City leaders say non-essential businesses should remain closed

It's been almost 6 weeks since the stay-at-home order was issued and there is still some confusion about what repercussions non-essential businesses may face if they are open.

One of the state testing sites.

It will launch its testing site next week.

We are almost 6 weeks into the stay-at-home order and there is still some confusion about what - if any - repercussions non-essential businesses face if they violate the governor's order.

Action news now reporter kristian lopez is live near chico city hall.

Kristian what are city officials saying today?

They've been working with open businesses on how to reduce coronavirus exposure but they are*no* authorizing them to re-open.

Tony lindsey with code enforcement says none of his officers or city officials gave the go ahead for these businesses to open back up.

The city recently launched an educational campaign on exposure reduction.

But lindsey says that does not authorize businesses to open.

Kristian: are you guys authorized to shut any businesses down?

Tony: we are working on the next steps, right, to coordinate with the health department and the particular licensing agencies on our next steps to proceed when we have non- essential businesses that continue to violate the governor's orders.

Mark orme: at this point in time that dialogue is taking place on a daily basis trying to figure out how to manage this situation.

We are deploying as much education as possible to ensure that those non- essential businesses understand they are designated as such and shouldn't be open at this time.

As of today the city hasn't cited or shut down any non essential business.

Lindsey says they could fine those businesses anywhere from 300 to 12-hundred dollars but he says they are not at that point yet.

The city is still working with the public health department and licensing agencies to figure out how to deal with non- essential businesses not following the order city manager mark orme tells me the city started handing out letters yesterday to remind those non-essential businesses that are open they are in violation of the governor's order.

Live in chico kristian lopez action news now coverage you can count on.

Orme says county and city leaders plan to host a virtual meeting tomorrow to further discuss this issue and start planning the safest way to re-open when the time comes.

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