Mayor Tom Barrett announced on Thursday that the City of Milwaukee will allow bars and restaurants to reopen beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 5. 

In their regular coronavirus conference call, Barrett noted that bars and restaurants will be able to open for outdoor and indoor dining – however, with a 25 percent capacity limit for indoor dining as well as precautions and social distancing for outdoor dining.

According to WISN 12, in addition to bars and restaurants, the new revised order will allow businesses to open to 50 percent capacity (with a maximum of 250), childcare centers to 50 percent capacity, and public and private events to 50 percent capacity (with a maximum of 250) – with social distancing practices and masks still encouraged. 

The City of Milwaukee has been under a "Stay at Home" order due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak since March 25. The original "Stay at Home" order, issued by Commissioner of Health Jeanette Kowalik, was then replaced by a revised version after the state's "Safer at Home" order was struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in May, opening up some businesses with COVID-fighting regulations while keeping bars and restaurants closed save for curbside and delivery orders. 

Many City of Milwaukee bar and restaurant owners were growing frustrated with the extended closings and lack of progress, to the point of several bars and restaurants threatening to open – even if only for a short period of time – on Monday if Barrett had no definitive plan by Friday, June 5.

Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more updates.