Governor Gavin Newsom addresses enforcement of bar closures over the holiday weekend

Governor Gavin Newsom holding a news briefing regarding the pandemic around the state. He addressed that thousands of businesses around the state were visited by the Alcoholic Beverage Control to enforce orders.

"We had close to 6,000 in-person visits to bars and restaurants just from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. So, ABC visited just shy of 6,000 establishments over a few-day period," said Newsom during his press conference.

23ABC learned from state officials that ABC officers visited 68 bars and restaurants in Kern County this holiday weekend. ABC said they contacted 81 businesses in Kern and issued 2 citations. Statewide, ABC issued 52 with more than 5,8000 businesses contacted.

Newsom also said he believes the enforcement of wearing masks or other facial coverings should be up to local officials.

"It's best left up to local with support of the state. To the extent that local officials are unwilling or unable to enforce, then we will step up our enforcement at the state level in a more targeted way."

Newsom also reiterated that this year's budget has $205 billion in local funding that could be withheld from counties that don't cooperate with health orders.