The Nashville Health Department is making an exception to its mandated COVID-19 closing times for bars and restaurants on Monday night.
The department is allowing all Nashville bars and restaurants to stay open until 30 minutes after the completion of the Tennessee Titans' season opening game on Monday night, FOX 17 News reports.
Mayor John Copper announced the decision Friday, noting that it was made due to the city's recent successful effort to lower the spread of COVID-19.
"Thanks to our progress in lowering the spread of COVID-19, @NashvilleHealth approved an exception to extend restaurant & bar hours on Monday night to accommodate fans watching the first @Titans game," Cooper tweeted. "Restaurants/bars may remain open until 30 mins after the game."
Nashville has seen a drop in reported positive COVID-19 cases during recent weeks. On Friday, the Nashville Health Department reported just 21 new cases in a 24-hour span, brining the city's confirmed total to 27,009, which includes 984 active cases.
The Titans will kickoff their season Monday night against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The game will air live locally on FOX 17 and both locally and nationally on ESPN at 9:10 p.m. CST.
The Titans finished the 2019 NFL regular season second in the AFC South with a 9-7 overall record. Tennessee won consecutive road playoff games against the New England Patriots (20-13) and Baltimore Ravens (28-12) before being eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in a 35-24 loss in the AFC Championship Game.
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