The number of Californians contracting coronavirus has dropped dramatically in the last month and more and more people are receiving vaccinations each day. Many businesses are more than ready to fully open and resume their normal operations. Some owners want to save their businesses from going bankrupt; others are tired of the state’s ongoing business restrictions.
Multiple suits filed to end business restrictions
As a result, more than 45 restaurants, gyms and small businesses in the` San Diego County have filed a lawsuit in federal court to end California’s COVID-19 business restrictions. In the federal suit, the businesses claim that the COVID-19 restrictions violate the First, Fifth and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the California Constitution. The businesses also have filed suit against the city, the county and state officials. In the suit against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the businesses argue that because of current circumstances, his emergency proclamation is illegal and should end immediately.
The lawsuit comes as some business restrictions for COVID are ending. Yet as of April 1, San Diego County remains in Tier 2, or Red, COVID-19 restrictions. The Tier 2 restrictions limit how many people can be in a business at one time. Restaurants, bars and gyms face additional restrictions in Tier 2, such as:
- Restaurants only can open at 25% capacity.
- Gyms only can open with 10% capacity.
- Bars that serve food must only offer seating for dining outdoors.
Business tire of restrictions changing often
Part of the reason the San Diego businesses filed a lawsuit over ongoing coronavirus restrictions is that owners are tired of the restrictions changing. For example, when San Diego moves to Orange status, restrictions will be fewer. However, if COVID-19 cases rise again, they could have to follow Red status restrictions again. Currently, national experts are concerned about a fourth large-scale COVID-19 outbreak and how that could impact a recovering economy too.
Until this lawsuit from San Diego County businesses is settled, they will have to maintain the current restrictions and hope that a fourth coronavirus surge is minimal.