Here’s what you can and can’t do in Valley and Sierra this Fourth of July due to COVID-19
A number of activities and businesses will be restricted or closed going into the Fourth of July weekend.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced closures this week in 19 California counties – including a number in the central San Joaquin Valley – that will remain in effect for at least three weeks due to increased community spread of COVID-19 in those areas.
Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Merced, and Kern counties are among the Valley counties to see new restrictions, which are aimed at moving as many activities as possible outdoors.
State and local officials stressed the importance of wearing face masks, maintaining enough physical distance from others, and not gathering with people who aren’t members of your household.
“Asymptomatic (people with the virus, but without symptoms) indoor spread is a really big driver of the case counts,” said Fresno County interim health officer Dr. Rais Vohra, pointing to a recent spike in asymptomatic Fresno County inmates testing positive for coronavirus, as an example.
“So anytime you’re indoors with someone else, whether they feel sick or not, when you share your air, you’re potentially sharing coronavirus.”
Here’s how things will be different going into the Fourth of July weekend:
Firework shows canceled
Most of the long-running community fireworks displays have been canceled this year due to COVID-19.
Newsom on Wednesday said these closures shouldn’t come as a surprise.
For those 19 counties on the state’s watch list, Newsom said, “We have made it clear privately, now we’re making it more abundantly clear publicly, that we believe that they should consider canceling some of their fireworks shows and presentations.”
Sierra National Forest posted on social media Wednesday, reminding people that fireworks are not allowed in national forests, either.
Picnic areas and campgrounds
Sierra National Forest opened a number of its picnic areas, campgrounds and boat ramps last month, including around Bass Lake and Huntington Lake.
Officials said while outdoor activities are safer than those indoors – since droplets from breathing and coughing are more easily dispersed outside – people should still not gather with others who aren’t part of their own household.
“This is about keeping you safe, about keeping them safe – your friends, neighbors and family members,” Newsom said about fighting the urge to invite people over for a barbecue to celebrate Independence Day.
Yosemite National Park closed its only two open campgrounds shortly after reopening to the public last month.
Some businesses, indoor dining, to close
Indoor operations must close for the following sectors on the state’s watch list, including Fresno County.
- Dine-in restaurants
- Wineries and tasting rooms
- Movie theaters
- Family entertainment centers
- Cardrooms
- Zoos and museums
Outdoor operations – with face coverings and modifications that provide enough physical distance – is allowed by the state.
However, the state health department said “all brewpubs, breweries, bars, and pubs must close indoor and outdoor operations” in the targeted counties. People can still order alcohol with a meal at a restaurant, Fresno County health officials said.
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is still open, with indoor areas closed to the public.
“Most of the zoo’s indoor areas were kept closed during our reopening as a proactive step in consideration of guest, staff, and animal health,” said Chaffee marketing manager Brandy Gamoning.
Two indoor areas that were open to guests, an eatery and a gift shop, will be processing orders outside, Gamoning said.
California beaches restricted
Newsom again mentioned concerns with people visiting beaches across California. Still, he said Wednesday that the state is not mandating closures of beaches this weekend, except in a couple of Southern California counties that already closed their local beaches. The state agreed to close state beaches there as well, at the request of local governments, Newsom said.
However, the state will modify parking operations at beaches and close some to traffic across California.
Newsom said some of the modifications are in larger state parks that have seen increased activity, where people are not able to practice distancing.
Guidance for church services
Fresno County public health officials released updated guidance for faith-based organizations on Tuesday, similar to what the state previously announced.
Some of those guidelines:
- Limit indoor attendance to 25% of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower.
- Limit outdoor attendance so enough physical distance (a minimum of six feet) can be maintained between attendees.
- Screenings for symptoms, frequent hand washing and disinfection, and the use of face coverings and masks.
- Musicians must keep enough physical distance, and stay 15 to 25 feet away if singing or using wind instruments. Face coverings is recommended for all singers, choirs, etc. when enough distance can’t be maintained.
This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Here’s what you can and can’t do in Valley and Sierra this Fourth of July due to COVID-19."
