Contra Costa County issued five notices totaling $1,500 in fines over the weekend to businesses failing to comply with the local COVID-19 health order, health department officials told Claycord.com
Four notices were issued to fitness centers that were operating indoors when not permitted. The fifth notice was an indoor pool that was operating when not permitted, according to the department.
“Fines are a last resort — Contra Costa County’s goal is always to encourage and work with our businesses and residents to help prevent outbreaks of COVID-19,” the health department said.
Individuals who disobey the order can be fined anywhere from $100 – $500, while fines for businesses start at $250 and go up to $1,000 per infraction.
This is absurd, some of these gyms have better airflow than the outside world, ridiculous
Just in time before those businesses close for good. Contra Costa just had to find a way to milk them for these ‘fines’ before they go out of business.
How many Karens were employed to accomplish this? I’ll bet it cost a heck of a lot more than $1,500!
How do we find out which businesses were fined so we can support them against this lunacy?
I know Diablo CrossFit has gotten a few fines already! They seem to still be open, despite the constant harassment from the county.
I feel much safer, health department. Thank you for your sacrifice and service.
If I were running a gym, I’d install one aisle of foodstuffs and call myself a grocery store. Then it would be ok to let all the people in I want.
Yep!!
They have orders! Orders that MUST be obeyed!
There are reasons why that during the pandemic, NorCal rates of hospitalizations and deaths have been half of the national average. Hence I support enforcement of reasonable regulations because they help save lives. Sure, it is difficult to determine what activities should be restricted, but knowledgeable public health experts are more knowlefgeable than the rest of us. Some decisions might not be perfect, but the common good should take precedence over “my rights.” It’s hard, but it’s only a few weeks before vaccinations will help. It’s not forever.
That’s very noble of you to volunteer to sacrifice someone else’s business and livelihood. I mean, if experts say that’s what has to happen, who am I to argue? I’m pretty sure it’s in the constitution somewhere, the right to due process, freedom to peaceable assemble, and right to shut up and do what you are told by the health department.
Let me know when you are actually being threatened with losing your job, business, or whole livelihood. If be curious if you are singing the same tune then.
Lawrence, Lawrence you still don’t get it… you comment is what everyone was saying in March… Somebody has been drinking too much koolaid to think this is temporary… Vaccines will not be available until late summer the earliest then that will be for healthcare workers first and then Politicians then the rest of us peasants go last.
Lawrence, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you haven’t missed a paycheck this year and maybe you’re even SAVING money by not commuting and buying your lunch out every day. Gym owners need to MAKE MONEY. They need to pay the rent. They need to support their families. They need to not go bankrupt. If you don’t understand, keep out of it.
Oh, you mean the “experts” like Fauci, who spouts off with an ever-changing narrative about everything from Tinder dates during the COVID era, to whether or not the NFL should be playing? That “expert?”
America wasn’t founded on collective rights, it was founded on individual rights. When individual rights erode, the collective rights will, as well.
Who decides what’s “reasonable?” Should unelected bureaucrats like Farnitano get to decide how many people I can have in my home over the holidays? Wonder how he spent the day? Wonder how Candace Andersen spent her holiday. We know Newsom and London Breed broke the “rules” in different counties. We’re they fined?
How do you know it’s not forever? Tyrants love power, and once they get a taste of it, they’re not willing to let go so easily.
Who says an immunization will work? Is that the new threshold, i.e., if you get the shot or not, for determining who will be allowed to participate in society?
Think critically, Lawrence, and stop depending on the government to direct your life.
Boot lickers in April 2024; “If these anti maskers would just obey the orders….they wouldn’t have all of these deaths on their hands, I don’t feel bad about them having to attend health education classes”.
Gyms and fitness centers have been closed since the middle of March. I’m sure I’m not the only one whose health has suffered because of the closures. I’m also sure that many fitness centers and gyms not owned by a huge chain will never reopen. It’s pretty special to force people to forgo making a living and and lose their businesses and then talk about making sacrifices. Have you lost a business, Lawrence?
I believe gyms are essential. I need a gym with its equipment to maintain my back and bone health. My back pain has increased substantially since they’ve been closed. I need to do weight bearing exercise to keep my bone health from deteriorating. I felt better even after working out during the short period the gyms were “allowed” to be open. Then, oh look, they’re dangerous, so they closed again.
Unbelievable. Gyms were allowed only 25% capacity. People were extremely well spaced. Equipment was wiped down before and after use. Everyone wore a mask. Hand sanitizer was everywhere. My husband and I both worked out three times a week during the month it was open. We didn’t at any time feel that it was dangerous. Neither of us got sick. But here we are again, trying to do whatever workouts we can at home, and it really isn’t sufficient.
I guess it’s OK to sacrifice the health of the rest of us, those who need and depend on the workouts. How is it that gyms are not essential?
If they can fine individuals, I seem to recall something about a party at a restaurant in Yountville that broke a few rules. Pretty sure some of the culprits’ work addresses are available but I’m sure there are a few of us that would happily deliver the citations to them (wearing a mask and gloves of course).
They should quickly undo those. Or, how much is Pelosi paying for violating the rules to get her hair done inside when it was outside only, or how much is the Newsom clan paying for violating the rules regarding large groups dining inside? Or worse, what about San Jose for failing to enforce Federal Law regarding immigration,leaving two dead and more injured.
Yes let’s fine and shut down gyms which have proven how easily they can keep people distanced, where they can quickly/effectively disinfect surfaces/high-touch areas, and are places where people get/stay in shape which BOOSTS their immune systems. Totally effin brilliant idea, based completely in “science”.
If fines don’t work, perhaps reeducation camps.
We can wear red patches on our striped pajamas while we pick grapes in Gavin’s vineyard. Overseen by transgender 20-somethings who were called the wrong pronoun.
History is a slippery slope and tends to repeat itself when stupid people are given too much power. I suggest everyone down load “The Killing Fields” on Netflix.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087553/
Don’t think this type of thing can happen again? They thought that in Cambodia. And Nazi Germany. And pre-Mao China. And North Korea. And Cuba. And Isis controlled areas. And cartel controlled Mexico. And Nigeria. And Yeman. And Venezuela. And Iran. Is this what people really want? Obviously most do not, but their answer is always “This time is different. We know what we are doing and they didn’t. They had good intentions, but didn’t have the intelligence that we now have”. But what they fail to acknowledge is that human nature doesn’t change.
Which gyms are these ??? Just curious so I can go and support them. This closing the doors to local businesses is not cool! I feel pretty safe at the gym! Regardless they should be supported!
I know Diablo CrossFit has gotten a few fines already!
Newsome will drive them out of business one way or another. What a piece of S–t.
None of these businesses should pay one penny in fines until they go to court . I don’t think these rules and fines will hold up in court . If these businesses roll over and pay the fines without a fight then to bad for them . Quit whining .
Pay the fines and stay open.
Genius! I want to know which ones so we can support them. Heart disease is a far bigger killer than Rona.
Is it listed somewhere on the County website that individuals will be fined for going to indoor gyms?
Every year 60K people die of heart disease in California. 19,211 people have “died” from covid in California? Which is the bigger problem? Keep the Gyms open!!
There’s a very simple remedy. Don’t got to those gyms.
Its freaking astounding that there seems to be some hidden clause in the bill of rights limiting said rights to hospital capacity.
I go to work every day at a grocery store and deal with thousands of people, am I putting your life at risk? By the way, two employers have caught it over the last 8 months, from outside the store, and passed it to no one else. They are both fine and back at work.
Your logic leaves zero limit on what the government can do to YOU in the name of safety. Mandatory governors on your engine so you can’t exceed the speed limit? If it saves one life, right? Or even better, automatic fines mailed to your house. You don’t need that cheeseburger, have you seen how many people are in the hospital with obesity related conditions? Definitely don’t need any guns, guns are scary and hurt people.
It disgusts me how many of my fellow Americans are frightened boot lickers.
I am so proud of these gyms! Keep it up!
Newscum is a blight on this formerly great State.
My gym has defied these ordes. Tens of thousands of check ins over the past 4-5 months. 0 reported cases
Suck on that Farnitano!
I guess I need to do some investigating. I need to find a gym that’s open. I need the exercise to keep my back pain under control. Gyms are essential. Newsom doesn’t care about our health and well being.
Off subject a bit but I just watched Robert Redfield (Director of the CDC) say that he is seeing HIGHER infection rates in children who are only remote learning vs. children who are attending schools. He believes that the reason is the remote kids are out in the community instead of supervised classrooms.
OPEN THE SCHOOLS!
It would be nice to hear more about the pool situation. It seems a little cold to be recreation. I thought swimming classes were allowed because they are a life saving essential service etc.
My gym is open…they moved the entire gym outside in little pods that are reserved and look like something out of a Venice Beach workout.
A Health lifestyle is a MAJOR essential … unless the state of California wants to pay for our own home gym equipment.. not to say, it’s pretty expensive.
@Tgggg – You don’t need gym equipment to be healthy.
I think I saw that Fitness 19 was on the list.