OC Goes Socially Distant As Malls, Restaurants, Theaters Close

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — On Tuesday, the world shifted again in Orange County. An employee of South Coast Plaza tested positive for new Coronavirus, commonly known as COVID-19, on Monday. That news was the breaking point that sent the upscale mall into total shutdown.

The positive test "reinforced the need for us to take action" closing the high-end shoe store, according to Debra Gunn Downing, South Coast Plaza's executive director, marketing.

"Our understanding that closures of public gathering places in Orange County are important for a chance to meaningfully stem this pandemic is the reason we took this action," Downing said.

The shopping center closed at 7 p.m. on Monday, while the store closed earlier in the day.

The number of coronavirus cases in Orange County rose to 29 Tuesday as cases of COVID-19 are currently being monitored. According to County Supervisor Andrew Do, testing sites are happening in Orange County, though not much has yet been released.

"There is still discussion among private health providers to establish drive-thru test sites though those locations are not under the county's control," Do Said. Look for a detailed report on the test site process later in the day

Services across the county, such as trash pick-up, water, gas, electric and cable are up and running with many agencies offering discounts and grace to those who are struggling due to the shutdown.

Other services, such as in-house jail visits, and trips to the county's courthouses were disrupted as the county ordered courts closed through at least March 29.

Those with jury duty were off the hook as the county's courthouses in Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Fullerton, Orange, and Westminster will be closed through March 29. Jurors called for jury duty do not have to appear, and jurors doing service were advised to call the courtrooms where they are assigned for further instructions.

Court officials are working out the details on how to handle arraignments and other legally required hearings, said Kostas Kalaitzidis, the Orange County Superior Court's public information officer.

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At our stores, grocery workers are refilling depleted shelves as quickly as possible. While some necessary sundry items remain challenging to find, there is no food shortage, a large chain manager told us.

Patch noticed while walking through Ralph's on Monday that if you see a shelf empty? Wait a while. Food anxiety is real, one reader told us, showing a picture of empty shelves. Many stores are implementing self-imposed limits on the number of items shoppers can purchase. This is helping workers keep up with re-stocking, we were told.

Delivery services and to-go ordering were the order of the day on St. Patrick's Day, with restaurants closing to in-house dining. St. Patrick's Day's favorite bars and restaurants were closed to in-house customers.

Schools, originally closed through the first week in April, look for longer closures. Students are either setting up online classes or starting spring break a bit early, depending on the district.

With the children out of school, and many on "work-from-home" schedules, or off work altogether, families are left looking for ways to shelter and socially distance while staying sane.
Though the majority of cities in Orange County, including Lake Forest, have closed parks and city-run playgrounds, young athletes are looking to Youtube workout videos to maintain their skills at soccer, lacrosse, and baseball.

The OC Fair & Event Center has shut down until further notice, with Cirque du Soleil's "VOLTA" among the canceled events. As of this report, there are no plans to reschedule the annual OC Fair, scheduled to begin in July.

With mall closures also have come movie theater closures.

Binge-watching favorite shows on Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu have become the order of the day when staying at home has become the most proactive thing you can do.

Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas in Rancho Santa Margarita who offered social distancing in the theaters closed their doors by Tuesday. Advanced ticket sales would be automatically refunded either through Cinepolis or Fandango, they said.

Theaters across the country shut down in answer to "flattening the curve" in an attempt to keep COVID-19 at bay.

All AMC movie theaters have closed their doors for between six to 12 weeks. The company reported in a national Tweet Tuesday morning.

"In compliance with local, state, and federal #COVID19 directives, all #AMCTheatres locations are now closed for at least 6-12 weeks," AMC wrote.

Regal Entertainment Group, the nation's second-largest movie theater chain, made a similar announcement Monday after President Trump advised all Americans to avoid social gatherings of 10 or more people until the crisis has passed.

Regal said all its theaters would be closed "until further notice."

Landmark Theatres, which specializes in independent films, is also temporarily closed.

For residents, there is still the opportunity to walk outside, visit the beach, enjoy the sun before the rain begins later in the week. And remember to wash your hands.

How are you coping with the shut down in your town? Let your Patch Editor know by emailing:ashley.ludwig@patch.com

Share a picture or story with us, or if you have a specific need, and we will get the word out to your neighbors. Together, yet socially distant, we will get through this.

Patch will update this post throughout the day.

Read Also:

• 29 Cases Of Coronavirus In Orange County, Week 1 Of Shutdown
• Restaurant Dining Canceled, Bars Close In OC: Coronavirus
• Over 70 And Self-Quarantining: OC Life In The Time Of Coronavirus
• South Coast Plaza Worker Tests Positive For COVID-19, Mall Closes
• Courts Close Across Orange County: Coronavirus
• Beach Sunsets Are Our Moment Of Zen
• Coronavirus Changes Life In OC From Hoarding To Helping
• Rainbow After Rain: Redondo Beach Photo Of The Week

City News Service contributed to this report.