JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) — Governor Tate Reeves issued a supplement to his executive order this week that allows cities and counties to ban dine-in service at restaurants as part of the effort to combat the coronavirus.
The original state order called for allowing dine-in service with no more than ten people inside the restaurant, and some mayors were under the impression cities had to change their bans.
For example, Tupelo eliminated its ban and moved to allowing limited dine-in service because of the state order.
"What it does [the state order] is scale Tupelo's executive orders back to comply with the governor's order," said Mayor Jason Shelton on Thursday.
However, during a news conference later in the day, Reeves said he did not intend for his order to step on local efforts to fight the virus.
He mentioned speaking Wednesday with Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill about her order, approved by aldermen, to ban dine-in service at restaurants and bars.
"She's perfectly in her authority to do so," said Reeves.
Under the supplement released Wednesday, local dine-in service bans on restaurants, bars and other businesses are okay with the state as long as they can offer carryout, curbside, drive-thru and/or delivery service.
The only thing local entities cannot do is enact measures less restrictive that the state. Also, existing local measures can stay in effect as long as they meet the standards of the state order and don't prevent essential services from operating.