Valley wineries ordered to close indoor operations, while Governor's winery remains open

FRESNO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered certain businesses across 19 counties in Californiato scale down their operations Wednesday, in response to the growing daily number of novel coronavirus cases (COVID-19) in recent weeks. Those counties included Fresno, Kern, Kings, Merced and Tulare in the Central Valley.

The business affected included restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos and museums, cardrooms, and bars. Each of those businesses is allowed to stay open and seat people outside, but people are not allowed to do business inside the establishments.

Gov. Newsom's winery and tasting room in Napa Valley remained open as of the July 1, 2020 order.

Madera Co. wineries were exempt from the July 1, 2020 order from the Governor, because Madera County is not one of the counties included on the list of 19.

Gov. Newsom owns stock in PlumpJack Group, which includes a winery in Napa Valley's Oakville. That winery is still open for tastings. According to Gov. Newsom's 2018 tax filings, he and his wife own shares in the group that produced a combined salary of nearly $600,000 in 2018. According to PlumpJack Estate Winery's website, the next available tasting, with certain restrictions, is July 7, 2020.

Several Central Valley counties have seen an uptick in the number of newly-confirmed COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. The numbers are much higher in Fresno Co. than in Napa Co., which is where PlumpJack Estate Winery is.

There were 5,289 confirmed cases reported in Fresno Co. as of July 1, 2020, compared to 344 confirmed cases in Napa Co. as of July 1, 2020.

That's an 8.6% positive case rate in Fresno County, compared to 1.6% in Napa County. The Governor drew a line at 8% positive case rate and 10% hospitalization rate, when considering factors that could lead counties to close.