Two Lincoln bars were ordered to close for 24 hours by the Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department over the weekend because of directed health measure violations. The closures call attention to the rules bars and restaurants are required to follow to operate safely.
The bars, located in downtown Lincoln, were both found to be in violation of social distancing and occupancy rules, despite hand-delivered reminders from the health department. Zoe Olson is the Executive Director of the Nebraska Restaurant Association and says while the majority of the bars and restaurants in the state are complying, the outliers can affect the livelihoods of those who are following the rules.
“There are rules and regulations that you follow in any business, and certainly those of them selling food and beverages to the public, you want to make sure you’re maintaining all of those health standards to make sure that your customers are safe,” Olson said.
She said bars face unique challenges, since patrons are typically closer together for longer periods of time than in restaurants. She said restaurants have done a great job complying with regulations, but have never really bounced back to where they were before the pandemic. She said consumer confidence in dining-in will make all the difference going forward, especially for those restaurants that do not typically rely on carryout options, which have helped keep some restaurants in business.
“We continue to be humbled and honored by all our communities where our fellow citizens, our fellow residents, decide to do takeout and carryout in greater amounts than they had before. That’s keeping restaurants going,” Olson said.
Olson said even if you don’t agree with the rules the restaurants and bars are following, be considerate and kind to the staff, since they are likely under a lot of stress as well.