Contra Costa Closes Indoor Dining, Indoor Gyms, Movie Concessions

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Contra Costa Health Services issued an order Friday closing indoor dining, indoor fitness centers and concession stands at movie theaters throughout Contra Costa County.

The order is effective at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.

"On Thursday, California reached the unfortunate milestone of 1 million COVID cases statewide," Contra Costa County public health officials said in a news release. "With transmission and hospitalizations on the rise, health officers representing counties across the Bay Area are tightening local rules for high-risk indoor activities where the virus can spread more easily."

Dine-in restaurant and gyms reopened at reduced capacities when the county entered the state’s red tier in late September. But recent increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations make the closures necessary to help contain spread of the virus, the county said.

“Indoor interactions at restaurants, movie theaters, and indoor gyms and fitness centers are high-risk activities,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, health officer for Contra Costa County. “And given what we’re seeing happen across the country and the region, we must act now.”

Diners at restaurants remove their masks to eat or drink, as do movie patrons when snacking on food from concession stands, county health officials pointed out. People also breathe heavily while they exercise at indoor gyms, increasing the risk of droplet and aerosol transmission of COVID-19, which can be only partially reduced by wearing a face covering, officials said.

Contra Costa County recently moved from the state’s orange tier to the more restrictive red tier because of an increasing number of cases in the county.

Meanwhile, hospitalizations in Contra Costa County have returned to levels not seen in several weeks. On Wednesday, 50 people with COVID were hospitalized in the county — the highest number since September, county officials said.

“I’ve said this many times before, but it’s so important I can’t repeat it enough: The best way to protect against COVID-19 is to wear a face covering whenever you are near people who do not live with you, and whenever you go in a building that is not your home," Farnitano said.

Public health officials in Contra Costa and beyond have said they are especially worried about people gathering indoors with the holidays coming up and may consider other closures in the days and weeks ahead.

Contra Costa County, which is now in the red tier, could move into the state’s most restrictive tier, the purple tier, within the coming weeks. Officials said if the county moves into the purple tier, schools that haven’t reopened will have to remain closed until the county moves back into the red tier or until they receive a waiver from the state.

“Our hope is that this new health order will slow down the spread of COVID so schools will have a better chance to reopen,” Farnitano said.