Advertisement Greenville City Council passes curfew for downtown to take effect this week Curfew will go into effect Wednesday at 11 p.m.

Greenville City Council members voted Monday to enact a curfew for the downtown area to help stop the spread of COVID-19.Council members passed a temporary emergency ordinance that enacts the curfew within the central business district of downtown Greenville.“It’s about dispersing people its not about incarcerating them or putting them in jail," Mayor Knox White said. "This is about reminding them to move along.”The curfew will be implemented beginning Wednesday, March 27, and will be enforced daily from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.The ordinance does not apply to individuals going to work or those with medical emergencies. The ordinance will expire on its own after 60 days. “In ordinary times, we would expect and encourage our residents and visitors to spend time enjoying our parks and socializing downtown, but these are extraordinary times. We cannot be casual about the consequences of spreading this virus,” Mayor Knox White said. “It’s been a little over a week since we took our first steps to address this public health crisis and the goal is the same as it was then, to keep COVID-19 from overtaking our community, by creating social distance.”In addition to the curfew, City Manager John McDonough temporarily closed Falls Park following reports of pick-up basketball and volleyball games in City parks and socializing along Main Street over the weekend. People are still allowed to walk along sidewalks and trails but are urged to "keep moving."“Unfortunately, there are people in our community who do not understand the severity of the circumstances and are ignoring the recommendations of health professionals,” said McDonough. “We know that this has been a trying time for our citizens, but the only way to avoid extreme measures here is to take it upon ourselves to stay at home, and go out only to purchase groceries and supplies, seek medical attention or maintain a healthy lifestyle through solitary exercise in open, outdoor spaces.”The ordinance required a two-thirds vote from council to pass, but it passed unanimously.The ordinance also closes Falls Park, effective Tuesday morning, the mayor said.THE LATEST: Coronavirus in the Carolinas, GeorgiaRead more on the coronavirus in WYFF 4's special section