Cold weather limits capacity for bars and restaurants amid COVID-19 pandemic

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Many local bars and restaurants have been relying on outdoor seating to add capacity during the pandemic.

Melanie Lising, a manager of Sycamore Restaurant, said the restaurant only has two tables outside but they will be available for the time being.

"We have had people often request sitting outside, so we are still going to try and keep it out for the next week, or so, in case the people that don't want to sit inside can still sit out there," she said.

However, Broadway Brewery downtown already packed away their patio furniture in preparation for the winter season.

Shakespeare's Pizza manager Kurt Mirtsching said he hopes people will continue to dine with them when it's too cold for patio seating.

"We are just enthusiastic and hopeful that while its cold and the patios are not an option people feel comfortable coming to our very spaced out, distanced and sanitized restaurant," Mirtsching said.

He said he tried to purchase outdoor heaters to possibly utilize patio space even during the winter, but he could not find any in stock.

The Columbia/Boone County health department Assistant Director, Scott Clardy, said he is not aware of any health order changes in response to cold weather.

"I'm not aware of anything changing.  We will still need to see six feet of separation between parties in restaurants," Clardy said.

The current health order does not have any capacity limits for businesses but does have social distancing requirements which limits seating inside dining rooms.