Here in CA, the vast majority of pool rooms operate under a state liquor license.
That places them in the category of a bar even if they have a restaurant within.
Bars & large assemblies have proven to be, based upon analysis of new cases, a
excellent environment for spreading the virus. It’s been confirmed from what has
occurred in college towns all over America with bars reopening, frat parties and
other social gatherings. It’s been borne out by the resurgence in cities across the
U.S. that have lessened their restrictions to only witness a resurgence in new cases.
So in CA, our governor has strict guidelines regulating the three different phases for
reopening. Different types of businesses fall within different phases but each is linked
to the actual new infection rate in that city. You cannot progress from phase one to two
until you satisfy specific criteria and the same applies gong from two to three. After
being allowed to reopen, if the new case infection rate exceeds the guidelines, you will
have to adjust and make changes which can include up to sheltering in place over again.
People need to realize you cannot corral a herd of wild horses until you first build one.
Right now this virus is running rampant throughout the nation. It is not going away soon.
So the virus needs to be contained, I.e., corralled, before it can ever be conquered. Until
there is a national, consistent strategy, not 50 different state plans, time is not our side. It
favors the virus that will continue to spread & could morph after a vaccine becomes available.
Pool halls in CA are a natural environment for people to spread the virus easily. None of the
cities where pool halls are closed are meeting the guidelines for reopening. The last thing we
can afford to do is return to “Go” and start all over again with a new roll of the dice. The death
rate has plateaued and the number is horrible. There are going to be people that readers know
right now that aren’t going to be here for the holidays. That’s a hard thought to accept but it’s true.
Unless and until there is a cohesive, standardized approach used in all 50 states and U.S. territories
that is mandated by the Federal Government as a national emergency, there will be readers of this
thread that know someone that does not have the virus now but will get infected and might die or else
suffer greatly during recovery which can dramatically alter their life’s path for even young people. The
virus can have serious health consequences for survivors so absolutely, before the year ends, some
readers will recall this thread and think to themselves, “ I just never imagined.” or “The virus is very real.”
In Fresno, we still have lots of people that you’ll see in the evening, not so much in the daytime, going
around without face masks which are mandatory. How the hell can pool halls reopen if our local new
infection rate remains too high to qualify for reopening? Until people cooperate & obey, hard times ahead.