As Super Bowl weekend approaches, the City of Long Beach is reminding residents to celebrate safely by adhering to the Safer at Home Health Order and other critical safety protocols to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure everyone’s safety.
While staying home remains critical to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, the City encourages people to find alternative ways to engage with others and celebrate safely this Super Bowl weekend such as connecting with family and friends virtually; hosting a Super Bowl party over video; and sharing photos and videos enjoying the big game on a group chat.
Individual and Gathering Safety Precautions
Long Beach residents who wish to watch the big game are encouraged to do so at home with members of their same household, as gatherings of individuals from different households pose a significant risk of virus transmission. Social gatherings must take place outside and are limited to no more than 15 people from no more than three households. Individuals attending a permissible gathering should still practice proper safety measures, including maintaining at least a six-foot distance from others not in the same household; wearing a face covering; washing hands frequently and sanitizing high-touch surfaces.
Restaurant Safety Requirements
Restaurants, brewpubs, breweries, bars, pubs, craft distilleries and wineries showing television, including the game for Super Bowl Sunday, are expected to adhere to the following requirements specified in the Safer at Home Health Order protocols:
- Businesses may operate outdoors only
- Alcohol is served only in the same transaction as a bona-fide meal for sit-down, dine-in meal service
- Outdoor tables are separated by a minimum of eight feet between tables
- On-site outdoor seating is limited to no more than six people from the same party at the same table
- Customers remain seated at tables, except when necessary to use the restroom, pay their bill or order food and beverages
- Customers are not allowed to consume food or beverages, including alcohol, if they are not seated at a table
- Face coverings are only removed by customers when seated at a table within a designated outdoor dining area while eating or drinking
- Additional staff should be present to monitor and manage customers, including but not limited to:
- Ensuring physical distancing between customers
- Ensuring customers do not consume beverages or food while not seated at a table
- Ensuring people do not congregate in front of televisions or projection screens
- Ensuring sidewalks and the public right-of-way remains clear and ADA accessible
The City is prepared to take enforcement action against businesses who fail to comply with the Safer at Home Health Order, which may include but is not limited to: civil or criminal citations, revocation of a temporary parklet permit, revocation of an Outdoor Activity Permit (OAP) to operate outdoors during the pandemic, revocation and/or suspension of a business license, revocation and/or suspension of health permits and revocation and/or suspension of an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license.
The City is also reminding residents of other safety tips and precautions to take during Super Bowl weekend.
Driving & Pedestrian Safety
The Long Beach Police Department will have additional officers on patrol on Feb. 7 to deter drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Alcohol is not the only thing that can impair and may lead to a DUI. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and marijuana may affect your ability to drive safely as well. Pedestrians should maintain strict awareness of their surroundings, especially at night and when crossing streets, even when crossing in a marked crosswalk.
Although many watch parties will be virtual this year, it’s essential to plan, designate a sober driver or stay at home for the night.
Funding for Super Bowl Sunday enforcement is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Fireworks & Other Illegal Activity
All personal fireworks, including those labeled Safe and Sane, are prohibited in the City of Long Beach. Fireworks cause tens of millions of dollars annually in property damage and result in many injuries, the majority of which are suffered by children. Given the continued strain on hospital capacity due to COVID-19, it is especially important to avoid risky behavior, including lighting fireworks.
Fireworks set off in residential neighborhoods, particularly those that are unexpected, can trigger flashbacks for veterans and gun violence survivors experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. The noise also creates panic for many animals, and shelters fill with runaway pets every year.
There are several ways to report illegal firework activity in Long Beach:
“Celebratory" gunfire is considered an illegal discharge of a firearm and can be dangerous. Discharging a firearm for celebratory purposes could result in injury or death to anyone struck, and jail time for the offenders.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
