Mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms has closed all bars, clubs, and other public spaces due to the coronavirus.
After signing an executive order limiting the number of people in public spaces to 50, Mayor Bottoms took the precaution a step further on Thursday (March 19). She signed an executive order closing “all bars and nightclubs that do not serve food, gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys and arcades, and private social clubs.”
Restaurants “and other eating and drinking establishments where food is served” are also required to close dine-in services, but are allowed to continue offering food through delivery, drive-thru, and take-out. The order went into effect Friday (March 20) at midnight.
According to Project Q, Woofs, which is currently closed, will reopen on March 23 for take-out food service only. Atlanta Eagle, Bulldogs, Mary’s, Model T, Oscars, Sequel, Swinging Richards, and Tripps are closed indefinitely. Amsterdam will be closed at least through March 30, Ten Atlanta will be closed March 21-22, and Blake’s on the Park, Friends on Ponce, and My Sister’s Room will be closed at least through March 31.
“The fate of cities across the globe will be upon soon if we do not follow recommendations on ways to slow the spread of the Coronavirus,” Bottoms said on Twitter.
I have signed an Executive Order, effective at midnight, limiting restaurants to take out service, closing bars, gyms, etc. The fate of cities across the globe will be upon soon if we do not follow recommendations on ways to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/WkO507PKIL
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) March 19, 2020
To help assist restaurants, bars, and other establishments affected by the closures, Mayor Bottoms also signed two subsequent orders: one suspending the towing and booting of vehicles in the city’s right of way, therefore making pick-up and delivery easier; and another preventing police from “taking any action to enforce any prohibitions against the sale of unopened win and/or malt beverage by the package for off premises consumption by restaurants,” therefore allowing restaurants to continue serving alcohol.
In order to protect those who have lost their jobs due to the virus, like those in the service or hospitality industries, Mayor Bottoms also signed an executive order instituting a temporary moratorium on residential evictions for the next sixty days.