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Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced in this morning’s press conference that beginning on Monday, August 17, Nashville bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open until 10:30 p.m. Cooper said the additional 30 minutes should add time for one more seating for the city’s small businesses. No other changes are being made to operating restrictions for restaurants at this time.
He says adjustments are being made cautiously and gradually. Limited-service restaurants and bars holding on-premises beer permits can open to no more than 25 people at a time — with proper social distancing in place.
For both restaurants and bars, the policy remains: no seat, no service. All customers must be seated to be served. Anyone standing must wear a mask at all times. All bar counters must remain closed.
“Not wearing a mask keeps people unemployed longer and will cause more businesses to fail,” added Cooper, then noting that Order No. 10 remains in place, prohibiting to-go and open-container alcohol consumption in Downtown and Midtown. Order No. 8 requiring masks in public also remains in effect. Cooper added that Metro’s enforcement campaign continues to make sure all residents tourists and businesses are following guidelines.
The new case rolling average is still green. As of today, 221 have died from coronavirus in Davidson County.