Pasadena Bars Must Shut Down Again Under New Order, Effective Immediately

According to Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian, the city has followed suit with L.A. County’s direction and has ordered local bars to close immediately in compliance with an order released by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday.

“Bars are to close and remain closed until allowed by the City Health Officer to resume modified or full operation,” Derderian said. 

Derderian said early Monday that Pasadena’s health order has already been amended by Dr. Ying-Ying Goh. Under the new order:

• Bars are to close and remain closed until allowed by the City Health Officer to resume modified or full operation.
• Restaurants that possess a public health permit may continue to offer sit-down, dine-in meals prepared on site as allowed by the Health Officer Order, and in compliance with the revised restaurant protocol.
• Bars are prohibited from contracting with a food vendor to operate.
• Bar counters/bartops in restaurants are required to close.
• Restaurant and other food facilities should continue to offer and encourage takeout and delivery service to [greatest] the extent possible.

According to Newsom’s order, bars and nightclubs in Los Angeles, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, San Joaquin and Tulare counties must close in response to a surge in Coronavirus cases that has increased hospitalizations.

As of Saturday, the city had reported more than 1,250 cases and nearly 90 virus-related deaths.

“The increase in numbers is a major concern, especially as we lead up to a holiday weekend when people tend to congregate against the advice of health directives,” Derderian said. “There are many things we take into consideration when evaluating phases or reopening but health is definitely the number one priority”

Newsom said the state is fighting a battle to control the spread of the virus.

“Californians must remain vigilant against this virus,” Newsom said in a prepared statement. “COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. That’s why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases.”

Newsom’s order comes as the state grapples with a surge in Coronavirus infections and increased hospitalizations after reopening most sectors over the past month.

Sunday’s order marks the first time businesses have been ordered to shutter after being allowed to reopen earlier. Bars and nightclubs in Pasadena had been permitted to reopen on June 19.

Newsom recommended eight additional counties close their bars, though he did not order them to do so. Those counties have been on the watch list for at least three days and include Santa Clara, Riverside and Sacramento.

The number of people hospitalized in L.A. County as of Friday was 1,676, a number that has been steadily increasing over the past two weeks, soaring above the recent average of between 1,350 and 1,450. At the peak of the virus, the county averaged about 1,900 patients in hospitals.

On Saturday, County health officials announced another 2,169 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths.
The new numbers bring the county’s totals to 95,371 cases and 3,285 fatalities.

The state’s positivity rate has climbed above 5 percent, while the number of people requiring hospitalization has increased by 29 percent over the past week.

The governor and state health officials allowed bars to open in California on June 12 but gave county health officials the latitude to keep them shut as long as they deemed fit.

Pasadena reopened its bars on June 19. Under state guidelines, patrons were required bars to maintain social distance between patrons, eliminate seating at the actual bar counter and turn down the music volume to prevent shouting, which expels droplets farther distances and wear facemasks.

This is a developing story. Pasadena Now will update it as information becomes available.