Public health order requiring restaurants closes dining rooms at 10 p.m. Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A new public health order that requires restaurants to close their dining rooms at 10 p.m. went into effect Friday night. The order requires all restaurants to close their dining areas at that time in an effort to avoid late-night crowds.

Mayor John Cooper announced the order during his COVID-19 update on Tuesday. Take-out, window, drive-through or curbside service and delivery may continue after 10 p.m. However, alcohol sales via take-out, window, and curbside delivery are not allowed.

Bars and limited-service restaurants are still closed until 11:59 p.m. on July 31. They can reopen at 5 a.m. Transportainment businesses will also remain closed through the end of the month.

The new order comes after Nashville received national attention over the weekend for people not wearing masks downtown.

On Thursday, Cooper was asked about recent calls to close all of lower Broadway and responded, "Everything has to be on the table."

"We will observe and respond as required," he added.

Health officials say the numbers for the 14-day case count and transmission rate remain high, and they hope to see those numbers go down with the changes.