San Luis Obispo County issued a Public Health Officer order Friday requiring all bars across the county to close for the holiday weekend.
Bars, pubs and breweries must remain closed from Friday, July 3 at 4 p.m. through Monday, July 6 at 5 p.m.
Bars that offer full meal table service are exempt while food service is provided. Wine tasting businesses are also exempt.
The goal is to avoid large congregations of individuals in close proximity within a confined space.
SLO County expects the number of visitors to increase locally after Santa Barbara County and Monterey County ordered the closure of their beaches for the Fourth of July.
"SLO County is not the place to party this weekend. Bars specifically draw large crowds, and we have seen recent cases of COVID-19 likely transmitted within these establishments locally and throughout the state," said County Health Officer, Dr. Penny Borenstein. "Bars are particularly high risk because they are closed, indoor spaces often with poor ventilation, where physical distancing is not always easy or possible, and where close communication (talking face to face) typically occurs."
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, Harbor District and beach city police departments also plan to increase patrols over the holiday. Law enforcement safety checks at retail and food businesses will be increased in the coastal areas to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protective measures.