Following the confirmation of a third COVID-19 case in San Luis Obispo and Governor Gavin Newsom’s direction on March 15, regarding protective actions for bars and restaurants, County Administrative Officer and Emergency Services Director, Wade Horton, has issued an executive order to protect the public’s health by ordering the temporary restriction of alcohol sales at on-site alcohol-serving establishments in the city effective at 5:00 pm Monday, March 16, 2020 until 12:01 pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
In addition, restaurants are to limit their customers to a 50 percent capacity. This is part of the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 by limiting large gatherings in public serving spaces.
County leaders shared this updated information at a press conference on Monday that took place at the County of San Luis Obispo Joint Information Center, at 2:00 pm.
“We need to take immediate action to slow the spread of the virus over the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday and to limit large gatherings in public serving spaces,” Horton said.
Although the business community will be impacted, the well-being of the community comes first, according to City Manager Derek Johnson.
St. Patrick's Day in SLO, also known as "St. Fratty's Day," is a day SLO residents, students in particular, enjoy the nightlife scene at times as early as 6 a.m.