Restaurants in Manteca appear to be staying open – at least for now.
And, while it may change any day, you can still get some use out the gym membership that you purchased for the new year.
As guidelines and protocols across the country continue to become even more strict in the wake of the crackdown on the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Manteca restaurants and businesses are taking a wait and see approach before making any formal announcements about closures or scale backs.
Even as the President provided updated guidelines on Monday that groups larger that 10 people should not gather, local restaurants like Applebee’s and Chili’s plan on staying open for the time being while trying to heed the recommended social distancing guidelines.
That could change, however, as early as today depending on what developments occur with the virus and what sorts of regulations are required by local health agencies are directed by the State and Federal health organizations that are providing oversight to manage the pandemic and prevent an outright taxing of healthcare resources.
Strings Bar and Grill on N. Main Street also remained open as of Monday night for both dine-in and take-out customers.
Over the weekend, Governor Gavin Newsom made sweeping recommendations for bars and wineries to close and recommended that restaurants remain open in a reduced capacity and work to shift all business to curbside or delivery platforms – a step towards total closure as governments scramble to prevent a strain on the country’s healthcare system. There was no answer on Monday at the 133 Club – a longtime Downtown Manteca bar – but somebody that answered the phone at the Rusty Hook on E. Yosemite Avenue said that the bar does not currently have plans to close.
An employee at Manteca’s In-Shape Sports Club said that the club will remain open for the time being with additional efforts being directed towards sterilizations to protect all members. CalFIT Manteca said that they plan on remaining open for their customers until told that they have to close. 24 Hour Fitness is also encouraging its customers to use their business-specific app for updates as to potential closures for COVID-19, but for the time being remains open and has increased its efforts to clean and sterilize equipment.
AMC Theaters, the largest theater chain in the United States, reported on Monday that they would not be closing but would institute safeguards such as cutting the number of available seats to every showing in half. The theater at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley is owned and operated by AMC. Regal Cinemas, which operates theaters in Modesto and Stockton, announced on Monday that they would be closing all of their North America theaters because of Coronavirus concerns.
A wider array of closures, however, could be imminent after seven Bay Area Counties announced on Monday orders for residents to shelter in place, and recommended that non-essential business that are not providing goods or services directly related to the health crisis or to provide life-sustaining resources such as food close for the time being.
Two of those counties, Alameda and Contra Costa, are adjacent to San Joaquin County.
As grocery stores and retailers are struggling to stock shelves with basics such as toilet paper and non-perishable food items that were wiped out in the last week, some residents are becoming concerned about the uncertainty that lies ahead.
“It’s a scary time,” Yolonda Rollins said while gassing up her car on Monday in Manteca. “I think that people will pull together and the fear will eventually die down a little bit, but nobody ever saw this coming – nobody knows what is going to happen next.”
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
