Based on recent coronavirus numbers in Forrest County, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker announced Wednesday the opening of dining rooms and outdoor eating spaces in restaurants will be delayed until at least next week.

Barker made the announcement in light of Gov. Tate Reeves’ decision Tuesday to provide a baseline for restaurants to open indoor/outdoor dining at 50 percent capacity beginning Thursday. The governor also allowed municipalities to continue using local data for more stringent regulations.

“I can’t ignore the surge we are seeing in our own community,” Barker said.

He cited three conditions:

  • The Forrest County five-day average of new positive cases is at an all-time high.
  • More people in the ICU this week have been COVID-positive patients than ever before.
  • Eight of the 18 COVID-related deaths in Forrest County have happened in the last eight days.

Barker said health, government and business officials will monitor the local coronavirus situation during the weekend.

“While I understand that no action we take will automatically bring down infection rates in the next few days, I do think it will afford us an opportunity to see where these numbers go,” he said. “We hope that numbers level off or start to fall. If that occurs, some type of communal dining could happen next week.”

Until then, restaurant must continue to provide service by curbside, delivery or take-out. Seating at facilities will remain closed.

Barker said he will be talking with restaurants on how to move forward.

“We are working on updated safety and cleanliness guidelines that will follow the governor’s executive order, the CDC and other best practices,” he said. “We have amazing leaders in our restaurant sector, and their resilience throughout this disappointing time is a testament to their strength and goodness. Please continue to support them with takeout and delivery options this week.”

Barker told residents he wants restaurants to open.

“The owners and establishments they have built are more than eateries,” he said. “They are economic drivers. They are institutions in our community, and many of them have taken massive losses to investments and livelihoods since this pandemic began. That isn’t lost on me, and quite frankly – it keeps me up at night.

“I know that I cannot affect every element of how and to whom this disease spreads or does not spread in our community. For a mayor, that’s a very helpless feeling. However, we do need to be willing to make rational decisions on when not to make an unsteady situation potentially worse.”

The sections of Gov. Reeves’ order regarding state parks, municipal parks and outdoor recreational activities will stand without additional restrictions beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 7.