Public Health checking Santa Barbara restaurants before reopening weekend two

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- On Memorial Day Weekend, Santa Barbara restaurants reopened. Other restaurants that were already open were able to expand their service from just take-out to dine-in. On State Street, customers filled up tables eager to experience dining out similar to pre-COVID-19 times.

The news that restaurants were allowed to open for dine-in and even expand onto the sidewalks spread quickly. However, many restaurants and customers were unsure of the rules and guidelines they needed to follow.

This week, Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services officials are visiting restaurants to make sure they're in compliance.

They are helping businesses with the new rules and regulations with physical distancing in mind.

Businesses that serve food or are in partnership with another business that serves food is allowed to have dine-in options. They just need to follow the California Public Health Department's guidelines.