On June 28, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered that bars in seven California counties close. These counties are: Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kings and Imperial. 

The state has also recommended, but not ordered that eight other counties issue local health orders closing bars: Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus.

The order and recommendations are a result of an increase in new cases and hospitalizations across the state.

Following the order, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a modification to the County’s existing health order requiring that all bars, breweries, brew pubs, pubs, wineries and tasting rooms in L.A. County close unless they are offering sit-down dine-in meals. This includes closing bar areas in restaurants.

Los Angeles County bars, breweries and tasting rooms had been shuttered since March, and reopened on June 19, 2020 with detailed safety protocols, including prohibiting consumers from ordering drinks at the bar, recommending a reservation system, and banning bar entertainment options such as trivia and karaoke.