Public Health Order Affecting Dane County Restaurants And Others Effective March 16, 2020

Jeff Storch | 03.16.20

The Madison & Dane County Public Health Officer issued an order on March 15, 2020, effective as of 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 16, limiting public and private gatherings of 50 or more people, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The order broadly prohibits all ​“Mass Gatherings,” defined as any event or convening that brings together or is likely to bring together 50 or more people in a single room or single confined or enclosed space at the same time.

The order provides several exceptions but imposes various requirements to meet the exceptions. Restaurants and other retail food establishments (grocery stores, convenience stores, farmer’s markets) are exempt as long as the guidelines listed below are followed: 

a. Operate at 50% of seating capacity; 

b. Preserve social distancing of six feet between tables, booths, bar stools, and ordering counters; 

c. Cease self-service operations of salad bars and buffets; and 

d. Prohibit customers from self-dispensing all unpackaged food. 

• Restaurant/Hospitality