Fayetteville Mayor Implements Capacity Regulations for Bars and Restaurants
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In further efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health and safety, Mayor Lioneld Jordan has implemented new regulations for bars and restaurants across Fayetteville. At a special City Council meeting held last night, the Mayor was given authority to create and enforce regulations on gatherings in public or private places during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ordinance giving him this authority was passed unanimously by the Council.
Effective immediately:
- Bars and restaurants are required to observe an occupancy rate of no more than 50% of the total occupancy rate as set by the Fire Marshal
- Restaurants and bars are required to space tables and barstools at least six feet apart and limit party sizes to fewer than 10 people, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Curb-side, drive-through and delivery services from restaurants may continue operations as usual at this time
The purpose of limiting capacity in these establishments is to help “flatten the curve,” an approach recommended by multiple health and scientific organizations for slowing the rate of COVID-19 infections. Slowing infection rates helps prevent medical providers from becoming overloaded and reaching a point where they can no longer provide treatment to all those infected.
These new regulations will be reevaluated throughout the day, every day, and are subject to change based on compliance and information about the spread of COVID-19. The Mayor anticipates more stringent methods may be required.
Compliance will be enforced by the Fayetteville Fire Department. The public may contact the non-emergency line for Police and Fire Dispatch at 479-587-3560 with reports of observed non-compliance.
Many establishments have already implemented these social distancing practices, and Mayor Jordan thanks them for proactively working to protect the health and safety of their customers and workers.
In conjunction with these new regulations, Mayor Jordan is reaching out to City Council members, regional leaders, county officials, local delegates to state government and others to drive support for social distancing and additional COVID-19 testing kits for Northwest Arkansas.
For additional information about the City's efforts to combat COVID-19, please visit the City's COVID-19 website: fayetteville-ar.gov/covid19.