Columbia bars assess effects of new COVID-19 order

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia's bars and restaurants are already beginning to assess the consequences of a new health order unveiled Friday morning.

The new order is effective immediately and lasts through Sept. 17. The order instructs all bars and restaurants that sell alcohol to stop at 9 p.m. They have to close at 10 p.m.

Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Stephanie Browning said this should allow people to sit, have their drinks and have everyone out by 10 p.m.

Dance floors will be closed under the new order. The order also limits entertainment venues to 100 people or fewer, and only if the venue has an operational plan submitted to the local health department.

The ordinance also requires all food and drink to be consumed while seated.

Browning said Friday that they're seeing violations coming late at night, and that closing bars altogether was considered.

"Big groups gathering, they aren't wearing their masks, they aren't socially distancing," Browning added.

Browning said that while she talks with business owners regularly, she did not consult them in this decision.

"There's some businesses, some restaurants and bars understandably very upset about this," said Scott Clardy, Columbia/Boone County Health Assistant Director. "And they didn't get any warning or anything like that and we've tried to always give them as much warning as we possibly can, but given this information, we felt like we had to move and we had to move before the weekend.

Nickie Davis, the District’s Executive Director, said it's been a difficult day for a lot of bars and restaurants. 

“While we want to keep the public safe,” Davis said. “Or as safe as possible. Many of these businesses are simply trying to… feed their family so it's been very hard to survive as a bar or even a restaurant.”

Some businesses have reacted on social media to the decision. The Penguin in downtown Columbia posted a message on its official Instagram page that it is closing.

"The high cost of this pandemic has become unbearable and we will be unable to continue," the bar said in the post.

"Today's new city order has effectively put the nail in our coffin," the bar added.

Davis said The District is appreciative the new order didn't entirely close downtown businesses again.

Clardy said that if health inspectors find a business open that should not be, they will go in and educate management about the new order.

Clardy said the health department will enforce the new order by having officials drive around to make sure businesses are closing.

“If it's not (closed)," Clardy said. "We'll stop and go in and try to speak to the management, make sure they understand what is required under the order and do some education with them and hopefully see them close at that time."

If there are continued problems, Browning said they'll do what they've done in the past, giving a notice of violation to the city prosecutor.

Check back for more on this developing story or watch ABC 17 News at 5 and 6.