Carolina Watershed and five other businesses closed for COVID-19 violations – Commercial Appeal

As new COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations continue to climb rapidly, the county health department has dialed up enforcement of the 15th health directive, which contains stronger language around masking, imposes a 10 p.m. cap on hours of operation, and limits building capacities.

On Tuesday, Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter confirmed six businesses were closed over the weekend for violating portions of the health directive.

Carolina Watershed in Downtown Memphis;Chardonnay Bistro on Hacks Cross;El Corral on Macon Road;Agavos on Walnut Grove;Legacy Bar & Grill on U.S. Hwy 70;and Smoker's Abbey on North Germantown Parkway were all closed over the weekend, the health department confirmed.

It's unclear how long the businesses will stay closed, but recent closures of restaurantsand venueslike In Love Memphis that repeatedly violated the health directive lasted for two weeks.

The health department would not elaborate on specific violations, but a department spokesperson said the closures occurred after repeated, documented violations.

The businesses can petition the health department to reopen, but must first submit a plan for coming into compliance with the health directive.

Of the thousands of inspections carried out since the start of the pandemic, Haushalter saidmost businesses in Shelby County are doing everything they can to stay in compliance with the health directive, but"there are always a few businesses that are not compliant."

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Corrective measures from the health department in response to directive violations can vary. Sometimes, it's a matter of the health department providing education and technical assistance so the business can be brought into compliance.

Other times, Haushalter said, businesses have to close.

When asked if tighter business restrictions could be underway, Haushalter said the health department has begun drafting a new health directive, but for now, the focus of the new directive will be clarifying language considered vague or confusing by business owners, particularly around events.

On Tuesday, neither Haushalter nor Randolph indicated tighter restrictions were imminent, as new case counts continue to surge in part from Thanksgiving gatherings.

Instead, the public health officials reiterated a message they haveattempted to hammer home consistently in the course of the pandemic individual responsibility.

"Truthfully fellow citizens, it's up to you as an individual to determine what steps you will take to ensure that you are safe, that you are healthy, and that you do not become infected with the virus," Randolph said.

As of Tuesday, the seven-day average for new cases in Shelby County rose to 670 per day. Hospitals, now strained from a surge in patients with COVID-19, collectively have 3% of intensive care rooms and 9% of acute care rooms left.

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Carolina Watershed and five other businesses closed for COVID-19 violations - Commercial Appeal