Both city officials and Vanderbilt researchers have said many of the new infections in Nashville are young people who are less-at-risk of hospitalization. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT/WTVF) - Nashville bars will be allowed to reopen Monday, according to a report from WTVF. “Beginning Monday, August 17, we will begin to cautiously adjust the dial of our current public health restrictions to enable more of our small businesses owners to open their doors and get their employees back to work at the data permits,” Cooper said. "I assure you if we continue down this path. For the purposes of these restrictions, the city considers any restaurant that makes most of its revenue from the sale of alcohol to be a bar, so most if not all of the Lower Broadway honky tonks should close. In the first major step back in reopening Nashville, the city will close bars for at least two weeks and tighten restrictions on restaurants and other businesses to combat the swelling outbreak of the coronavirus, officials announced Thursday. Mayor John … Starting today, August 17, new rules easing COVID-19 restrictions on bars in Nashville… If left unchecked, the city’s Lower Broadway district would likely attract huge crowds of customers, potentially further spreading the virus, similarly to what happened in the city on Memorial Day. Nashville will continue in its modified Phase Two plan. Dining can resume at 50 percent capacity with tables spaced at least six feet apart and a 10 p.m. curfew. Nashville's mayor John Cooper requested that all bars on Lower Broadway close as the coronavirus pandemic continues, which is why Big & Rich's John Rich is also shutting the doors on his own Redneck Riviera. Feeling isolated or frustrated? NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nashville Mayor John Cooper says bars and limited service restaurants can reopen Monday with restrictions in place. Many restaurants and bars are still open, but any establishments serving alcohol have to … This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Capacity restrictions will remain in place. Nashville bars lower broadway, Honky Tonk Central is latest and greatest honky tonk in Downtown Nashville. Nashville bars to remain closed through July 31. Brett Kelman is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. But some bars are choosing to stay closed because of the capacity limitations. Additional bars across Davidson County are in the process of being able to function more like a restaurant to help with business. French bars and restaurants will not reopen until at least mid-February, the government announced on Thursday, as new COVID-19 infections remain high. Picture: PA Several states and cities recently re-closed bars to combat the virus, Cooper said, adding that some measurement of the virus in Nashville were worse than similar metrics in the viral hotbeds of Los Angeles, Texas and Florida. For the purposes of these restrictions, the … The city may also federal funding or support from community groups to provide infected residents who need to isolate with hotel rooms and income subsidies. The city reported the largest yet wave of new infections in the past week, and the tests reported on Wednesday had the highest rate of positivity — 18% — ever recorded in the city. Learn ways to connect with people virtually, get counseling or manage your stress. Nashville leaders attempted to slow the infection spike enacting a mask mandate this week but won’t begin strictly enforcing the mandate until Friday, and it is far too early to tell if the mandate is working. Jahangir urged residents to return to dedicated social distancing that effectively slowed the virus this spring. Whether it's getting back to work, making ends meet during this uncertain time, or managing the pressure, we're committed to finding solution. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Starting Monday, August 17, Limited Service Restaurants and Bars may reopen with a max of 25 patrons or however many can be socially distanced – whichever is less. We can go back to what we were doing in the spring — practice personal responsibility," Jahangir said. The decision to pause and reset is not an easy one.". Back on July 2, Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced that the city would be returning to a modified Phase 2 reopening, with bars once again forced to shut down for 14 days (which has since been extended through July 31). Health Director Michael Caldwell said during a conference call with members of the Metro Council that the city would immediately hire five Spanish-fluent workers so that contact tracers and health officials would be less reliant on translation services. Nashville bar owners have been frustrated with Mayor John Cooper forcing them to close their doors to patrons. All customers must be seated and bar counters remain closed. "We are hiring more to meet the demand," Caldwell said. When will pubs, bars and restaurants reopen? “You don’t have a right to spread the disease,” Cooper said. We will only move to the next phase if there is positive improvement/stability in the metrics for 14 days. Dr. James Hildreth, an infectious disease expert who leads Meharry Medical College, said the increase of the virus in Nashville dated as far back to Memorial Day, and that a person who was infected on that weekend could by now have been responsible for as many as 500 new infections. What does modified Phase 2 mean for Nashville? In response to the announcement, a group of Broadway and downtown entertainment businesses said the new order does nothing to help their employees and musicians who are stuggling financially due to the pandemic. Restaurants have also been ordered to take “social distancing” precautions, including spacing out tables and reducing capacity by 50%. Nashville entered its second phase of reopening on Monday, allowing limited live music performances to return to bars and restaurants. Nashville’s economy will open in four phases. "I love that all of these big names are opening places in Nashville because it has more places for people to spread out...but these adorable old Nashville bars are the BEST!" NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Bars and limited-service restaurants in Nashville and Davidson County can reopen Monday with a maximum of 25 customers, according to Mayor John Cooper. When bars do reopen, they will be mandated to close at 10 p.m., and all patrons will be required to be seated. Please don’t be a vector.". "... some people just dancing the night away at 200MPH...they were cranking...Nashville is a great fun city because of places like this...don't miss it if you get to Nashville...right on Broadway near 5th Avenue" He can be reached at 615-259-8287 or at brett.kelman@tennessean.com. At one point while the reporter was present, a Metro police officer who was wearing a mask entered the the store to buy a snack, then left without taking any action about the lack of masks on employees. Capacity restrictions will remain in place. Nashville’s downtown, with its many bars and music venues, is often packed with people. The City of Nashville has created the following plan to get the city back to work. In other words, if Nashville’s COVID-19 numbers stay in a holding pattern then Cooper will apparently stick with the script. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) —New rules easing COVID-19 restrictions on Nashville bars go into effect Monday. How schools are changing, and what you can do to help your child get the most from their education, in-person or virtual. In addition, we want to tell your stories of hope, inspiration, and creativity as Middle Tennessee starts to rebound. Cooper stressed that Nashville was not alone in moving backwards. More Nashville bars seeking to reopen … “We are still in a public health emergency. MORE TENNESSEE COVID-19 COVERAGE. Nashville is moving back to a modified version of Phase 2. The bar industry in Music City has been pleading to … “Let’s do our part, especially over the coming weekend when there will be a temptation to go back to old habits. with 3 full stories of live music, great food and great times, Honky Tonk Central is the destination stop when in Nashville. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT/WTVF) - Nashville bars will be allowed to reopen Monday, according to a report from WTVF. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The mayor of Tennessee's capital city says he plans to roll back restrictions that have shuttered bars, allowing them to reopen starting Monday with strict limits in place. All customers must be seated, and bar counters must remain closed. Live music is permitted, but dance floors are closed. Some of the latest restrictions – like capping restaurants at half capacity – haven’t been in use since the city transitioned out of phase one back in late May. This will get worse and we will lose this battle. Nashville bars prepare to reopen under new rules Duration: 02:02 8/17/2020 Nashville bars will be able to open on Monday as the city moves into a "modified phase two" of its reopening plan. "Don't Share Your Air" sign on Broadway in Nashville (FILE photo). Since May 1, the number of cases per day has ranged from 24 to 165, without a clear flattening or downward trend. 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