On Monday, May 4, Governor Tate Reeves announced additional steps taken to further reopen the state, including opening more outdoor spaces, allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 20 people and allowing restaurants to resume dine-in services.
The new guidelines will go into effect at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 7.
This announcement came only two days after Mississippi experienced its worst day in terms of new reported cases of COVID-19 with 397 the previous Friday. Reeves stated that the virus does not fare well in the heat and sun. He said, “To be out doors is about the safest place to be.”
The governor spoke of sports, and how unfortunate the past few weeks have been for the youth. He said, “I couldn’t imagine a spring without watching my girls play soccer. It has broken my heart to see them go without it.”
He announced that he would be revising the safer at home order to open more outdoor spaces and change the social gathering restrictions to allow “outdoor gatherings only” of up to 20 people. Reeves said this should be a large enough group to allow kids to practice with their teams, and for families to gather. He believes this will help people start to return to normalcy, but he also asked that everyone be smart and continue to practice social distancing. State and municipal parks may open to the public between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. for recreational outdoor activities.
Reeves acknowledged the struggles of the restaurant industry, and said many restaurants are on the verge of closing their doors for good. This, along with other factors, led him to the decision to revise the previous order to allow outdoor and in-room dining. Reeves believes this will provide joy for the people of Mississippi, and also help to reduce the crowding in grocery stores.
Restaurants will have to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines which include masks for servers, six feet between parties, and no more than 50 percent capacity. Each establishment must also follow strict cleaning guidelines, and “customers shall be screened for illness upon entry into the restaurant or bar,” the ruling says.
Self-service buffets, food stations, and drink stations are still prohibited, but cafeteria style worker served buffets are permitted with appropriate barriers in place. Hand sanitizer must also be placed at all points of entry and exit, near bathrooms, and at cashier stations. Guidelines also include that restaurants and bars shall set hours of operation to close to the public no later than 10 p.m.
Reeves announced that barbershops and salons would have to remain closed at this time. “These are small family owned businesses for the most part. They are hurting. I have asked our health experts, lawyers, and industry leaders 100 different ways we might reopen them. We will get there, but I can’t do that today.”
However, Reeves said a plan is being established to get stabilization money out to salon employees and barbers from the CAREs Act funds. He said, “I am working on details and these will be coming very very soon.” Reeves added that plans such as these will be threatened by the Legislature who called a special meeting last week. Reeves said the legislature voted to strip the governor’s authority to spend emergency funds for first time in the state’s history.
