A rural California county is defying Gov. Gavin Newsom's coronavirus shutdown order and has become the state's first county to let nonessential businesses reopen.

Diners are being allowed into restaurants in Modoc County in the state's northwestern corner near Oregon. Officials say the county still has no COVID-19 cases. Newsom did not say Thursday whether he would intervene in Modoc County as he did in Southern California by ordering the shutdown of all beaches in Orange County.

A “hard close” order took effect on Friday for seashores from wealthy Newport Beach to artsy Laguna Beach and down Doheny way. Compliance was another matter, however.