PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the mandatory closure of indoor dining rooms and indoor museum spaces in Los Angeles County in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. Outdoor spaces at museums and the Aquarium of the Pacific may remain open, and restaurants may operate for outdoor dining, curbside and doorside pick-up and delivery only.

“As COVID-19 case rates continue to rise, we must continue to protect our community,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “We support the Governor’s decision to close these indoor spaces and will work with our City team to provide outdoor alternatives for businesses through initiatives like Long Beach’s Open Streets.”

The mandatory closure goes into effect tonight, just after midnight (12:01 a.m., July 2, 2020). The amended City of Long Beach Health Order detailing the closures will be posted later today at longbeach.gov/COVID19.

Under the State guidelines for the reopening process, Long Beach, which has its own Health Department, is counted with Los Angeles County. However, even if the State considered Long Beach separately, Long Beach data would also place it on this mandated closure list.

Since Memorial Day, the COVID-19 positivity rate rose from 8.4% to 10.8%, with the total number of cases increasing from 1,605 as of May 25 to 4,120 as of June 30. The number of children and younger adults in Long Beach who have tested positive for COVID-19 is growing especially quickly. COVID-19 in children and teens (0-19 years old) has increased from 108 to 394 during that same timeframe—a gain of 265%. Since Memorial Day, younger adults, ages 20-29, have seen an increase of 180%, from 309 cases to 865.

Dining out and visiting museums and aquariums are scenarios when the public is together for extended periods of time, often socializing with people outside of their households and, in the case of indoor dining, without face coverings. This compendium of factors leads to indoor dining and indoor museum/aquarium-going putting the public at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. By allowing those activities outdoors only, to the extent possible, the transmission rate could decrease. The State order also outlines high-risk facilities that have not yet been open in Long Beach, such as family entertainment centers and movie theaters, and businesses that do not exist in the city, such as card rooms.

The City of Long Beach has been working to expand outdoor dining areas to aid businesses and patrons as part of its Open Streets Initiative. The City’s Public Works Department is actively working with restaurant owners throughout the city to install parklets to serve as outdoor dining areas. To date, 18 parklets in front of restaurants in busy dining corridors such as Belmont Shore, Downtown, Retro Row and Bixby Knolls have been installed, with seven more to be installed today and tomorrow and many more scheduled in the coming days.

Restaurants also can offer drive-in service of food as part of their normal operations. Restaurants can take orders and deliver food car-side (car hop) within their own parking lots without the need for additional permits. Alcohol service is not permitted as part of restaurant drive-in operations. Those wishing to modify their parking lot or traffic flow or provide music, outdoor seating or entertainment are directed to apply for a Special Events – Occasional Entertainment Permit. Application materials are available online, and more information is available by calling (562) 570-5333.

These mandatory closures are in addition to the mandatory closure of bars and the July 4 weekend closure of beaches and firework shows in Long Beach.

Businesses with questions regarding mandatory closures may call the City of Long Beach’s business information line between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays at 562.570.4BIZ.

The Health Order also issued updated rules regarding face coverings. Face coverings that incorporate a one-way valve (typically a raised plastic cylinder about the size of a quarter on the front or side of the mask) are prohibited. These masks are designed to facilitate easy exhaling, and allow droplets to be released from the mask, putting others nearby at risk.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit: longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.