Fresno County bars are closed again. More businesses could follow if we’re not careful

Bars in Fresno County, which had just reopened several weeks ago after being closed for months to slow the coronavirus pandemic, are once again shuttered because COVID-19 cases are increasing.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered the establishments closed in Fresno County and six other counties — including Kings and Tulare — due to the rising numbers of cases. Fresno County public health followed the governor with a local order mandating bar closures.

Tim Ferrigan, who operates the The Library in the Tower District, told Bee reporter Yesenia Amaro that his eight employees will suffer as a result.

As of Tuesday, 5,008 residents have tested positive for the disease in Fresno County since March 6, including 73 who have died. More than 3,100 of those confirmed infections, and 38 of the fatalities, have been reported since June 1.

Why the focus on bars

There is a reason why the governor focused on bars immediately: They’re the perfect petri dish for COVID-19’s growth.

In many bars and nightclubs, social distancing is not easy to achieve because the spaces are small. Second, people arrive, mingle and go, making contact tracing nearly impossible. Imbibing alcoholic beverages lowers inhibitions, and patrons wind up getting close to one another. An infected person can breathe droplets loaded with the virus into the air that is then inhaled by others. New infections are the result.

In response to Newsom’s closure order, Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig told television station KSEE 24 that the county did not have the personnel to check on bar compliance. Besides, the bigger stick is the state liquor license that bars must have to operate, Magsig noted.

Supporting local businesses

County public health officials Tuesday made clear they want to help bars and clubs remain in good standing so they can reopen whenever that might be feasible.

Dave Pomaville, head of Fresno County’s public health department, said county staffers will respond to reports of bars that may be open and violating the order. Staff will work to convince the owner it is in their interest to close for now. “I don’t want to put a business in jeopardy,” he said.

As bar owners do the right thing by shutting down, it is then imperative that government leaders get them financial assistance to keep them from bankruptcy. That’s on Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, City Council members and county supervisors.

But if some bar owners go rogue and try to operate as a Prohibition-style speakeasy, out of sight and on the sly, that reflects poorly on them as good citizens, and extends the life of COVID-19, ensuring more infections and deaths.

More closures coming?

If Fresno County cannot get control of the local COVID-19 pandemic, Ferrigan won’t be the only business owner feeling frustrated.

Bars might be the proverbial canary in the coal mine — the initial businesses reopened after it appeared it would be safe to operate, only to be told that, no, not really.

California has been experiencing a rapidly increasing number of cases in recent weeks after having kept the COVID-19 curve on a slow rise for most of the spring. A Los Angeles Times analysis determined that things started to go bad over Memorial Day weekend as cities began reopening businesses and public spaces.

Might other business closures be possible? If infection rates continue to accelerate, that would seem likely, even necessary, as hard as that economic impact would be to contemplate. Do Fresno County residents want to return to how it was in March?

Newsom announced at noon on Wednesday that restaurants must close their indoor dining operations in those counties on the state’s watch list. That includes Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.

The quickest way to reopen bars, and keep other businesses operating, is to do the fundamentals: Stay home as much as possible. Wash hands frequently. Wear masks in public. Stay six feet away from those not immediate family. Don’t hold large social gatherings.

And accept that life in 2020 is different. There is no going back to “normal” anytime soon.

This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 9:35 AM.