SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Friday to join the state in appealing a judge’s order to allow restaurants and strip clubs to reopen, but only as it relates to strip clubs and indoor dining being allowed.
They support outdoor dining.
Before their closed-door session, Supervisor Nathan Fletcher called the order convoluted, murky and unclear.
“I believe the judge is fundamentally wrong.”
Fletcher took to social media to explain why he's concerned about a judge's decision to allow both strip clubs and restaurants in San Diego County to reopen.
“I think this has a devastating impact at a point when we're entering our darkest phase and darkest hour.”
Fletcher said the judge, who claimed county officials did not provide enough evidence to show the spread of Covid-19 is linked to restaurant and strip club settings, got it wrong, adding: statistics showing where people contract the virus are unreliable.
“If you get COVID and a case investigator contacts you and says where is everywhere you went in the preceding 10 days, how are they supposed to describe which one of the 25 places you went is the one place you contracted it?”
Fletcher cited scientific studies, including one by the CDC.
“Case patients were more likely to have reported dining in a restaurant, including indoor, outdoor and patio seatings in the weeks preceding.”
For now though, the county has halted all enforcement when it comes to restaurant reopenings.
Several have taken advantage by opening both outdoor and indoor, which is allowed per the judge's ruling.
While some board members, like Jim Desmond have applauded the move, Fletcher worries the longer this goes on, the worse things will get.
“We are seeing record cases. The strain on our healthcare system is immense and we have to find a way as a community to get it under control.”
So, what's next?
We wait and see what an appeals court decides, the timeline of which is unclear.
Following the closed-door meeting, Chairman Cox issued a statement which read: “Today, our Board of Supervisors met in a special closed session meeting and discussed our legal options regarding a judge’s ruling on the operation of strip clubs and restaurants. The Board voted to appeal the order. But the Board directed County Counsel to only argue that the order is incorrect as it relates to the continued operation of strip clubs and the allowance of indoor dining. We support outdoor dining with appropriate safety protocols that have been previously established. We remind everyone that the virus is still out there. Please continue to cover your face, wash your hands and avoid gatherings.”