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SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom attended a birthday party for one of his political advisers last week that included people from multiple households, the type of gathering his administration has discouraged during the coronavirus pandemic.
The November 6 dinner at the famous French Laundry in Yountville, Napa County, brought together at least 12 people to celebrate the 50th birthday of Jason Kinney, a longtime friend and political adviser to Newsom who is also a partner in the law firm of lobbying. Axiom Consultants. Besides the governor, his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, was present.
State guidelines limit gatherings, defined as “social situations that bring together people from different households at the same time in the same space or place,” to a maximum of three households. Representatives for Kinney and Newsom declined to say how many households the diners represented, but did not dispute that there were more than three.
Nathan Click, chief communications officer for Newsom, initially defended the anniversary celebration because it was taking place outside at a restaurant, which must follow separate coronavirus safety regulations developed by the state for the restaurant industry. This directive does not say whether people from more than three households can dine together.
Newsom and Siebel Newsom “have followed public health guidelines and restaurant health protocols – all in accordance with state rules for operating restaurants,” Click said in a statement. “He and the first partner paid for their own meals.”
After The Chronicle posted this article online, Newsom issued an additional statement acknowledging that attending the party was an error in judgment.
“While our family followed restaurant health protocols and took safety precautions, we should have modeled better behavior and not attended the dinner,” the governor said.
Throughout the pandemic, Newsom has urged Californians to maintain social distancing and minimize mixing between households. He has stepped up those calls as coronavirus rates soar this fall.
On Monday, he pointed out that private gatherings, such as extended families come together, as a determining factor in the increase in new cases in the state.
“It’s for obvious reasons. People let their guard down, ”Newsom said at a press conference. “They take off their masks. They begin to meet outside of their family cohorts. They’re starting to see businesses reopening and we’re starting to see more people mixing together again. As it gets colder, we’ll see even more.
The California Department of Public Health issued guidelines on Oct. 9 allowing small private gatherings for the first time during the pandemic. Under the guidelines, gatherings with more than three households are prohibited. The state is also requiring gatherings to be held outdoors, where transmission of the virus is less likely, and recommends that they be limited to two hours or less.
Click said Kinney’s birthday dinner was ok because state guidelines only require restaurants “to limit the number of single table patrons to a domestic unit or to patrons who have requested to be seated together. . “
A spokesperson for the public health department was unable to answer questions on whether the state considers it acceptable for residents of an unlimited number of households to mix if the gathering takes place in a restaurant.
At a press conference on Friday, Secretary of State for Health and Human Services Mark Ghaly reiterated that activities in which it is difficult to wear a mask all the time, such as eating meals and meeting with people from other households, are higher risk situations during the pandemic.
“As we look at the surge in cases, we have the advice and the guidance for a reason,” he said. “We believe that these are the strategies that allow us to protect ourselves and our communities, and we hope and expect people to take them seriously.”
Janet Upton, head of public information for Napa County, said the county is not limiting restaurant dining groups to three households, citing state guidelines for restaurants.
“It is a balanced right, between public health and non-destruction of the economy,” she said.
But John Swartzberg, infectious disease expert and clinical professor emeritus at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, said state and county officials were making an arbitrary distinction that is not based on any science. .
While he is happy that Newsom’s group is sitting outside, he said eating out with 12 people can be a much riskier activity than other types of gatherings because people have to take off their masks. to eat and drink.
“The idea that it’s okay to do this because it’s in a restaurant is upside down,” Swartzberg said. “Whether or not she meets the letter of the guidelines, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Fresno Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer revealed this week that he tested positive for coronavirus after attending an election night dinner with Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau, who did not know at the time he was infected, and four more, Fresno Bee reported. A local developer who attended the dinner, which was held at the home of a government relations official for Kaiser Permanente, has since tested positive as well, according to KSEE television.
While everyone must define their own risk tolerance during the pandemic, Swartzberg said, Newsom modeled bad behavior for the public by attending the anniversary dinner.
“Is this a major Newsom breach?” No, but it’s not the best judgment, ”he said. “He must be the adult in the room. And he has to be the one people model. This is what comes with the responsibility of being a leader. “
A spokesperson for French Laundry said the restaurant follows all state and county health regulations and requires any party that dines there to do the same.
Molly Weedn, a representative for Kinney, said the restaurant was open for normal dinner and all party guests were following security protocols. She declined to say why the celebration brought together more than three households.
“It was a small, intimate 12-person dinner held outdoors with family and a few close friends to celebrate a 50th anniversary,” Weedn said in a statement.
Alexei Koseff is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @akoseff
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