Health & Fitness
County Issues Order Closing Restaurants At 10 PM: Coronavirus
The order also mandates that eating and drinking establishments operate at 50 percent capacity.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill has issued an administrative order closing all restaurants, bars, private clubs and other establishments offering food and drinks for sale by 10 p.m.
The order was issued Monday night in response to the coronavirus outbreak. It goes into effect at noon Tuesday.
In addition, Merrill is limiting all restaurants and other businesses serving food and drinks to 50 percent capacity during operating hours.
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Restaurants can continue to offer takeout and delivery.
Hillsborough County's order follows orders issued by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
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On Monday, Kriseman mandated that all venues serving alcohol close by 9 p.m.
This includes bars, restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys and the Cross Bay Ferry. They are also required to operate at 50 percent capacity starting at noon Tuesday.
The mayor said he reserves the right to order a complete closure if establishments don't comply. They also risk losing their liquor licenses.
In a video posted on Facebook Monday, Castor called for all Tampa bars and restaurants to close by 10 p.m. and limit their occupancy to 50 percent capacity.
“We are responding proactively and aggressively to protect our community,” Castor said. “We’re living in an unprecedented time, but we will get through this together Tampa, even if it means spending a little time apart."
She suggested that residents support local restaurants through takeout and delivery options.
She said Uber Eats is forgoing its delivery fees for locally owned restaurants in the Tampa Bay area.
So far, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hasn't issued a similar statewide order. Instead, he said he's allowing each county and municipality to make its own decision.
The full order can be found online.
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