BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — While Kern County remains in the Purple Tier, restaurants are forced to keeps their doors closed and open their patios to outdoor seating for business. For some restaurants though, there is no patio to move onto.

That's why the City of Bakersfield announced a temporary round-the-clock closure of Eye Street, between Service and 19th streets, to all vehicular traffic.

City spokesman Joe Conroy said this closure is a way for the city to help restaurants in the area maintain business in an outdoor setting.

While the closure is temporary, Conroy said it will remain in effect as needed for restaurants to operate outdoors.