Hospitality industry bracing for new stay at home order restrictions
MONTEREY PENINSULA, Calif. (KION) Come next week, the view on Alvarado Street in Monterey will be different as new stay at home restrictions take effect impacting a wide range of commerce.
While restaurants and retail will have to adjust the way they do business, places like hair and nail salons, wineries and bars will not be allowed to open at all for at least three weeks.
People have gotten used to outdoor dining since the summer; now, it is back to take-out or delivery only.
"I feel suffocated. We've been doing this for nine months now, and just whenever we got a break to where we felt like we were getting back to normalcy, we're going right back into it," said Christine Sherrell, a Monterey resident.
Because of worsening trends, Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno is choosing to preemptively start the regional stay at home order on Sunday ahead of state criteria.
So, hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the county have just about doubled since October to more than 100 patients as of Tuesday. ICU availability is also just under 2o percent right now.
Dr. Moreno says the order can be allowed to terminate on its own or it can be extended beyond the January 11 end date.
"It really depends on what happens over the next three to four weeks. Really, over the next three weeks, hopefully we'll see some improvement in transmission rates and hospitalization rates," said Dr. Moreno.
"I just hope that we can all work together to keep things nice and relaxed and support local businesses," said James Sherrell, a Monterey resident.
Retail businesses and shopping centers can still operate indoors at 20 percent capacity or 35 percent capacity at standalone grocery stores. Restaurants can stay open for take out and delivery only.
But hotels and lodging cannot take in customers unless it is for essential workers, protecting the homeless or COVID-19-related containment measures.
The Portola Hotel and Spa is set to open next week, with staff already hired in time for the holiday season.
"And I'm sure they're sensitive about their employees feeling a little bit like a yo-yo.. they have a job and then they don't," said Rob O'Keefe, the president and CEO of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Under stay at home orders, critical infrastructure, schools, non-urgent medical and dental care and child care and preschools are allowed to remain open with precautions.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE: The hospitality industry on the Monterey Peninsula is bracing for Monterey County's stay at home order, which will limit the type of guests that can stay at hotels.
Under the new rules, only essential workers will be able to stay at hotels.
The order was signed by Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno Wednesday and will go into effect at 10 p.m. Sunday. The order and restrictions that come with it is set to stay in effect until 6 a.m. on Jan. 11.
KION’s Josh Kristianto will have more at 5 and 6 p.m.
