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Restaurants Can Reopen Now in Fresno County as State OKs Local Plan
All Fresno County restaurants can fully reopen now.
The state Department of Public Health gave the green light to Fresno County’s application to move further into reopening businesses under the state’s Stage 2 economic roadmap.
Hours earlier, the city of Fresno announced its plan to rescind its shelter-in-place ordinance — allowing for restaurants and retail shops to in-store customers — effective 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26.
However, a spokesman for the city of Fresno said that restaurants that comply with the county’s process can resume dine-in service immediately without penalty.
Local Restaurants Must Submit Online Form
Local restaurants must complete an online form on the Fresno County Health Department website confirming they will comply with procedures intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. County officials say there is no formal approval process. Once the form is submitted, restaurants can restart dine-in service.
Several restaurants in Fresno County have already submitted the form and plan to open their dining rooms as early as Friday, officials said.
Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes said the local restaurant association and the county health officials worked on a plan for weeks. He expects Harris Ranch in Coalinga to reopen by Friday.
Supervisors (L to R) Nathan Magsig, Buddy Mendes, Steve Brandau and Brian Pacheco appear at a news conference announcing state approval of Fresno County’s plan for allowing restaurants to resume dine-in service. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)
Restaurants Must Ensure Customer Distancing
The county’s form asks restaurants to fill out a checklist in four areas — protecting employee health, social distancing, educating the dining public and measures to increase sanitizing and disinfecting table, chairs and work surfaces.
The number of dine-in patrons a restaurant can serve depends on the restaurant’s size.
“We’re very appreciative today of what the governor did,” Supervisor Brian Pacheco said at a Thursday afternoon news conference. “We’re a little disappointed that it didn’t happen four days ago. But it is what it is.”
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