Plano to ban restaurant dine-in services amid closures of bars, movie theaters, gyms as city responds to coronavirus

PLANO, TX – The city of Plano plans to shut down restaurant dine-in services and close movie theaters, gyms and bars starting 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, a step that is expected to last until at least March 27.

Plano City Council on Tuesday approved these new measures as part of the city’s public health emergency authority, which allows the city to take extraordinary action to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Council members also extended the city’s public health emergency until April 27, up from the seven-day length that was authorized on Monday.

As part of the emergency declaration, the city had already closed its libraries and recreation centers. Sports leagues were canceled, as were nonessential city commission and board meetings.

The city had also activated its emergency operations center.