Thursday, November 19

Orange County reports 582 new COVID-19 cases, nine deaths

5:42 p.m. (CNS) — Orange County reported 582 new diagnoses of coronavirus Thursday, raising the cumulative case count to 67,167, and nine more COVID-19 fatalities, hiking the death toll to 1,537 as hospitalizations continue to climb.

The biggest source of transmission of coronavirus was attributed to friends and families getting together. "I think it's small to medium private gatherings, where people are in close proximity without face coverings," County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said.

 

OC Sheriff Don Barnes responds to Stay at Home Order

4:12 p.m. 

 

Orange County residents fall under new Stay at Home Order

3:43 p.m. — Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health announced a limited Stay at Home Order requiring that nonessential work, movement, and gatherings stop between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in counties in the purple tier effective 10 p.m. Saturday.

The new orders will effect Orange County residents as the county was designated back to the purple tier just last week. 

 

The Beach Boys to perform at Drive-In OC concert series

1:53 p.m. — Anaheim is about to feel some good vibrations. The Beach Boys will be performing as part of the socially distanced Drive-In OC concert series at City National Grove December 13.

The afternoon show will include a mix of the group’s classics along with new material from singer Mike Love’s holiday album, “Reason For The Season,” and his pandemic-themed single, “This Too Shall Pass.”

Along with Love, the concert lineup includes longtime member Bruce Johnston, but Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and David Marks will not be performing.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, November 20, at 10 a.m. at AXS.com.

- Digital Journalist Sue Carpenter

 

South Coast Plaza to hold virtual tree-lighting

11:30 a.m. — Misty Copeland, the principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, will host South Coast Plaza’s 39th annual tree-lighting ceremony Thursday night.

The virtual event will kick off at 7 p.m. and feature performances by the Orange County School of the Arts and, of course, a visit from Santa.

The event is free. People can watch on the South Coast Plaza website or the South Coast Plaza Instagram page.

- Orange County Digital Journalist Joseph Pimentel

 

Orange County outdoor dining grant program

9:50 a.m. — Orange County restaurants struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic could qualify for a $1,000 grant to purchase outdoor dining equipment such as canopies, tents, and heaters.

The county is offering $1,000 grants to 1,000 restaurants on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
The application period will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 20. Restaurant owners can apply on the Orange County One-Stop Centers website starting Friday. 

Earlier this week, Orange County was placed in the state’s most restrictive purple tier. Under the purple tier, restaurants and quick serves are banned from allowing indoor dining.

- Orange County Digital Journalist Joseph Pimentel

 

Shopping, dining on again at Disney California Adventure

5:15 a.m. (CNS) — Part of Disney California Adventure will open without rides Thursday but plenty of shopping and dining.

Billed as an extension of Downtown Disney, Buena Vista Street will be gussied up for the holidays, offering socially distanced outdoor dining at favorite restaurants including Carthay Circle where Chef Andrew Sutton, culinary director of Signature Restaurants, says Al Fresco Dining at Carthay Circle Lounge will be "like sitting in a European sidewalk cafe.

"We literally borrowed tables from some of the other restaurants," he said in remarks reported by the Orange County Register. "Then we started to get more serious about it, bringing in planters, and gardening, and making it look much more refined. The finished product is beautiful."

Parts of the park are opening for retail and dining as an extension of the Downtown Disney District. Reservations won't be accepted, but a mobile wait list system will be in place when the restaurant is at capacity. Diners can choose to provide their name and mobile number to receive a text message when it's time to return. Mobile ordering will be available at Smokejumpers Grill and Award Wieners.

Buena Vista Street will be open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There's no admission charge to enter and guests can park in the Simba lot as they do for Downtown Disney.  Safety precautions will be in effect such as taking guests' temperatures, making hand-washing stations available, limiting party size at tables to 6, and requiring masks for those 2 and older.

More details are available at disneyland.disney.go.com.