LAX Leader

Small businesses in Los Angeles County have continued to defy restriction orders in a bid to survive. 

Restaurants, salons and pilates studios have been operating unlawfully as they have been faced by a double predicament, COVID-19 and the risk of closing for good.

“I have a son to feed and to support, and rent to pay, and it was just getting too hard to not work at all. Even when the government was giving us stimulus and unemployment, it wasn’t enough," said hairstylist Joanna Ho, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Salons in the county are entertaining clients behind closed doors with some restaurants also taking in guests through staff doors. Those who are creative have been offering home catering services.

“I’m legally allowed to cater in people’s homes, and people are entertaining,” said Kevin Meehan of Kali restaurant, the Los Angeles Times reports. “I don’t feel like I’m doing something where I’m exposing myself: I come in and I wear a mask; I bring a cooler full of food; and I’m in some beautiful home in Malibu cooking dinner for four people.”

Local authorities are not sitting by and watching, from Jan. 3 to 11, 83 citations were issued to restaurants, gyms, salons and other businesses for non-compliance. Defying shutdown orders attracts a fine of up to $1,000, but business owners are willing to take the risk to make a living. 

The arguments that people are still prone to infection since big supermarkets are in operation, and the lack of evidence that the virus spreads through indoor dining or workouts have also been used as excuses.

Gov. Gavin Newsom this week eased the COVID-19 regulations, allowing personal care services to open immediately and allowing outdoor dining starting Friday. Though the economy is faltering, some businesses might fail to open due to fear of the new coronavirus variants.