The Coronavirus outbreak is causing concern and frustration for some businesses in Mississippi. MPB's Kobee Vance reports on how the pandemic is reshaping how companies do business.
As the Coronavirus spreads across the state, the manufacturing, retail and hospitality industries are concerned about their survival. Scott Waller with the Missississippi Economic Council says small businesses are going to struggle with a lack of customers.
"It's gonna be a difficult situation I'm afraid. I think that we're all concerned about making sure that we're able to do the things that we have to do to keep our businesses up and running, and for small businesses, but I think that the overall impact is just, it's way too early to have any inclination of what that may end up being."
During the lunch rush at Roosters restaurant in Jackson, about 20 people are eating. But according to General Manager Ashley Laskin, there are usually more than 100 people in the restaurant. She says concerns about the Coronavirus are changing the way they do business.
"We are just looking forward to pushing curbside to-go, because of food travels really well, and so we're just gonna push that and hope that that will be good for us."
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is urging more restaurants to follow these measures, and local bars are facing tough decisions. Ashley Dollar is the General Manager at Barrelhouse. She says business has dropped dramatically since the state's first Coronavirus case was announced last week.
"Everybody wants to stay home and be safe. You know sometimes, that might be the best solution for everybody for right now. I'd hoped that we wouldn't face the situation like some of these other cities where all the restaurants and bars would be forced to closed, but I do fear, we all fear, that that's coming."
As of midnight, all of Mississippi's state-regulated casinos have been ordered to close to limit the spread of disease.