By Evert Caldwell, Rounder Life News Team
On Friday, LA County officials announced a three week ‘Safer at Home’ order to combat a reported surge in coronavirus cases. “Today, Public Health has confirmed 24 new deaths and 4,544 new cases of COVID-19”.
In the order effective Monday November 30, “residents are advised to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when they are outside their household and around others. All public and private gatherings with individuals not in your household are prohibited, except for faith based services and protests, which are constitutionally protected rights.”
Casino.org confirmed the order will affect some 10,000 employees in LA County’s 7 card rooms, “including some of California’s biggest – the Commerce, Hollywood Park, the Bicycle, and the Gardens.”
“The closings are a body blow for the venues and the communities in which they are located. The cardrooms were only recently allowed to reopen on October 5 after six months of lockdown, and only then provided games were hosted in the open air.” – Philip Conneller
Commerce Casino, which recently unveiled an expanded outdoor gaming area, it began construction on in October, let its patrons know the hard work would not be in vain. “When we reopen we’ll still be operating outdoors until we’re in the third tier.”
The devastating industry shutdown comes less than two weeks after “Do as I say, not as I do” photos, were published by Fox 11 in Los Angeles, showing Governor Gavin Newsom dining at a Napa dinner party.
“Newsom has lectured Californians to don face masks and not to gather in larger numbers to contain the spread of COVID-19.” He later apologized for not practicing what he preaches.
Card rooms had been operating under a 10:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew in an effort to curb the spread. Under the new order, outdoor ‘amenities’ such as playgrounds and swimming pools must also close.
“No team play, practices, scrimmages or games allowed.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates as they emerge.
