SAN DIEGO — As soon as Governor Newsom and the county give the go ahead, places like Krakatoa in Golden Hill will be ready to reopen their outdoor dining.
News 8 spoke with Sarah, the manager at Krakatoa, about why it’s important for them to get back to work.
“It means so much to us to be in the community, and we got people we see every day, some people we see twice a day -- just with a mask and the employees they’re troopers and have been really strict on the guidelines, really flexible and everyone has a good attitude,” said Sarah.
Sarah said they would rearrange the furniture on the patio and keep their food in to-go containers so that the employees don’t have to touch people’s dirty dishes. Guests would be wearing masks inside and the same with employees. They would also need to separate everyone by six feet when it comes to their seating and waiting in line.
Sarah said she’s been able to keep on about two-thirds of her staff for the past two months since Newsom’s stay-at-home order went into effect. She said it’s been tough because their revenue has taken a big hit, but said they were one of the only businesses still open in the Golden Hill area, so they were still in plenty of demand.
Sarah said everyday people were asking when they would open to hang out again. That’s why she’s willing to allow for outdoor dining. She wants to be sure her customers and employees feel safe, giving them the option to return if it’s okay for them and their families.
On Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to allow for dining inside restaurants and shopping at retail stores and swap meets. That proposal was sent to the governor for approval.
The county's Public Health Officer, Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H, detailed how San Diego had achieved all the state’s modified criteria, including:
- Less than 5% of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations over a 7-day period or no more than 20 COVID hospitalizations on any single day in the past 14 days.
- Fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past 14 days or less than 8% testing positive in the past 7 days.
- Have a capacity to be able to test 1.5 per every 1,000 residents and at least 15 staff per 100,000 county population trained and available for contact tracing.
- Hospital capacity for a possible surge of 35% of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 cases in addition to providing usual care for other patients.
In addition, the supervisors voted 4-1 to send a separate, proposed pilot “Stage 2 Plus” program to Sacramento. Local leaders admitted the state is skeptical about the plan, but agreed to review it. The plan will now be immediately submitted to the California Department of Public Health for review.
Currently, no county can move into Stage 3 until they show Stage 2 did not have a significant impact on coronavirus numbers. If approved by the state, the plan would allow some businesses in Stage 3 to reopen.
The county suggests on May 22 that the state allow the reopening of:
- Research labs
- Peer support groups of 10 or less people
- Modified youth sports/club
- Salons by appointment only at 25% capacity
- Fitness facilities, by appointment only, at 25% capacity
- HOA/Apartment/Condo pools at 25% capacity
- Outdoor religious services