Washington, DC imposes new restrictions on bars, restaurants to combat coronavirus

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser on Sunday announced a series of new restrictions on bars and restaurants amid the spread of coronavirus, as well as the suspension of all nightclub operations. 

Bowser tweeted that no more than 250 people are permitted to gather in restaurants or bars, while bar seating and service to standing patrons are now prohibited. 

Individual table seating, meanwhile, will be restricted to six or fewer people, while occupied tables and booths must be separated by at least six feet.

3/ -Suspend service to standing patrons
-Limit individual table seating to six (6) persons or less
-Ensure that tables (including booths) that are occupied by patrons are separated by at least six (6) feet of distance

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) March 15, 2020

“Venues licensed as nightclubs and multi-purpose facilities in the District of Columbia must suspend operations to comply with the Emergency Rulemaking to Prohibit Mass Gatherings,” Bowser added.

4/ Venues licensed as nightclubs and multi-purpose facilities in the District of Columbia must suspend operations to comply with the Emergency Rulemaking to Prohibit Mass Gatherings.

For more information on the District’s response, visit https://t.co/MEWs6uxEBa.

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) March 15, 2020

Numerous jurisdictions have banned or restricted mass gatherings to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), whose state has seen a major outbreak of the illness, has imposed a 250-person limit on gatherings in three counties, while San Francisco and Seattle have banned gatherings of 1,000 or more.