SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego County will expand enforcement efforts to track down businesses knowingly operating in violation of the current public health order.
After a bit of a lengthy back and forth, the board of supervisors voted unanimously to expand the current enforcement team.
Currently, the county’s newly developed Safe Reopening Compliance Team focuses on egregious cases, outbreaks, and complaints.
There are only ten staff members presently on the team, 13 more will be added on during phase one to continue looking into egregious cases and outbreak investigations.
A Healthy Compliance Call Center also went live, where members of the public can report violations of the public health order by calling (858) 694- 2900.
Tuesday’s vote to include a phase two will add 22 staff members at $1.8 million to follow up with businesses or entities that are still operating in violation of the public health order.
The funding will come from the CARES Act.
Two other enforcement options were on the table for supervisors consider, but they were voted down by the majority.
Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county’s public health officer, has already sent several letters ordering businesses to close down until they comply with the order.
A handful of gyms and churches in the county have stayed open inside despite being ordered to close or move their operations outdoors.
This week the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office filed five misdemeanor charges against a Ramona gym owner for failing to comply.