Mayor David Holt announces modifications to proclamation of state of emergency

In an effort to limit social interactions and the spread of COVID-19, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt announced Tuesday at a news conference at Oklahoma City-County Health Department that bars, gyms and exercise facilities, theaters, and mall food courts as well as Remington Park's gaming area must close from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday through April 12. Restaurants and bars with food can continue serving takeout and delivery food and prepackaged alcohol, but the venues should remain closed to everyone except employees.

“Public health officials tell me this is the most serious pandemic our community has faced in the last half-century,” said Mayor Holt in a release posted on the city's website. “The loss of life in Oklahoma City would be profound if we did nothing.”

Under the terms of the state of emergency:

• All bars and similar venues without on-premises food (hookah bars, cigar bars and vaping lounges) must close from 5 p.m. today (March 17) through April 12.
• All bars and similar venues with on-premises food, breweries, restaurants and coffee shops may serve only take-out or delivery food, or pre-packaged alcohol authorized for sale under state law, from 12:01 a.m. March 18 through April 12. They must otherwise remain closed to everyone but employees.
• All athletic gyms, exercise facilities, movie theaters and shopping mall food courts must close from 12:01 a.m. March 18 through April 12.
• The Remington Park gaming area must close from 12:01 a.m. March 18 through April 12.
• Staff may still perform maintenance duties at these facilities.

The post also says, "A violation of the proclamation’s terms would be a class 'b' misdemeanor under City Code, punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $750."

Learn more at covid19.okc.gov.