Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Riverside And Ventura Open Restaurants For Dine-In Service, In-Store Shopping
A hint of what reopened dine-in service could look like during the coronavirus pandemic. A waitress serves a table at a restaurant in New Orleans, May 22, 2020. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
()
More than 40 counties statewide have gotten the go-ahead from Sacramento to reopen ahead of schedule.
Here's the latest from Ventura and Riverside, which joined Orange County in reopening restaurants for dine-in service as well as indoor shopping, with restrictions.
VENTURA:
The county got the ok to reopen restaurants for dine-in service on Wednesday, as well as indoor shopping. Businesses must register and submit a physical distancing plan to public health officials before they can open their doors to customers, and staff will need to wear face covering.
Support for LAist comes from
Most beaches there will be open. But, like L.A., Orange, and San Diego counties, visitors won't be allowed to gather in groups or linger on the sand for too long. Many beach parking lots will remain closed.
Mike Powers, the executive officer for Ventura County, says that could change after the Memorial Day weekend, depending on how things go.
To date, 30 people have died from COVID-19 in Ventura County, with more than 900 people testing positive for the virus.
RIVERSIDE
Riverside County is reopening restaurants for sit-down service, as well as some retailers for in-store shopping. Masks, physical distancing, and access to frequent handwashing are required.
The California Department of Public Health approved the move effective Friday morning.
Dr. Geoffrey Leung with the Riverside County health system says low hospitalizations for the coronarvirus and its two-to-four percent positivity rate helped make the county's case. But he says testing is key to opening safely. Two new test sites are opening in Corona and San Jacinto.
Support for LAist comes from
"This gives us a total of 16 community test sites across our entire county. We have a capacity now to do 4,200 tests per day," he said.
Anyone in Riverside County, with or without symptoms can be tested for COVID-19. Leung is encouraging that children be tested to provide more insight into the infection rate among kids before school resumes.
They are no beaches in the Inland Empire, but Riverside is opening private pools and spas, such as those run by homeowner associations and apartment complexes. Public health officials made that choice earlier this month, saying the coronavirus pathogen does not migrate in water.
Health department spokesman Jose Arballo says properly-maintained chlorine in pools and spas is a must. Plus these precautions:
"Continue the social distancing at the pools ... [and] keep the number of people around the pool to a minimum if you can."
Riverside County has reported 6,464 cases of COVID-19 and 290 deaths.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist