As of Monday, Nov. 16, Governor Newsom moved the County of Orange, including Laguna Beach, into the Purple Tier, the state's most restrictive tier, to stop the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

New restrictions in Orange County are as follows: 
• Indoor dining rooms at restaurants must close, although restaurants can offer delivery and takeout service.
• Indoor gyms, dance and yoga studios must now operate outdoors only.
• Movie theaters can no longer operate indoors.
• Houses of worship can no longer hold in-person indoor services but can host in-person services outdoors.
• Wedding ceremonies and funerals must occur outdoors only. Wedding receptions are currently banned statewide.
• Non-grocer retail stores, indoor malls, and libraries are now open to 25% capacity instead of 50% capacity; grocery store capacity remains the same and remains open at 50%.
• Museums, zoos, and aquariums must close indoor operations and can open only outdoors.

Governor Newsom has also imposed a curfew, which the state is calling a "Limited Stay at Home Order." The curfew is from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m and remains in effect until Dec. 21 at 5 a.m. That means all non-essential work, movement, and gatherings will have to stop in all purple tier counties.

Laguna's restaurants, wineries, breweries, and all other non-essential businesses must close by 10 p.m. They can open for service at 6 a.m. 
For restaurants with outdoor service, the outdoor dining capacity limit is 50%.

On Friday, Nov. 20, it was a mad dash for all County of Orange restaurants to apply for the $1,000 grants made available to 1,000 restaurants to purchase tents/canopies, lighting, and heaters/warmers to assist with outdoor dining. The lucky first 1,000 applicants were first come, first served.

We have photographed several local establishments for this article that have already erected tents for warmer surroundings, and no doubt, we will see more in the coming days and weeks. So bring a warm jacket, and please support Laguna's restaurants during these difficult times!

More info:

http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/cityhall/police/emergprep/coronavirus/default.htm