Release Date: March 15,2020

Closings Due to COVID-19: Statement from Mayor Daniel Horrigan

“Like cities across the nation, Akron is in the midst of a state of emergency with ever-changing circumstances, due to the COVID-19 virus. Almost daily, the State of Ohio is taking aggressive measures to control the impact of this pandemic here in Ohio. Today, Governor DeWine has announced the closing of all restaurants and bars, with the exception of offering takeout and delivery food, effective beginning at 9pm this evening. This bold mandate, although disruptive to our daily routines and extremely straining on our local businesses, has been enacted for the public health and welfare of our community. As Mayor of Akron, I strongly support Governor DeWine in these efforts.

As we enforce this mandate, I have asked our public safety forces to be prepared to increase their focus on crowd control and protection of property for the safety of all our citizens. With that said, it is imperative that we still support those businesses that have carryout, delivery and drive-thru options.

Additionally, City of Akron leadership and management is working diligently to simultaneously assure that we can maintain our essential City functions to serve the needs of our community and also enforce protocols to best protect our workforce from exposure to COVID-19. We will promptly communicate any adjustments to City services if and when they arise.

As we move forward in the days ahead, I am asking every Akron citizen to change your daily behaviors in order to combat this pandemic, knowing that even more disruptions may occur in the days and weeks ahead. Please heed the warning of our local, state and federal health officials. Doing so is the ultimate socially generous act and the most selfless of community gestures. Your responsible actions now can help save lives. In this moment, we have a duty to our community and to each other—now, more than ever.”