Coronavirus Concerns: Norman Announces Prohibition of Bars, Dine-In Restaurants & More

City leaders announced a prohibition of dine-in restaurants, bars, lounges, taverns, health studios, gyms, private clubs, theaters and commercial amusement Monday night in Norman in an effort to curb cases of COVID-19.

The temporary ban is set to start Wednesday at 8 p.m. and last until April 3.

City leaders are not issuing a curfew, but a word of caution. On Friday, they said no more than 250 people should gather together, but recently updated that to no more than 50 people at any time.

“We’ve had one case of community spread and we found out about that last week,” said Mayor Breea Clark.

The case of COVID-19 has connections to The University of Oklahoma. The school has elected to take classes online for a couple of weeks following spring break.

As far as the city is concerned, you may not be able to go to the gym, or sit down in a restaurant, but you can still pick up food or have it delivered.

“Most people who contract COVID-19 will not suffer major symptoms, they will not have to worry about the worst kind of outcome of COVID-19, there are those that will,” said Clark.

Some restaurants on campus corner have elected to shut down to spare their employees exposure, like the Mont.

But on St. Patrick’s Day others elected to remain open, and are mindful of the new mandates, like O’Connell’s in Norman.

Norman’s mayor said social distancing should help keep numbers low but warns of a potential spike with spring break travel. Hospitals are also preparing.

“Travel restrictions for employees. We have shut down the dining areas of our cafeterias. We have put visitor restrictions in place,” said Brittni McGill, Chief Nursing Officer Norman Regional.

“We have to prepare for this to get worse, and the biggest step in that is making sure our providers at the hospital can prepare to take care of you. So, we cannot take care of mild symptoms in our hospitals,” said Aaron Boyd, Chief Medical Officer, Norman Regional Hospital.

Norman Public Schools officials said they are also keeping a close eye on this and will be offering food to students who need it while they’re out of the classroom.