Revised city-county curfews applied broadly for business

NATCHEZ. Miss. — The newly revised curfews for Natchez and Adams County allow people to travel to and from any lawfully operating business late at night. The original orders to stay indoors 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. remain in place, but the city and county boards have broadened the exemptions that had earlier just allowed essential workers to be out after hours.

“The new curfew creates a broader exemption for people traveling to, from and patronizing any lawfully operating business,”  said Adams County board attorney Scott Slover.

The Board of Supervisors on Monday revised the curfew it first imposed March 25 as the coronavirus pandemic flared up. The Natchez Board of Aldermen adopted a similar curfew exemption for the city today.

While the nighttime curfew is being broadly relaxed for any legitimate business-related outings, city and county officials were prompted to ease up because of the planned reopening of the Magnolia Bluffs Casino on Thursday. The Natchez casino plans to operate until 2 a.m. each night, said Mayor Darryl Grennell.

Magnolia Bluffs — one on Natchez’ largest business — closed March 16 along with Mississippi’s 25 other state-regulated casinos because of the coronavirus threat. While COVID-19 remains virulent, the casinos’ reopening Thursday will be with various state-imposed restrictions and mandates to ensure they’re disinfected and not crowded. The government regulations are similar to those put on other businesses, as most have been allowed to reopen their doors to customers.

Bars that don’t serve food and museums are about the only public places that remain closed by state order, said Gov. Tate Reeves. He said today that guidelines are being formulated for them to help curb the virus spread when they’re allowed to open their doors to patrons.

While the local curfew exemptions have been broadened, anybody under age 21 still cannot be out after 11 p.m. in the city. People also cannot be loitering outside late at night if not traveling to a business in the city or county.