New Year’s Eve is never easy for police departments. But, as with just about everything else in 2020, COVID-19 has created another layer of responsibilities for San Diego Police tonight.
Chief among them will be acting on the executive order Mayor Todd Gloria issued Wednesday that calls for stronger enforcement of COVID-19 health orders.
The order directs the San Diego Police Department and City Attorney's Office to pursue fines of up to $1,000 and "potentially other enforcement actions” against those who defy the state and county public health orders, especially the prohibitions against parties and other gatherings.
“As mayor I can not sit idly by as our local hospitals and morgues threaten to overflow as the coronavirus surges unchecked throughout our region,” Gloria said.
For much of the year, police were reluctant to crack down on violators of the health order. But in a statement Thursday, a SDPD spokesman made it clear that the mayor’s order will be enforced.
“The police department will conduct enforcement to ensure our communities are kept safe and to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Those who willfully violate the county/state health order may be cited.”
San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott echoed that sentiment in her statement:
“I'm glad that Mayor Gloria is taking swift action to protect San Diego hospitals from becoming overwhelmed,” Elliott said. “This Order affirms County and state public health mandates, including banning private gatherings of any size.”
RELATED: Todd Gloria Signs Exec Order For Stronger Enforcement Of COVID-19 Health Orders
In Little Italy, businesses were largely quiet on the final day of 2020. But some takeout offering’s like Landini’s Pizzeria were still attracting customers, including Navy hospital corpsman Colton Kielar.
In a typical year, Kielar might have been planning a big night out for New Year’s Eve. This year he plans on ringing in the new year safely on base.
“We are just going to stay home. Stay in the barracks. There's nothing to do,” Kielar said. “You don't want to go out, risk yourself, risk your health, anyone else’s health. So stay home.”
San Diego County's cumulative totals for COVID-19 have now passed 150,000 cases and are nearing 1500 deaths.
