Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson is ordering that all restaurants within city limits operate as take-out and delivery only and that all entertainment venues, including movie theaters and bowling alleys, close their doors starting Monday to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

"We do not believe that (people) gathering or congregating in these areas can do anything but help the spread of COVID," Robinson said.

The mayor's order also suspends "social visits" to all nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family-care homes, long-term care facilities and adult group homes.

Movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys, arcades and other entertainment venues in the city are ordered closed for two weeks, though many had already decided on their own to close.

The mayor's order closes on-site services — but not delivery, pickup and take-out — at not only restaurants, but also at bars, taverns, pubs, nightclubs, banquet halls, cocktail lounges, cabarets, breweries, cafeterias and any other alcohol or food establishment with seating for more than eight people.

The mayor's order comes on top of the previous order from Gov. Ron DeSantis to close all bars in the state for 30 days and limit restaurants statewide to operating at 50% capacity.

The mayor's order will go into effect starting at 12:01 a.m. Monday and will last for two weeks.

The order does not apply to restaurants that are "ancillary" to other essential service such as the airport or hospitals. It also does not apply to grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and convenience stores.

Robinson announced the executive order at a press conference Thursday afternoon with Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May and Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County.

"It pains me to make this decision today, but I think it is the right decision in the interest of our community health," Robinson said.

The mayor's order can be enforced by police, but Robinson said he believed that wouldn't be necessary and that business owners will comply.

"We're asking for their compliance," he said.

Robinson warned restaurant owners earlier this week during his regular weekly press conference Monday that they needed to prepare for the possibility of the executive order. He said he was waiting to put the order into effect until this coming Monday to give business owners time to transition.

"We're trying to provide time for everybody to get transitioned to what they need to do," Robinson said. "But we think by Monday, it's time for us to be there."

The mayor said he made the decision to issue the order after consulting with local hospitals, and he believes the move is necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect local hospital capacity.

While private institutions like Ascension Sacred Heart have stepped up testing, results of those tests are still pending. Still, health care officials were worried Friday that community spread could already be occurring undetected.

"I think I speak for all three health care systems, we are seeing some increase in those cases of pneumonia and respiratory illness," West Florida Hospital CEO Gay Nord said at the press conference.

May said the Escambia County Commission will be hold an emergency meeting at 11 a.m. Friday to discuss if the county will follow the city's lead.

May said he supports Robinson's decision for the city, but would did not commit either way when asked if he thought the county should institute a similar order.

"We're certainly going to adhere to the advice of the CDC, the state, the federal government, and our health care providers, and making sure that we bring about the most productive way of helping our citizens here in Escambia County," May said.

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.