Out in the Cold? Not Allowed

This week, with little notice, the Powers That Be (capitalized for importance) declared that due to increased COVID-19 numbers in the County of Los Angeles, in-person dining at restaurants, wineries and breweries would be prohibited as of 10 p.m. on Wednesday night.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I was concerned when the cold weather started creeping in that restaurants limited to outdoor only in-person dining would be getting hit by diners reluctant to don a coat in order to enjoy a restaurant meal. I guess that concern ended up not being an issue.

It does raise the question, though, how officials arrived at this decision. If the county is “following the science,” where did they get the figures that in-person dining was so dangerous? On the publichealth.lacounty.gov website, of the top non-residential settings that have three or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, none were restaurants. For example, Northrop-Grumman in Palmdale had 110 cases and Smithfield (I believe a food processor) had 319 cases. (To see a detailed list, visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/locations.htm).

Even the Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement that read, in part, “These proposed measures by the Dept. of Public Health will further devastate local businesses and employees who have been asked to shoulder an unfair burden this year. Businesses throughout the County have invested thousands of dollars to ensure safety for their employees and customers only to be punished for the recent surge they have done everything in their power to prevent.”

She also stated that data shows Public Health has reported only between 10% to 15% of positive cases reported dining out with someone who tested positive, while more than 50% reported being at a private social gathering with someone who tested positive. She voiced the concern that by closing restaurants that are in compliance, the County may “adversely incentivize residents to host and attend more private gatherings without safety precautions in place” – known super-spreaders of the virus.

“Increased case counts are not coming from businesses reopening, but from large gatherings where people aren’t wearing masks,” Barger said. “We aren’t helpless in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and can protect ourselves and our neighbors by maintaining physical distancing and wearing face coverings.”
I thought it was particularly interesting to learn that, when pressed, Barbara Ferrer, director of Public Health, couldn’t provide the statistics justifying the closing of in-person dining.

I’m especially bummed because on Wednesday nights, after the paper is put to bed, Mary O’Keefe and I typically head to a nearby restaurant to celebrate by splitting a cheeseburger. I guess for the next couple of weeks we’ll either have to order a burger to go that we can pick up curbside or just part ways here at the office, giving each other a high five.

But at least we’ll be following the science (whatever the heck that means).
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This Thanksgiving is unlike any other we’ve ever had. I wish for all of you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. I look forward to the day when we look back at 2020 and say good riddance – but you didn’t beat us.