Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
D.C. Closes Clubs, Puts New Restrictions On Bars And Restaurants To Prevent Spread Of Coronavirus
https://dcist.com/story/20/03/15/d-c-closes-clubs-puts-restrictions-on-bars-and-restaurants-to-prevent-spread-of-coronavirus/
Nightclubs will have to close and bars and restaurants in D.C. will face new restrictions on how they serve their customers as part of an effort by Mayor Muriel Bowser to curtail opportunities for groups of people to congregate during the spreading coronavirus pandemic.
Under the new guidelines, bars and restaurants will have to comply with the existing ban on gatherings of 250 or more people, which was imposed on Friday. But they will have to go further: they will have to suspend the use of bar seating, will not be allowed to serve drinks to anyone who is standing, limit table seating to six people or less, and ensure that tables and booths are at least six feet away from each other.
Nightclubs and multi-purpose facilities, on the other hand, will have to close during the ongoing state of emergency. That definition of “nightclub” is broad enough — a place that serves alcohol, allows musical performances and dancing — to include everything from sizable music venues like the 9:30 Club (which has already suspended performances) to neighborhood mainstays like Columbia Heights’ Wonderland Ballroom.
The new restrictions — which were announced on Sunday afternoon — fall short of across-the-board closures or limits on operating hours, showing the delicate balance that D.C. officials are trying to maintain in encouraging people to keep their distance from each other while not fully shutting down an industry that provides revenue to the city and jobs to many residents.
And the new restrictions come after a weekend where many D.C. residents took advantage of the warm weather and flocked to bars and restaurants, largely ignoring guidance from city officials that they practice social distancing, or staying away from other people. Health experts say that distancing is needed to “flatten the curve,” limiting the possibility of exponential growth of new coronavirus cases.
Nightclubs will have to close and bars and restaurants in D.C. will face new restrictions on how they serve their customers as part of an effort by Mayor Muriel Bowser to curtail opportunities for groups of people to congregate during the spreading coronavirus pandemic.
Under the new guidelines, bars and restaurants will have to comply with the existing ban on gatherings of 250 or more people, which was imposed on Friday. But they will have to go further: they will have to suspend the use of bar seating, will not be allowed to serve drinks to anyone who is standing, limit table seating to six people or less, and ensure that tables and booths are at least six feet away from each other.
Nightclubs and multi-purpose facilities, on the other hand, will have to close during the ongoing state of emergency. That definition of “nightclub” is broad enough — a place that serves alcohol, allows musical performances and dancing — to include everything from sizable music venues like the 9:30 Club (which has already suspended performances) to neighborhood mainstays like Columbia Heights’ Wonderland Ballroom.
The new restrictions — which were announced on Sunday afternoon — fall short of across-the-board closures or limits on operating hours, showing the delicate balance that D.C. officials are trying to maintain in encouraging people to keep their distance from each other while not fully shutting down an industry that provides revenue to the city and jobs to many residents.
And the new restrictions come after a weekend where many D.C. residents took advantage of the warm weather and flocked to bars and restaurants, largely ignoring guidance from city officials that they practice social distancing, or staying away from other people. Health experts say that distancing is needed to “flatten the curve,” limiting the possibility of exponential growth of new coronavirus cases.
More info at link of what some businesses are doing and how to support if you want.
I'm a great home cook and have plenty of good alcohol so am fine living the hermit life. But I've worked in the restaurant industry before and empathize with the workers so sometimes I order takeout online for minimal contact pickup, pay by app, and still leave a tip. My local small shops still have fresh produce and TP and other supplies. I just got a bunch of fruit and berries this morning. The workers there are grateful to have business while taking care to clean and social distance. A dude this morning opened doors for each customer and offered to touch elbows to avoid a handshake.
We can get through this together.