Sacramento Standard

Five California Assemblymembers were seen social distancing during a swearing-in ceremony, but then left and went to a restaurant together for a meal.

During the swearing-in ceremony, lawmakers were seen socially distanced and because of COVID-19 concerns, families and guests were not allowed in attendance, however, several hours later, the five Assembly members went to a restaurant, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Assemblymembers Adrin Nazarian (D-West Toluca Lake) Chad Mayes (I-Rancho Mirage), Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas), Marc Levine (D-Marin County), and Chris Ward (D-San Diego), along with Mayes’ fiancée, all went to dinner together at a restaurant called Maydoon in Sacramento following the swearing-in ceremony.

The assembly members were asked why they were taking part in a multi-household dinner and Nazarian replied saying, “Can we not have dinner?”

Levine said they were supporting a local business. When asked if they had masks, Levine pulled his out of his pocket, The Sacramento Bee reported.

As the incident continued, Horvath pulled her scarf over her nose and left the table. Later, her chief of staff told The Sacramento Bee that the members were following the county’s COVID-19 requirements.

“They were dining outside, they were following the protocols, everyone tested negative for COVID-19,” her chief of staff, Rob Charles, said.

While the state’s rules don’t specify the number of households that are allowed at an outdoor table, health officials have continually recommended that there be no more than three households together for a meal, even at holidays, the Sacramento Bee reported.

The state’s latest stay-at-home order did not ban outside dining in Sacramento

While the state is urging residents in the state to not travel unless its essential right now, the lawmakers are considered essential workers as they participated in the swearing-in event.