City Seeks to Repeal Bar and Restaurant Curfew
Legislation to repeal Ordinance 1821-2020 that imposes a 10
p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants will be presented to Columbus City Council
tonight for a vote. Governor Mike DeWine signed a statewide ban on alcohol
sales after 10 p.m. on July 31, 2020. That restriction remains in place, but
with the passage of tonight’s legislation, restaurants and bars would be able
to remain open and serve food after 10 p.m. Restrictions on occupancy and
compliance with mask wearing and social distancing remain in effect.
“We are making solid progress in slowing the spread of
COVID-19 in our community thanks to vigilant efforts made by residents,” said
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “In our ongoing effort to balance the public’s safety
with the economic impact of the pandemic on restaurants and bars, repealing the
curfew makes good sense.”
“We have seen a decrease in COVID-19 cases over the past
several weeks that we attribute to the restaurant and bar curfew in Columbus as
well as the public’s adherence to other safety measures including mask wearing
and social distancing,” said Dr. Mysheika Roberts, Columbus Health Commissioner.
Overall, daily counts of COVID-19 cases in Columbus have
dropped by 37% since the curfew went into effect. Daily counts of COVID-19
cases among Columbus adults 21 and older have dropped 50% since the curfew went
into effect.
Should Columbus see a surge in COVID-19 cases, the city can
pass additional legislation to help slow the spread of the virus.