Gov. Tate Reeves relaxes more rules for restaurants, outdoor gatherings amid coronavirus
Just three days after Mississippi’s biggest spike in COVID-19 cases and a decision not to reopen more businesses, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Monday that he will allow restaurants to offer limited in-house dining and larger outdoor gatherings.
Starting at 8 a.m. on Thursday, restaurants will be allowed to open indoor and outdoor dining as long as capacity is limited to 50% and servers wear masks.
“Thousands of restaurants are set to close their doors for good,” Reeves said. “They can’t hold on for much longer. Carry-out and drive-thru services are great, but most family-owned restaurants don’t have drive-through windows. Their staff has been among the hardest hit.”
Other requirements for restaurants to open include:
▪ The entire restaurant and bar must be deep-cleaned, disinfected and sanitized.
▪ Employees will be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts.
▪ Employees must be provided training on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.
▪ Floor plans must be updated to ensure at least 6 feet between each group. Party sizes will be limited to no more than 6 people per table.
▪ Bars and bar areas that do no offer food services are to remain closed.
▪ Customers will be screened upon entry. Restaurants and bars must post signage at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in.
▪ All restaurants and bars must place hand sanitizer at all entrances, hostess stations, in/near bathrooms, and at cashier stations.
Reeves said that he will allow outdoor gatherings of up to 20 in an effort to allow youth sports to take place.
“We know the virus doesn’t fair well in the sun. To be outdoors is about the safest place you can be,” he said. “We are revising our order to open more outdoor spaces and revising it to change restrictions on social gather. Outdoor gatherings only of up to 20 should be large enough group to let kids to swing a bat or kick a ball or shoot a basket with their teams.
“This still requires you to be smart and be diligent. If your kids are practicing on a field, stay in your car. Do not gather in groups around each other. Be smart, practice social distancing. This is a good faith step in the right direction.”
While he acknowledged their struggles on Monday, barbers and salons will remain closed. He said state officials are working to direct CARES Act funding directly to those businesses, and more details will be announced “very, very soon.”
Reeves said Friday he had started the day prepared to reopen more businesses, but changed his mind after the state health department’s announced Mississippi’s largest daily case increase of 397 cases and 20 new deaths.
On Monday, MSDH announced the second-highest single-day increase at 327 cases and 7 new deaths.
Under an April 24 “Safer at Home” order, Reeves allowed retail stores to reopen as long as they reduce capacity by 50%. Employees are also encouraged to wear masks. He kept places of amusement or entertainment closed, including casinos, theaters, bars and museums.
Businesses that can’t avoid social contact like salons, gyms, spas and tattoo parlors also remained shut.
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 2:58 PM.
