Tucson, Arizona—Tucson Mayor, Regina Romero placed the city under a state of emergency on Tuesday to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The new measurement gives the government ability to restrict people’s movement and prepare for the possible community transmission and to slow the spread of COVID-19

According to City of Tucson, the mayor order will temporarily to close public gathering places, including restaurants, food courts, retail food facilities, bars, libraries and gyms and are being asked to enforce social distancing.

The order recommends increasing the use of delivery and drive-through services.

However, the restrictions do not apply to grocery stores, pharmacies, food banks, restaurants within health care facilities, vendors within the Tucson International Airport, banks and financial institutions.

Any person violating the prohibition will be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor.

“This morning, after consulting with business stakeholders, the City Attorney, and City Manager and I have made the determination that it is in the best interest of maintaining public health to suspend dine-in services in restaurants and food courts, and transition to delivery/pick-up only services. Bars, gyms, and other specific venues stated in the proclamation where groups of people congregate are directed to be closed through the end of the month,” Romero said in the statement. 

In addition to this, according to the proclamation of the Mayor, the town also urged the leaders of local houses of worship to limit gatherings on their premises as well as recommend the business owners and employee to practice social distancing and avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people.

In connection with the COVID-19 outbreak various cities and towns in Arizona had also declared a local emergency.