SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego politicians are rallying for businesses affected by the county's move to the purple most restrictive tier.
Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey said the purple tier is taking a toll, hurting businesses that can't withstand another months-long closure.
He said it could make or break them and their employees, "many of their employees have been let go now their second or third time as of yesterday and it's really heartbreaking to hear their stories."
Bailey said he voiced his concerns onInstagram after learning Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten filed an adjudication request that stated, "San Diego's increased cases are not due to the sectors impacted by moving into a more restrictive tier."
The most recent information from the county shows work is the location with the highest transmission rate at 30%. Businesses like restaurants and gyms that are affected by the purple tier restrictions make up about 20% of exposures altogether.
"So if these businesses are not actually contributing to the spread of COVID based on information from the County Health Officer then why would we be shutting them down in the first place?" Bailey said.
Coronavirus cases are higher than they've ever been, at 64,768 as of Sunday.
“This is a stark reminder that COVID is real, is spreading and must be taken seriously. At this point, we are pleading with the public to take action to slow the spread: wear a mask, physically distance, and limit contact with those outside of your household,” said Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, Co-Chair, County of San Diego COVID-19 Subcommittee.
The purple tier closures went into effect Saturday. Over the last week, Saturday and Sunday saw the highest jumps in new cases we've seen.
"I think the desire of the entire region of course is to slow the spread," Bailey said, but he hopes to do that with a new system.
"We call upon the state of California to implement a better more nuanced policy that has protocols in place that allow businesses who are not contributing to the spread to remain open and place greater emphasis on the areas where we know gatherings are taking place that are contributing to the spread and subsequent hospitalizations."
Bailey will be at a march and rally spearheaded by Supervisor Jim Desmond Monday afternoon voicing these concerns.
They will march from Time Out Sports Tavern at 2:30 pm to the County Administration Building and hold a rally there.
