City’s COVID-19 Health Order Enforcement Continues, Inspectors Spread Out Citywide After Closing 5 Restaurants

Just in: A city official said this morning that on Saturday night, Pasadena health inspectors were able to finish the reinspections of all the original locations from Wednesday and Thursday’s visits, and to conduct first visits at restaurants in Old Pasadena (along Green Street, Colorado Boulevard, Union Street, One Colorado, and Raymond Avenue), at and around the Paseo, on South Arroyo, and on South Lake Avenue.  The most common violations observed were no face shields, dining tables not distanced, and protocols not completed.  The Health Department reinstated three health permits on Saturday night to restaurants previously shut down, and closed two additional restaurants. Approximately 50% of restaurants were found to be compliant during initial visits.

Pasadena Health Department inspectors were in city parks Saturday enforcing Pasadena’s COVID-19 Health Orders, after shutting down five restaurants Friday night for violating the protocols.

Inspectors stopped athletic games forbidden under the most recent health order, contacted people not wearing masks and instructed them to put one on immediately, required large gatherings to reduce in size to the permitted allowance, and posted public notices to inform and remind citizens of the rules.

The five restaurants that were closed down Friday must completely close their kitchens, schedule a hearing and then have an inspection before they can reopen to any type of dining, including takeout and delivery, Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian said.

The enforcement efforts were announced earlier this week as Pasadena, like much of the U.S., faces a spike in new coronavirus cases.

Officials had said that throughout the weekend, enforcement teams would monitor businesses, parks, and other areas of potential gatherings to ensure compliance with health orders issued by the Pasadena Public Health Department.

The teams were deployed Saturday to the Rose Bowl Loop and to Brookside, Victory, Eaton Blanche, Central, McDonald and Washington Parks. Derderian reported on the following results:

• At the Rose Bowl Loop, teams observed a dozen people without masks and were able to contact and get compliance from 10 of them.
• At Brookside, a football game was stopped and two soccer teams instructed to drill only, as sports competitions aren’t allowed. An unpermitted running event was shutdown with the assistance of Pasadena Park Rangers.
• A birthday party in Victory Park was reduced to 15 people in size and instructed on social distancing.
• At Eaton Blanche Park a group of 12 playing competitive volleyball were required to disband.
• In Central Park, three people informed to wear mask which they did immediately
• At both McDonald Park and Washington Park, all visitors in compliance

Derderian reported that “all citizens we interacted with were complimentary of our presence and encouraged continued enforcement.”

Earlier this week City of Pasadena Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh warned the city would roll out a “broad, aggressive enforcement strategy” that had become “an immediate necessity given the rate of increase in COVID-19 cases and potential strain on our healthcare resources.”

Derderian said at that time city would review its health orders and continue to enforce the business curfew, which prohibits local businesses from operating between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. until Dec. 21.

“The city of Pasadena will continue to assess our COVID numbers and work closely with Huntington Hospital and give as much advance notice as possible if the city’s order is going to change in any respect,” Derderian said.

A statement released by the city Tuesday afternoon listed some of the rules already in place for Pasadena businesses:

• Retail store occupancy may not exceed 25% of maximum capacity (as defined by the Fire Code). This capacity limit was previously established by the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy for local health jurisdictions in counties in Purple Tier 1.
• Limitations on gatherings are still in place: people are permitted to gather outdoors with no more than 2 other households, for 2 hours or less, with all attendees wearing face coverings and maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet or more between households.
• Sports competitions, such as softball and soccer games, are still not permitted.
• Non-essential offices must remain closed for in-person operations and only conduct work remotely, as previously established by the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

The new restrictions in Pasadena as of November 20 are as follows:

• Personal care services that require either the customer or the staff to remove their face covering, such as facials, shaves, and threading are not permitted. All public health protocols must continue to be followed for other personal care services, including a requirement for services to be offered by appointment only, and as many services as possible provided outdoors.
• Personal care services are now limited to 25% maximum capacity (as defined by the Fire Code).
• Gatherings must meet the limitations stated above (outdoor, 2 hours or less, with face coverings worn and physical distancing between households) and may not exceed a total of 15 people from 3 or fewer households.
• Restaurants, breweries and bars must cease service in their on-site, outdoor dining areas as of 10 p.m. and close their on-site dining areas thereafter until 5 a.m.

For additional information please call the Citizen Service Center, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (626) 744-7311.