Elected leaders in Orange County remain divided as California’s regional lockdown orders have created economic challenges for small business owners, and more hardships for the already-struggling restaurant industry.

As local businesses defy state-mandated health orders issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom, and skate thin lines to operate, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan reflected on what she has noticed, as the state’s latest regional lockdown order has created an environment of uncertainty and confusion in Orange County.

As a small business owner, Khan she can sympathize with those that are struggling.

“As a small business owner myself, I totally get it, this pandemic has really drained small businesses economically, and so a lot of these restaurants and small businesses are really hanging by a string right now,” Khan said in an interview with Irvine Weekly.

To address this, Khan announced the establishment of two Irvine-based COVID-19 task forces, that will focus on economic recovery, and reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Still, despite the continuing surge of COVID-19 infections in Orange County, many restaurant owners in the county have chosen to openly defy the regional lockdown orders – by keeping outdoor dining open.

Khan added that regardless of why some establishments are choosing to say open, it is more than likely contributing to the community spread.

On Thursday, Dec. 17, The Orange County Health Agency reported 2,615 new COVID-19 cases, with 13 new COVID-19 related deaths.

As of Friday Dec. 18, there were a total of 1,519 people hospitalized in Orange County, with 393 in the intensive care unit.

On Thursday, Dec. 17, the Orange County Health Agency Dashboard displayed a zero-percentage in adult bed availability.

“Right now, with our increasing cases, one of the things we can’t control in outdoor dining is that people are going to take their face mask off to eat,” Khan said. “And, we’re seeing more and more spread with groups of people.  That’s why it’s so important to follow these guidelines.”

By continuing to mix, Dr. Clayton Chau, Director of the Orange County Health Agency said both business owners and the public are ignoring public health data, along with the critical mitigation efforts that help reduce the spread of the virus.

Speaking at a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15, Chau continued to reiterate that physical distancing was society’s strongest weapon in the fight against the virus.

Expressing frustration, Chau said he does not agree with Orange County’s reputation as an “anti-mask” county, but emphasized that the lack of public trust regarding the advice of public health officials is a problem that is contributing to a monumental surge in COVID-19 across the country.

“The issue about science, the wearing of masks, the staying physically separate from people – that is the only thing that still works to stop the spread of the virus. There’s no argument on the other side,” Chau explained to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Dec. 15. “We are now surpassing 16 million people infected, and more than 300,000 people who died from this virus – that number is not fake. The reason we have an increase in cases is because people are gathering and not following public health guidance. Period.”

Still, some political leaders in Orange County continue to express opposition against the regional lockdown orders.

Don Wagner, 3rd District Supervisor, which represents Anaheim Hills, Mission Viejo, Orange, Yorba Linda, and most of the city of Irvine, has been outspoken regarding Governor Newsom’s handling of COVID-19 in the state.

“The governor’s heavy hand still controls, that’s the situation we are in,” Wagner said during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 15. “Let the governor hear you, because we do.”

Wagner, has also shown support for the “Recall Gavin Newsom” campaign on social media.

“Science matters and so do separation of powers. We need to end the one-man rule,” Wagner wrote in a Twitter post on Dec. 10.

Wagner continued to question the science during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15, expressing frustration over the fact that the second wave of COVID-19 exceeded the estimation of county health experts.

“I’m not blaming the scientists, and the doctors for missing the science by three-times, this is a novel corona-virus, and it’s going to present its challenges,” he said. “But, the question is: Are there any tools – other than lockdowns? Is there something else we can do – because it doesn’t look as though the current approach out of Sacramento is working.”

In Orange County, there is now a noticeable polarization between those who are openly willing to defy regional lockdown orders, and those who are not.

Some restaurants, like the Michelin Star-rated HoriNori Craft Ramen in Irvine, which became Michelin-rated partly for its enjoyable ambiance, have found success with outdoor dining. But they now have converted back to a to-go only model, in compliance with the state regulations.

Fumi Nagagtsuka, manager of HiroNori Craft Ramen in Irvine, said the lockdowns have created many struggles for their business.

However, Nagagtsuka says he chose to comply with orders, because he fears the city of Irvine could revoke his outdoor dining permit.

“The permit that we have is with the city of Irvine, and that permit is easily revoked by the landlord as well, and they can revoke that any time with us, so that’s why we’re following [the guidelines],” he said.

Conversely, Andrew Gruel, owner of Slapfish, has been an outspoken voice for those choosing to defy the regional lockdown orders. Gruel said he has kept the outdoor dining patios open at his Orange County Slapfish locations, emphasizing that the decision would help his employees avoid further negative economic impacts.

Gruel also said he thinks keeping outdoor dining open is safer than closing it.

“I firmly believe that by banning outdoor dining, you’re actually making the problem worse. Because what’s going to happen is, instead of going out to eat, and dining outdoors, people are going to have dinner parties, under their own roof, indoors, with outside families,” Gruel said in an interview with Irvine Weekly.

Yet, as far as enforcement goes, both the Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff have stated that the departments have taken a hands-off approach, in regards to any lockdown violations.

“We will enforce the order, if necessary, but our preference is to educate and gain compliance. Enforcement is a last resort,” an IPD spokesperson wrote in an email to Irvine Weekly.

Lucy Dunn, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Irvine-based Orange County Business Council, said while she agrees that a complete outdoor dining ban is extreme, considering the impact COVID-19 is having on Orange County hospitals, there is no denying the science behind the regional restrictions.

Dunn, like Gruel, added that a complete outdoor dining ban does invite more mixing of households outside of the public view.

But, she added that there have been discussions that certain modifications to the outdoor model could work, with additional safeguards in place.

“What I worry about is not having outdoor dining. That kind of forces people to gather indoors, and it encourages gatherings that you really don’t want,” Dunn explained in an interview with Irvine Weekly. “One of the things discussed was that maybe we could reopen outdoor dining, on condition that it was one household per table. So you’re just having family members get a break from cooking in the kitchen.”

More importantly, moving into the next year, Dunn said, mask-wearing, testing and the distribution of a vaccine are undoubtedly the best tools to utilize in Orange County’s path out of lockdown.

“I want my M.T.V.,” Dunn added, using the acronym to encourage businesses to use a health-forward approach to reopening. 

“Make sure you mask-up and follow those protocols. Make sure you test and encourage testing, so that we can identify asymptomatic folks, and the third – do not give up hope, vaccines are here and that will get us out of this pandemic, sooner and safer,” Dunn said. “M.T.V. — Mask, Test, Vaccine.”

On Wednesday, Dec. 16, Orange County received more than 25,000 doses of  Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine. High-risk health care personnel at UC Irvine Medical Center, and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange County were first on the list to receive the county’s first shipment of the vaccine.

According to the Orange County Health Agency Anaheim Regional Medical Center, Children’s Hospital OC, Garden Grove Hospital, Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach Kaiser, Irvine Los Alamitos Medical Center, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, Orange County Global Medical Center, Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital and UCI Medical Center will begin vaccinating health care employees, based on their risk of contracting the virus.

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