Coronavirus: Beverly Hills Council Votes To Close Most Businesses

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Beverly Hills approved an emergency ordinance Monday evening closing most businesses in the city, including on the famed Rodeo Drive, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The ordinance calls for the closure of "all non-essential retail businesses," except for pick up, delivery and certain transactions by appointment. It goes into effect at midnight.

All bars and nightclubs in the city that do not serve food are closed. Those bars and nightclubs that do serve food "may remain open only for the purposes of continuing to prepare and offer food to customers via delivery service or to be picked up," the order stated.

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Dining in is prohibited, but parking in front of businesses will be accommodated "to allow for easier access for `to go' dining," according to the order.

In addition to retail businesses, bars and nightclubs, the order affects the following:

— All restaurants and retail food facilities in Beverly Hills shall be prohibited from serving food for consumption on premises including through a self-serve, unwrapped buffet;

— All movie theaters and live performance venues shall be closed to the public;

— All gyms and fitness centers shall be closed to the public;

— All businesses providing physical health and beauty services, including spas, hair salons, massage parlors, and nail salons, that do not provide medical care or services that supplement medical care as directed by medical professionals will be closed to the public except for the purpose of retail sales;

— All elective medical and surgical procedures, including all elective dental procedures are prohibited.

The order is in effect until the city's local emergency is canceled.

The city also placed a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent by tenants and businesses impacted by coronavirus.

The temporary suspension of utility shutoffs and certain parking regulations was also put into effect.

Mayor John Mirisch announced he would be leading the creation of a COVID-19 Kindness Task Force to assist seniors and the most vulnerable in the city.

"This is an opportunity for Beverly Hills to do what we do best, care for one another," Mirisch said.

In an effort to promote and protect public health, Beverly Hills City Hall is closed to the public until further notice and will operate as a Virtual City Hall, according to City Manager George Chavez.

"With the ongoing health concerns presented by the novel coronavirus, we believe it is in the best interest of the community and our employees to shift our services to online and by phone," Chavez said. "I continue to work closely with the mayor and City Council who are all deeply committed to the health and safety of our community."

City personnel will continue to work from City Hall but public counter services will not be available. Many city services may be accessed at www.beverlyhills.org or by calling 310-285-1000. City staff will be available by phone and email to continue to serve the public.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC's recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Related Coverage:

What You Need To Know About California's Lockdown Of Seniors And The Chronically Ill

California Coronavirus: Live Updates On Cases, Updates, Closures

City News Service contributed to this post