San Diego County officials held an emergency briefing today where it was announced that 17 cease-and-desist letters were sent to businesses around San Diego after compliance teams monitored areas over weekend and observed businesses allegedly operating in violation of the new purple tier restrictions.
Following a record 1,087 cases reported yesterday combined with rising hospitalizations and increased in percentage positive rates, San Diego County officials announced that it would be ramping up oversight to ensure people and area businesses are complying with newly imposed public health orders. Last week, San Diego County was moved into California's dreaded purple tier of COVID-19 restrictions, meaning indoor operations are once again forbidden at restaurants, bars, fitness centers, churches, museums, zoos, aquariums and more until at least December 1. Officials warned further investigations and enforcement actions will take place in the future.
San Diego County sent cease and desist orders to a church, seven fitness centers, a handful of yoga studios, and four restaurants and bars. Businesses that received letters include Danny's Palm Bar & Grill in Coronado, Meat Monsters Grill in Ramona, Fit Athletic Club in Little Italy, Fit Athletic Club in Mission Beach, Fit Athletic Club in Solana Beach, Fit Athletic Club in the East Village, Fit Athletic Club in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Reach Yoga in Kearny Mesa, Self Made Training Facility in the Midway District, Shelter Bar in Encinitas, Shock Fitness in Pacific Beach, The Landing in El Cajon, Yoga Box Hillcrest, Yoga Box North Park, Yoga Box Ocean Beach, Yoga Box Pacific Beach, and Awaken Church in Carlsbad. Letters were also reportedly sent out last week to county mayors asking them to step up enforcement of the new public orders.
Fit Athletic Club is one of four San Diego plaintiffs that filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court last week against California and San Diego County challenging the constitutionality of the ban on indoor business operations. Other plaintiffs include Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop, Home & Away Encinitas, and Bear Republic Crossfit in downtown San Diego. The lawsuit seeks an emergency injunction that could end the required shutdown on indoor operations, alleging that the state and county orders interfere with business's protected area rights and violate the California State Constitution.
San Diego's announcement came mere hours after California Governor Gavin Newsom stated at his daily press briefing that the state has applied an "emergency brake" to its reopening plan. Newsom announced that 28 new California counties have moved into the purple tier, which means 41 out of the state's 58 counties are now in the most restrictive tier. Newsom also mentioned instituting additional precautions, such as a possible 10pm curfew.
