Monitoring List:

"Solano County (has variance) is increasing hospitalization. Drivers include a large outbreak among farm workers in the vineyards in Sonoma and Napa who are residing in Solano, as well as an ongoing surge in cases related to family gatherings and other social gatherings on the weekends. The farm worker cases total many dozens over the past one to two weeks, and the close-contact cases appear to have begun with weekend activities in early May and are continuing to the present. The large number of such cases overall is resulting in an increase in hospitalized cases. These cases are not at present resulting in a strain on the hospitals or in ICU admissions but the county is monitoring this closely. County reports that hospitals in their jurisdiction have multiple levels of surge capacity for hospitalizations and for ICU admissions, if these become necessary. Key action steps include: working with the neighboring counties and with the vineyard management companies to implement social distancing measures; 2) educating the workers themselves (using Spanish interpreters) on social distancing measures; 3) providing appropriate cautionary messages through social media and the press about the risks of gatherings, not social distancing and not using personal protection measures."

Other counties on the list include Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Merced, Orange, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Tulare and Ventura.

Solano County health officials encourage all residents to continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Department of Public Health and Solano County Public Health social distancing best practices, including wearing a cloth face mask outside your home whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained, maintaining a physical distance of 6-feet from others, practicing coughing and sneezing etiquette, using a hand sanitizer or washing your hands for at least 20 seconds and to stay at home if you’re not feeling well.

As more businesses begin to reopen, county officials say it is also important for residents to remember anyone can get tested for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms. Testing is free and by appointment only. Sign up at www.Lhi.Care/CovidTesting and/or by calling 888-634-1123.