Posted: 3/21/2020 4:07:32 PM

Following what other cities have done within the past week, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls took steps to close restaurants and bars to reduce person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 and combat the spread of this disease. The City Councils of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls held Special Council Meetings on Saturday, March 21st to pass ordinances granting emergency powers to the Mayors during a public health emergency.

Mayor Steve Widmyer and Mayor Ron Jacobson have ordered the closure of restaurants and bars to dine in service in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls beginning at 12 a.m., Monday, March 23rd for 14 days unless extended, terminated or modified.

During that time All bars, taverns, nightclubs, private liquor clubs, taprooms, tasting rooms, mobile bars, cabarets and saloons, as well as all other alcohol licensed premises for by the glass sales of alcoholic beverages shall close to members, guests, patrons, customers, and the general public. All restaurants and dine-in food service whether inside or outside the establishment, is prohibited. Restaurants and dine-in service means any eating establishment including, but not limited to, coffee shops, cafes, private dining clubs, and cafeterias that give or offer for sale food to the public, guests or employees. Restaurants may not admit members, guests, patrons or customers inside the establishment except to pick up food for take-out. Curbside take-out, drive-through food service and food trucks (in addition to pickup service as noted above) are permitted. Delivery food service is permitted.

Where possible on-line and telephonic credit card transactions are strongly encouraged and cash payments are strongly discouraged.

This does not apply to emergency overnight or day shelters that provide food service to persons experiencing homelessness, grocery stores, and gas stations.