Mulligans in Lima is more than thrilled to be able to keep their doors open late into the night. What they say they missed most, though, was seeing some of their regulars come into the bar to relax after a hard day's work. Instead of having to close and have everyone out by 11P.M., they can sell alcohol all the way up until 2A.M. again, and will close at 2:30A.M. Restaurants that aren’t really known for their nightlife are also excited to get a taste of normalcy back, even if it won't affect their hours too much. Rob Nelson at the MET says people seem to feel safer and happier coming out. 

The curfew, which took place between midnight to 5 PM, was previously set to expire on February 11, 2021. The Ohio Governor previously stated that if COVID-19 hospitalization numbers were to stay below 2,500 for seven straight days, he would lift the curfew. Thursday marked the seventh day in a row with hospitalizations below 2,500. The total number of COVID-19 patients in Ohio hospitals on Thursday was set at 1,862.

After COVID-19 hospitalizations stayed under 3,500 for over a week straight, DeWine decided that it was time to loosen the curfew on the state and extend it an hour. Instead of restaurants and businesses having to close their doors and make sure customers are out by 10 P.M., they now have until 11 P.M. to do it. While the new curfew does offer some wiggle room for closing at night, some restaurants are unsure if they want to make the move and extend their official hours of operation.

Currently, Ohio has a curfew order in effect from 10 PM-5 AM in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 in late night gatherings. However, new information shared today during the governor's press conference could shorten those hours. If the State of Ohio has seven straight days of hospitalizations below 3,500, a new curfew order would only start at 11 PM for at least two weeks.

As the curfew is will go into effect, it will affect local musicians who receive income from performing at local bars and restaurants. One local musician Chris Brokamp had an upcoming performance at Zinum 12, which has been canceled as the bar has canceled all upcoming performances during the curfew.

With the end of the school year upon us area law enforcement wants to remind parents and students that curfews will be changing soon.

Now that summer is winding down, the curfew hours in the city of Lima have been adjusted for the school year.