San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg says the fight against the coronavirus is entering a new phase and his ordering restaurants to only offer carry-out or delivery. In addition the order calls for closing bars in the city. The mayor says the steps are needed in order to limit the spread of the virus during this pandemic.
While no curfew is in place, the mayor urged residents to not be out late at night.
The businesses that will be closed are dine-in restaurants, bowling alleys, bars and gyms. Drive-thru and carry-out will be allowed from restaurants, but you will not be able to dine inside the restaurant.
Nirenberg says the order is in place for the next 7 days, but will most likely be extended for 30 days.
The city issued the following statement:
"Mayor Ron Nirenberg has issued a new Public Health Emergency Declaration that places additional restrictions on all restaurants, while closing bars, lounges, nightclubs, taverns, gyms and health studios, bowling alleys, bingo parlors, and indoor commercial entertainment establishments, such as movie theaters.
Beginning at midnight tonight, March 18th, 2020, San Antonio restaurants may only provide take out, delivery, drive-in or drive-through services and must maintain a 6-foot social distance between customers at all times. Dine in service at restaurants is prohibited.
The declaration continues to prohibit all mass gatherings of 50 persons or more, with exceptions for the Airport, schools, childcare facilities, places of worship, funeral homes, museums, offices, hotels, grocery stories, shopping malls, hospitals and jails.
The Emergency order begins at midnight tonight, March 18, 2020, and continues for seven days. The Council may choose to extend it to 30 days tomorrow.
We understand that these are difficult times for all businesses, and we are grateful for your cooperation and partnership in our collective efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The declaration as written reduces the risk of transmission while ensuring that food is still available to our community."
The new social distancing measures are as follows:
•Restaurants (including microbrewery, micro-distillery or wineries) will close dining rooms but may offer take out options, delivery service (hotels may offer room service dining options), drive-in or drive-through services, consistent with state and local laws
•Bars, lounges, nightclubs, taverns, private clubs, gyms or health studios, indoor commercial amusement businesses, bowling alleys, bingo parlors and theaters shall close
The following types of facilities are exempted from this declaration:
These facilities are strongly encouraged to practice social distancing activities such as providing adequate space between people, providing hand sanitizer and tissues when available and increasing cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.
•San Antonio International Airport
•Public or private schools or child care facilities
•Places of worship
•Funeral homes
•Museums (so long as visitors are generally not within arm’s length of one another for extended periods)
•Spaces where 50 or more persons may be in transit or waiting for transit, such as bus stops
•Office spaces
•Hotels
•Residential buildings
•Grocery stores, shopping malls, outdoor markets or other retail establishments