46.4 F
Oxford

Oxford Restaurants Granted Extra Hour on Gameday Weekends

Restaurants in Oxford will now be able to stay open until 11 p.m. on home football game weekends.

On Tuesday, the Oxford Board of Aldermen voted during a special called meeting to keep the original 10 p.m. closing time in place. However, in a second vote, the Board approved allowing restaurants to stay open for an extra hour on game day weekends.

Earlier this week, the New York Times published a list entitled, “Where the Outbreak is Worst Now,” that depicted Oxford as being No. 3 in the nation in terms of COVID-19 case hot spot relative to population size.

From the New York Times

During the meeting, Alderman Janice Antonow asked Emergency Management Coordinator Jimmy Allgood if he agreed with the New York Times’ information.

“Yes, as far as hot spots go and based on population,” he said. “The state overall is going down, but we as a county are going up.”

Allgood said that in the last 15 days, Oxford and Lafayette County have gained 614 new cases.

“That is 34% of our total cases since March,” he said.

As of Tuesday, there have been 1,791 cases in Lafayette County since March.

Contact tracing has shown that much of the increase in positive cases have come from large, social gatherings and are not being traced back to restaurants, according to conversations with the Mississippi State Dept of Health and from local clinic directors and physicians, Tannehill said.

Tannehill told Hottytoddy.com prior to the meeting on Tuesday that full-time residents and businesses have done an “incredible job” since March in being diligent in following the safety protocols in place.

“This has kept our positive case numbers manageable for our health care system … A month ago, Baptist was reporting about an average of 50 patients a day that were COVID patients. They are averaging around 20 a day this week,” she said.

Tannehill said during the meeting that she had spoken with Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi officials who reported that the majority of new cases have not required hospitalizations.

“We have 24 beds in our ICU and as of today, we had 10 people in ICU, six with COVID-19,” she said. “We have a total of 181 staffed beds in the hospital and as of today, 65 are available. There are 29 people in the hospital with COVID-19. Overall, hospitalizations for COVID-19 are down, and I think that is a direct correlation to the age group where we are seeing the large increases.”

Tannehill also said Chancellor Glenn Boyce called her Tuesday to discuss recent Bid Day activities on campus, where social media posts have shown large groups of students in close contact while not wearing masks. Tannehill claimed Boyce admitted that a university official granted permission for the Bid Day activities to happen.

“He was just sick that it happened,” she said. “The University is a great partner to us, but unfortunately, they dropped the ball on this one.”

According to Charlotte Pegues, Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the fraternities received guidance from a staff member in Student Affairs that allowed new members to arrive and exit dinner in shifts so that they could coordinate a group photo in front of their chapter houses before dispersing.

“While masks were required, the guidance included the option to remove masks momentarily for a photo,” she said in a statement Wednesday. “Members of our Student Affairs staff will review approval processes so that this type of guidance is not provided again.”

Tannehill stated that she did not think imposing further restrictions on businesses and citizens would help curb an increase in cases. In her opinion, stopping the spread will come down to young people taking the virus seriously and following mandates in place. She pointed out that 26 veterans died in recent weeks at the Oxford Veterans Home.

“We’re not worried about numbers increasing,” she said. “We care about our people … We need everyone to care.”

The Oxford Police Department has issued 42 citations since August to people and businesses violating city ordinances in regard to gatherings, including 11 over the Labor Day weekend.

The board is developing ways for restaurants to offer more outdoor dining, including blocking off several parking spots around the Square and allowing restaurants to put tables and chairs in nearby alleys.

On Tuesday, State Health Official Thomas Dobbs reported the one person under the age of 20 has died from COVID-19, and that Mississippi counties with universities, like Lafayette County, are the only counties to see a rise in cases recently.

“We’ve seen that 62 counties are shrinking in their number of new cases,” he said. “Twenty have increased. In Lafayette County and Oktibbeha County, they have the distinction of having major universities. We’ll certainly continue to watch that closely and continue to work with those leaders to fight coronavirus in our universities.”

Also on Tuesday, the Board approved extending the suspension of the city’s ordinance to allow restaurants and businesses to have additional signage to promote curbside and outdoor dining options.

Director of mTrade Park Brad Freeman also reported that only 25-30 tickets will be issued per team during tournaments, which will max out the number of spectators at 240 per quad.


Most Popular

Recent Comments

scamasdscamith on News Watch Ole Miss
Frances Phillips on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Grace Hudditon on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Millie Johnston on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Binary options + Bitcoin = $ 1643 per week: https://8000-usd-per-day.blogspot.com.tr?b=46 on Beta Upsilon Chi: A Christian Brotherhood
Jay Mitchell on Reflections: The Square
Terry Wilcox SFCV USA RET on Oxford's Five Guys Announces Opening Date
Stephanie on Throwback Summer
organized religion is mans downfall on VP of Palmer Home Devotes Life to Finding Homes for Children
Paige Williams on Boyer: Best 10 Books of 2018
Keith mansel on Cleveland On Medgar Evans
Debbie Nader McManus on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: The Last of His Kind
Richard Burns on A William Faulkner Sighting
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Ruby Begonia on Family Catching Rebel Fever
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
jeff the busy eater on Cooking With Kimme: Baked Brie
Travis Yarborough on Reflections: The Square
BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH on Oxford is About to Receive a Sweet Treat
baby travel systems australia on Heaton: 8 Southern Ways to Heckle in SEC Baseball
Rajka Radenkovich on Eating Oxford: Restaurant Watch
Richard Burns on Reflections: The Square
Guillermo Perez Arguello on Mississippi Quote Of The Day
A Friend with a Heavy Heart on Remembering Dr. Stacy Davidson
Harold M. "Hal" Frost, Ph.D. on UM Physical Acoustics Research Center Turns 30
Educated Citizen on Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Debbie Crenshaw on Trump’s Tough Road Ahead
Treadway Strickland on Wicker Looks Ahead to New Congress
Tony Ryals on parking
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
C. Scott Fischer on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Sylvia Williams on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Will Patterson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Rick Henderson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
George L Price on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
on
Morgan Shands on Cleveland: On Ed Reed
Richard McGraw on Cleveland: On Cissye Gallagher
Branan Southerland on Gameday RV Parking at HottyToddy.com
Tom and Randa Baddley on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
26 years and continuously learning on Ole Miss Puts History In Context With Plaque
a Paterson on Beyond Barton v. Barnett
Phil Higginbotham on ‘Unpublished’ by Shane Brown
Bettina Willie@www.yahoo.com.102Martinez St.Batesville,Ms.38606 on Bomb Threat: South Panola High School Evacuated This Morning
Anita M Fellenz, (Emilly Hoffman's CA grandmother on Ole Miss Spirit Groups Rank High in National Finals
Marilyn Moore Hughes on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
Jaqundacotten@gmail williams on HottyToddy Hometown: Hollandale, Mississippi
Finney moore on Can Ole Miss Grow Too Big?
diane faulkner cawlley on Oxford’s Olden Days: Miss Annie’s Yard
Phil Higginbotham on ‘November 24’ by Shane Brown
Maralyn Bullion on Neely-Dorsey: Hog Killing Time
Beth Carr on A Letter To Mom
Becky on A Letter To Mom
Marilyn Tinnnin on A Letter To Mom
Roger ulmer on UM Takes Down State Flag
Chris Pool on UM Takes Down State Flag
TampaRebel on UM Takes Down State Flag
david smith on UM Takes Down State Flag
Boyd Harris on UM Takes Down State Flag
Jim (Herc @ UM) on Cleveland: Fall Vacations
Robert Hollingsworth on Rebels on the Road: Memphis Eateries
David McCullough on Shepard Leaves Ole Miss Football
Gayle G. Henry on Meet Your 2015 Miss Ole Miss
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Neely-Dorsey: Elvis Presley’s Big Homecoming
Jennifer Mooneyham on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Wes McIngvale on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
BARRY MCCAMMON on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
Laughing out Loud on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Dr.Bill Priester on Cleveland: On Bob Priester
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
paulette holmes langbecker on Cofield on Oxford – Rising Ole Miss Rookie
Ruth Shipp Yarbrough on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Karllen Smith on ‘Rilee’ by Shane Brown
Jean Baker Pinion on ‘The Cool Pad’ by Shane Brown
Janet Hollingsworth (Cavanaugh) on John Cofield on Oxford: A Beacon
Proud Mississippi Voter on Gunn Calls for Change in Mississippi Flag
Deloris Brown-Thompson on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Sue Ellen Parker Stubbs on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Karen fowler on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Don't Go to Law School on Four Legal Rebels Rising in the Real World
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
Joanne and Mark Wilkinson on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Mary Ellen (Dring) Gamble on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Cyndy Carroll on Filming it Up in Mississippi
Dottie Dewberry on Top 10 Secret Southern Sayings
Brother Everett Childers on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Mark McElreath on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Bill Wilkes, UM '57, '58, '63 on A Letter from Chancellor Dan Jones
Sandra Caffey Neal on Mississippi Has Proud Irish Heritage
Teresa Enyeart, and Terry Enyeat on Death of Ole Miss Grad, U.S. Vet Stuns Rebel Nation
P. D. Fyke on Wells: Steelhead Run
Johnny Neumann on Freeze Staying with Rebels
Maralyn Bullion on On Cooking Southern: Chess Pie
Kaye Bryant on Henry: E. for Congress
charles Eichorn on Hotty Tamales, Gosh Almighty
Jack of All Trades on Roll Over Bear Bryant
w nadler on Roll Over Bear Bryant
Stacey Berryhill on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
John Appleton on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Charlotte Lamb on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Two True Mississippi Icons
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Jeanette Berryhill Wells on HottyToddy Hometown: Senatobia, Mississippi
Tire of the same ole news on 3 "Must Eat" Breakfast Spots in Oxford
gonna be a rebelution on Walking Rebel Fans Back Off the Ledge
Nora Jaccaud on Rickshaws in Oxford
Martha Marshall on Educating the Delta — Or Not
Nita McVeigh on 'I'm So Oxford' Goes Viral
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on How a Visit to the Magnolia State Can Inspire You
Charlie Fowler Jr. on Prawns? In the Mississippi Delta?
Martha Marshall on A Salute to 37 Years of Sparky
Sylvia Hartness Williams on Oxford Approves Diversity Resolution
Jerry Greenfield on Wine Tip: Problem Corks
Cheryl Obrentz on I Won the Lottery! Now What?
Bnogas on Food for the Soul
Barbeque Memphis on History of Tennessee Barbecue
Josephine Bass on The Delta and the Civil War
Nicolas Morrison on The Walking Man
Pete Williams on Blog: MPACT’s Future
Laurie Triplette on On Cooking Southern: Fall Veggies
Harvey Faust on The Kream Kup of the Krop
StarReb on The Hoka
Scott Whodatty Keetereaux Keet on Hip Hop — Yo or No, What’s Your Call
Johnathan Doeman on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
Andy McWilliams on The Warden & The Chief
Kathryn McElroy on Think Like A Writer
Claire Duff Sullivan on Alert Dogs Give Diabetics Peace of Mind
Jesse Yancy on The Hoka
Jennifer Thompson Walker on Ole Miss, Gameday From The Eyes of a Freshman
HottyToddy.com