Outdoor Dining Banned In Alameda County By State Order

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — Outdoor dining at restaurants in Alameda County is once again banned, health officials announced Friday night.

The county blamed the state for the closure.

The county issued a brief news release that said, "Today we learned the state issued updated guidance, dated July 9th , prohibiting outdoor dining in non-variance counties, which includes Alameda County.

"While Alameda County’s Health Officer Order allowed for outdoor dining, under this stricter state guidance, all restaurants, wineries and bars in Alameda County may only be open for drive-through or pick-up/delivery options."

Outdoor dining had been allowed since June 19, and several Alameda County communities had assisted restaurants trying to get back on their feet by providing more sidewalk and even street area for dining tables. At the time, County Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan said, “Further relaxation of the Shelter-in-Place Orders is possible thanks to efforts to limit the spread of COVID19 by Alameda County’s residents and continued expansion of our case and contact investigation resources.”

However, confirmed cases of coronavirus and deaths have risen steadily since restrictions were loosened.

Alameda County said Saturday morning that it still plans to apply for a variance, which would allow the county to move further into California's four-tiered reopening plan. The Board of Supervisors is slated to consider offering a letter in support of the variance at its Tuesday meeting.

Obtaining a variance would not necessarily mean that the county would continue reopening; it would make those decisions based on data and science, the county said.

"While the data have not become more favorable, applying for a variance is a procedural action that would provide us with the flexibility to ensure that we can continue to allow the activities that the Health Officer determines are lower-risk for our community," Alameda County said.

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