California’s Manhattan Beach has ordered the removal of tables and chairs from outdoor seating spaces in an effort to reduce COVID-19 case transmission amid a spike.
The city, located roughly 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles, said Jan. 2 that as cases continue to climb, they would close outdoor seating spaces on public property and remove tables and chairs beginning Jan. 3 at 10 p.m. A spokesperson for the Manhattan Beach City Council confirmed to the Daily Caller that the furniture has been removed as of Sunday and that the order applies to restaurants.
As the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise in MB and across the County, the City is closing outdoor seating spaces on public property, effective Sunday, January 3rd at 10 pm. Tables and chairs located in the outdoor seating spaces will be removed at that time. pic.twitter.com/CjGOH9WR3e
— Manhattan Beach City (@citymb) January 3, 2021
The city announced Saturday that coronavirus cases have nearly doubled since Nov. 1 to 821 cases. The daily number of new cases was 21 on Dec. 31 but climbed to 26 the next day, according to the city. Remaining ICU capacity in Southern California is at 0%, according to KCRA 3. (RELATED: Judge Says Decision To Ban Outdoor Dining In Los Angeles Was ‘Arbitrary’ And Lacked ‘Risk-Benefit Analysis’)
“We must continue to respond to the ever-changing dynamics of this pandemic. We are asking residents to stay home if possible, and mainly go out for work and essentials, or to exercise outdoors,” Mayor Suzanne Hadley said in a statement. “This recent spike in the virus is significant, despite the good news last month of our Manhattan Beach firefighters receiving some of the first COVID-19 vaccinations.”
“Although public seating areas will be closed temporarily, please continue supporting our local businesses that offer pick-up, curbside, take-out, and delivery services,” Hadley continued.
Manhattan Beach City Council designated outdoor dining areas as public seating areas in early December as restaurants struggled to stay afloat after they were ordered to shut down indoor and outdoor dining operations, according to ABC 7. The catch was that servers couldn’t actually wait on tables. Rather, customers had to seat themselves. The spaces were reserved for sitting and eating only, according to the report.
