Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and outdoor dining in the San Joaquin Valley have to shut down by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night. The latest restrictions come after the state’s regional stay at home order took effect on Saturday afternoon because the area’s available ICU capacity dropped below 15%.As of Saturday afternoon, the region’s available ICU capacity was 8.6%, according to the California Department of Public Health.County health departments in the region sent out a joint news release that said they would give businesses that have to close or make modifications until Monday to enact changes. “It’s been brutal on us. Half the year we’ve been closed,” said Meryl Southern. Southern owns The Spa at Southern Exposure on the Miracle Mile in Stockton. “We’re obviously far apart. We’re following all the protocols, and still, I don’t know how they think we’re supposed to survive? How am I supposed to pay my mortgage without anybody working?” she said. Because of the pandemic, Southern is trying to sell the building to make ends meet. “It’s been awful. This business has been here for 31 years,” she said. “Just one year, they’ve destroyed everything we’ve worked our whole life for.”The owners of Papapavlo’s Bistro and Bar in Lincoln Center can relate. “We’ve been in business for 32 years,” said owner Jennifer Pappas. “Is it going to make us go out of business?”After investing at least $10,000 outfitting their outdoor dining space, the Pappas family now has to shut it down and rely only on takeout and delivery again. “Unfortunately, this is the busiest time of the year and it’s going to be devastating for revenue that we depend upon,” said owner Andrew Pappas. Because of banquets and office parties, the restaurant normally makes up to 40% of their annual revenue during the holiday season. “Our sanitation procedures, the spacing, everything is correct. We just don’t know why they have to penalize the restaurants,” said Andrew Pappas. His wife agreed.“I don’t understand why you can still shop at Costco and Target and Walmart, but you can’t eat outside,” said Jennifer Pappas. As business owners worry about their bottom line, Southern said she is also concerned about her health. “I’m 60, so I’m a little nervous too,” she said. “I’m really scared for the future what’s going to happen.”On Saturday, Kamlesh Kaur with the Stanislaus County Public Health Department said 41% of their ICU beds in use are taken up by COVID-19 patients and only five beds are available for the entire county. “That’s a very critical level for us,” said Kamlesh Kaur. Health officials acknowledge the difficulties of the shutdown but are asking the community for help. “Now is the time for all of us to adhere to all the strict guidelines so that our health care system remains open for all community members regardless of COVID-19,” Kaur said. San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Management is also urging people to abide by the new stay-at-home order. While ICU beds are filling up, spokeswoman Tiffany Heyer stresses that people who need medical attention should still come to the hospital. “We still have space available in our ICUs and in our hospitals,” Heyer said. “If people have a true medical emergency, we still want them to follow the EMS system, call 911 if they’re having a medical emergency. We want them to be seen and want them to be treated.”On enforcement, the San Joaquin and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Offices said they will not be arresting people violating the order and instead continue to focus on education. “We live in the land of the free. Our country was founded on this very principal and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office will not arrest the members of our community for violating this order. We are not an authoritarian regime,” Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said in a statement posted to Facebook. “It’s also critical that with our freedom we can also choose to do the right thing. Today I ask you to choose wisely, as a free American, to do what you can to protect our community and those in it who are vulnerable.”The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office echoed a similar message on Facebook that reads in part:“We will continue to encourage businesses and citizens to follow public health recommendations. As always, we prefer to educate people and businesses that are out of compliance when possible, and help them achieve compliance. The bottom line is our community is struggling at this time and we, as always, will be partners in the solution so we can get through this.Stockton Police will continue with their three-tier approach of: (1) education, (2) a warning letter and (3) a citation. Since the pandemic started, police have issued three citations: two citations to the a salon and one citation to a car show organizer, according to a spokesman.
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, Calif. —
Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and outdoor dining in the San Joaquin Valley have to shut down by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night.
The latest restrictions come after the state’s regional stay at home order took effect on Saturday afternoon because the area’s available ICU capacity dropped below 15%.
As of Saturday afternoon, the region’s available ICU capacity was 8.6%, according to the California Department of Public Health.
County health departments in the region sent out a joint news release that said they would give businesses that have to close or make modifications until Monday to enact changes.
“It’s been brutal on us. Half the year we’ve been closed,” said Meryl Southern.
Southern owns The Spa at Southern Exposure on the Miracle Mile in Stockton.
“We’re obviously far apart. We’re following all the protocols, and still, I don’t know how they think we’re supposed to survive? How am I supposed to pay my mortgage without anybody working?” she said.
Because of the pandemic, Southern is trying to sell the building to make ends meet.
“It’s been awful. This business has been here for 31 years,” she said. “Just one year, they’ve destroyed everything we’ve worked our whole life for.”
The owners of Papapavlo’s Bistro and Bar in Lincoln Center can relate.
“We’ve been in business for 32 years,” said owner Jennifer Pappas. “Is it going to make us go out of business?”
After investing at least $10,000 outfitting their outdoor dining space, the Pappas family now has to shut it down and rely only on takeout and delivery again.
“Unfortunately, this is the busiest time of the year and it’s going to be devastating for revenue that we depend upon,” said owner Andrew Pappas.
Because of banquets and office parties, the restaurant normally makes up to 40% of their annual revenue during the holiday season.
“Our sanitation procedures, the spacing, everything is correct. We just don’t know why they have to penalize the restaurants,” said Andrew Pappas.
His wife agreed.
“I don’t understand why you can still shop at Costco and Target and Walmart, but you can’t eat outside,” said Jennifer Pappas.
As business owners worry about their bottom line, Southern said she is also concerned about her health.
“I’m 60, so I’m a little nervous too,” she said. “I’m really scared for the future what’s going to happen.”
On Saturday, Kamlesh Kaur with the Stanislaus County Public Health Department said 41% of their ICU beds in use are taken up by COVID-19 patients and only five beds are available for the entire county.
“That’s a very critical level for us,” said Kamlesh Kaur.
Health officials acknowledge the difficulties of the shutdown but are asking the community for help.
“Now is the time for all of us to adhere to all the strict guidelines so that our health care system remains open for all community members regardless of COVID-19,” Kaur said.
San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Management is also urging people to abide by the new stay-at-home order. While ICU beds are filling up, spokeswoman Tiffany Heyer stresses that people who need medical attention should still come to the hospital.
“We still have space available in our ICUs and in our hospitals,” Heyer said. “If people have a true medical emergency, we still want them to follow the EMS system, call 911 if they’re having a medical emergency. We want them to be seen and want them to be treated.”
On enforcement, the San Joaquin and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Offices said they will not be arresting people violating the order and instead continue to focus on education.
“We live in the land of the free. Our country was founded on this very principal and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office will not arrest the members of our community for violating this order. We are not an authoritarian regime,” Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said in a statement posted to Facebook. “It’s also critical that with our freedom we can also choose to do the right thing. Today I ask you to choose wisely, as a free American, to do what you can to protect our community and those in it who are vulnerable.”
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office echoed a similar message on Facebook that reads in part:
“We will continue to encourage businesses and citizens to follow public health recommendations. As always, we prefer to educate people and businesses that are out of compliance when possible, and help them achieve compliance. The bottom line is our community is struggling at this time and we, as always, will be partners in the solution so we can get through this.
Stockton Police will continue with their three-tier approach of: (1) education, (2) a warning letter and (3) a citation. Since the pandemic started, police have issued three citations: two citations to the a salon and one citation to a car show organizer, according to a spokesman.