Here’s Where Restaurants and Bars are Closing Again
Updated 7/31/2020
The road to reopening is paved with confusion. Recommendations and guidelines have been scattered, inconsistent, inadequate, and generally confusing. Restaurants and diners were faced with a constantly changing landscape where one false move could trigger a “superspreader” event as we’ve seen in Washington, Texas, and Michigan where a single or handful of people could infect dozens if not hundreds all at once.
Some states like Georgia had almost no limits on reopening while others could only open outdoor seating with social distancing in place. Some states like California provide specific guidelines and resources for opening but many other states are left with little to no guidance forcing restaurants to educate themselves and create potentially life-or-death policies all on their own.
It’s clear that without strong leadership and a unified message, reopening safely simply doesn’t work. Restaurants across the US closed soon after they reopened after COVID-19 cases spread to their workers and diners.
With COVID-19 cases rising at alarming rates, many cities and states are reversing earlier attempts at reopening. Bars and indoor restaurant dining are firmly in the sights of lawmakers as some of the riskiest scenarios for spreading the virus.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s authority on infectious diseases, warned against going to bars. “Congregation at a bar, inside, is bad news,” he said during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing. Health experts are concerned that the combination of alcohol which lowers inhibition and rule-following, close proximity, and socializing without masks create a high-risk scenario.
This list will be updated periodically to reflect general state/city restaurant policies.
Idaho
Nightclubs and bars in Ada County are closing again after positive COVID-19 cases increased more than 300% over the course of just two weeks.
Florida
Bars and restaurants in Miami-Dade County must shut down due to COVID-19 cases increasing more than 500% in just two weeks and regularly shattering daily records. Restaurants are still allowed to operate delivery, pick up, and outdoor dining.
Arizona
On June 29, bars, previously allowed to reopen, are closed after COVID-19 cases increased more than 300% compared to early June. Arizona has had the most new confirmed cases in the world for the past week at an astounding 3,300 new cases. Closures will last until July 27, at the earliest.
Texas
On June 29, restaurants reverted to 50 percent capacity down from 75% previously. COVID-19 cases spiked almost 400% compared to early June. Bars were also ordered closed.
California
Previously, only 19 counties including Los Angeles, roughly 72% of the state has been ordered to close bars and indoor dining for restaurants.
Currently, Governor Newsom has announced statewide closures of all indoor operations including— Restaurants — Wineries — Movie theaters, family entertainment — Zoos, museums — Cardrooms — Fitness Centers — Places of Worship — Offices for Non-Critical Sectors — Personal Care Services — Hair Salons and Barbershops — Malls.
This order affects most of Southern California, most of the Central Valley, and all of San Francisco Bay Area. Over 30 counties are now affected.
These are the 19 California counties that were originally affected by the partial shut down enacted at the end of June.
- Contra Costa County
- Fresno County
- Glenn County
- Imperial County
- Kern County
- Kings County
- Los Angeles County
- Merced County
- Orange County
- Riverside County
- Sacramento County
- San Bernardino County
- San Joaquin County
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Clara County
- Solano County
- Stanislaus County
- Tulare County
- Ventura County
COVID-19 cases more than doubled in some parts of California over the course of just two weeks. As of the 7/31/20 update, all restaurants and bars are now closed for indoor dining. Restautants have reverted to a pick-up and delivery model similar to earlier in the pandemic.
Restaurants may still open outdoor dine-in options as long as they are part of the Al Fresco program which allows additional outdoor seating to be constructed. Restaurants can apply online for a permit.
Michigan
Michigan has reported a modest increase in new COVID-19 cases compared to other states with an increase of around 50% compared to mid-June but the state does not want to take any chances.
Bars, previously allowed to reopen for indoor dining, reverted to takeout and outdoor drinking. However, bars in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula were excluded from this order and may remain open.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania reports more than a 100% increase in new COVID-19 cases compared to mid-June. On July 3, restaurants and bars in Allegheny County closed to dine-in service. Dine-in service set to resume on July 10.
Tennessee
New COVID-19 cases have more than doubled since mid June prompting some counties to reverse re-opening of restaurants and bars. Bars in Davidson County are now closed and will likely remain closed for at least two weeks. Restaurants in Nashville will revert to 50% indoor dining capacity, down from 75%.
Nevada
Clark County and Washoe County must close all bars that do not serve food citing a need to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases. The state has already suffered a surge of more than 300% since mid-June.
Louisiana
On July 13, bars closed to dine-in service. It is unclear how long the shut down will last but was originally slated for reopening consideration on July 24th. Currently, they remain closed.
Maryland
On July 22, the mayor of Baltimore announced that restaurants in the city must close to dine-in service by the end of the week. As the rest of the nation continues their shut-down, Maryland is expected to continue even after their initial two-week plan.
Illinois
On July 24, bars in Chicago closed to dine-in service.
Kentucky
On July 28, after weeks of increased COVID-19 cases, bars across the state closed to dine-in service. Restaurants may continue dine-in service but capacity is reduced to 25%.
