Governor Newsom Orders Bars, Wineries, Nightclubs to Close

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In a sweeping scale-up of the state’s coronavirus response, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday announced that all bars, nightclubs, wineries and brewpubs must close for now, to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

The governor said as “nonessential” businesses, this category of establishment would be asked to close immediately. The order does not apply to restaurants, which are considered essential for those who cannot safely prepare food in their homes. However all restaurants will be required to cut their occupancy in half in order to achieve proper social distancing.

In another dramatic move, Newsom asked the state’s more than 5 million residents over the age of 65 to self isolate at home due to the threat posed by the coronavirus. Seniors and those with chronic illnesses are considered at high risk and vunerable to COVID-19.

The governor announced that the reported cases of coronavirus in California had jumped to 335 on Sunday, a 14 percent increase in one day.

Meanwhile, Santa Clara County, a coronavirus hot spot, reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday morning, bringing the total number of cases in that county to 114.