Coronavirus updates: 17th Santa Barbara County resident dies, Morro Bay expands outdoor dining
San Luis Obispo County has had 317 coronavirus cases since mid-March, adding 11 more cases Thursday.
As more businesses reopen, the city of Morro Bay, similar to San Luis Obispo, has changed its outdoor seating policies to allow businesses to serve more customers while following state guidelines.
And in Santa Barbara County, a 17th resident has died from COVID-19.
Here are your Thursday updates:
17th Santa Barbara County resident dies of COVID-19
A Santa Barbara resident “over 70 years of age” died of COVID-19 this week, the Santa Barbara County Public Health officials announced on Wednesday.
The department also reported 17 additional cases, mostly in the North County, with 12 added in Santa Maria.
Santa Barbara County has now had a total of 1,864 COVID-19 cases, and 17 deaths.
Morro Bay gives the go-ahead for more outdoor dining, street vendors
The Morro Bay City Council unanimously passed two measures to expand outdoor dining and retail opportunities and sidewalk and mobile vending to help businesses who are reopening following the shelter-at-home order.
The council waived its former two-table outdoor limit, allowing city staff discretion on the total number, and extended the permitting to four citywide commercial districts, while temporarily eliminating the annual permit fee.
Streets vendors will also be able to use the sidewalks, with certain limitations, and roaming vendors with mobile businesses will also be allowed.
Morro Bay will not mandate the wearing of face coverings
The Morro Bay City Council on Tuesday opted not to mandate the wearing of face coverings in busy public spaces.
Instead, the council unanimously voted on Tuesday to pass a resolution that encourages the use of masks, especially in busy areas. Businesses may choose to enforce their own private rules.
In other cities, including Grover Beach and Pismo Beach, ordinances requiring workers at local businesses to wear masks have been passed.
Local wineries open again for tasting
San Luis Obispo County wineries are adjusting to new ways of operating during the coronavirus pandemic.
While some local wineries have remained closed to wine tasting on site, others have reopened their tasting rooms under Stage 2 of the state’s reopening plan. They’re serving meals — catered, pre-packaged or prepared in kitchens on site — to pair with their wines.
Full-service tasting cannot begin until Stage 3 of the state’s reopening plan begins.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 1:10 PM.
