SAN DIEGO — With many people ignoring health regulations intended to curtail the spread of the Covid19 virus, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria signed an executive order on Wednesday allowing for fines of up to $1,000 “for those who blatantly defy provisions of State orders or the San Diego County public health order.” The measure, which went into effect at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday night, was intended to bolster the following state and local regulations:
• The prohibition of private gatherings of any size
• All retailers operating indoors must do so at no more than 20% capacity
• No on-site consumption of food or drinks, including a ban on outdoor dining
• Face coverings must be worn outside of the home, with specific exceptions as outlined by the California Department of Public Health
• Nonessential work, movement and gatherings must stop between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m..
• All businesses not meeting the definition of essential business or State authorized sectors are considered “nonessential businesses” and must remain closed
“As much as all of us want to celebrate the end of the year with our family and friends, it is more important than ever to heed the guidance of health officials at all levels and take the necessary precautions against the spread of COVID-19,” Mayor Gloria said. “We owe it to the overburdened healthcare workers, all those suffering from economic hardships and the 1,400 San Diego families who lost a loved one to this terrible virus to do everything in our power to stop this devastation from dragging on any longer than it must. COVID-19 is not a joke – this is a matter of life or death.”
To ease the impact of the regulation on people who live downtown and in other congested urban areas, Gloria directed that traffic meter violations not be enforced, nor will time-limited parking, yellow commercial zones, and short-term green zones. However, red, white, and blue parking areas will continue to be enforced to maintain public safety, the mayor’s office said.
Gloria’s news release included messages of support from various public officials, including two Jewish members of the 9-member City Council: its President, Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell, and freshman councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera.
Campbell, a physician said, “I applaud Mayor Gloria for acknowledging the continued COVID-19 health crisis by increasing enforcement of the recent health orders. The majority of San Diegans are taking appropriate measures to keep themselves and others safe by wearing a mask, and not gathering. Those knowingly and willfully choosing to not follow public health guidelines deserve to be held accountable. With a vaccine on the horizon, there is a light at the end of the tunnel; let us be united in our defeat of this virus.”
Elo-Rivera commented, “COVID-19 continues to be a tragic public health crisis with too many families losing loved ones and an economic disaster that is especially unfair to small businesses. Unfortunately, a small percentage of business owners are refusing to comply with public health orders and, as a result, are contributing to prolonging the health and economic crises. I applaud the Mayor’s Executive Order as we must not stand by idly as a few bad actors risk the community’s well-being and I think the many businesses that are prioritizing the health of their employees and community members by following public health orders.”
Other messages of support came from Councilman Stephen Whitburn, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, and Burt McClain, the chief operating officer at Sharp HealthCare. McClain said that “San Diego’s healthcare system is stretched to capacity. We are pleading with the public to abide by the Public Health Order, and we applaud Mayor Gloria’s leadership in directing City resources toward enforcing these life-saving measures.”
On Tuesday, San Diego County reported over 2,500 new cases with the 14-day positivity rate averaging 10.8 percent. The County’s reportedly has run out of ICU beds.
Meanwhile, Jose A. Alvarezz of the County’s Communications office, reported that a case of the United Kingdom variant of COVID-19 apparently has been discovered in San Diego County. His news release said:
“A San Diego man with no travel outside the county has tested positive for the COVID-19 variant first identified in the United Kingdom, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.
“The man was tested on Dec. 29 after two days of symptoms, and results showed a characteristic pattern that indicated it could be the new UK strain. The specimen was immediately sent to Scripps Research and whole genome sequencing determined Dec. 30 that it is the UK variant, also known as B.1.1.7.
“The patient is not hospitalized and is currently isolated. The County’s case investigation has identified household contacts who are being quarantined and tested for the novel coronavirus. The man had little interaction with people outside his household while potentially contagious.”
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com