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As restaurants and businesses close because of coronavirus concerns, chefs adapt

Mayor Keisha Lance bottoms ordered all bars and restaurant dining rooms to close, effective midnight.

ATLANTA — Wednesday night was the last night you could drink in a bar or eat in a restaurant dinning room in the city of Atlanta.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order closing dining rooms and gyms. Restaurants can still offer take-out or delivery options.

When Chef Jun Narite couldn't work, he wondered how he would make ends meet.

“I thought, ‘what am I going to do? I have bills to pay,’” Jun said.

RELATED: Atlanta Mayor: All gyms, bars, restaurant dining rooms must close until further notice

So he took his Kirkwood Neighborhood Facebook page and offered take out meals for a donation.

“I feel so happy to cook for everyone. And to introduce them to thai food,” said Jun.

On twitter, Bottoms stressed this kind of drastic measure would be necessary.

“The fate of cities across the globe will be upon soon if we do not follow recommendations on ways to slow the spread of Coronavirus,” the mayor tweeted.

Atlanta is now the 4th city in Georgia to enact such a ban on in-person dining.

Governor Brian Kemp says he currently has no plans to enact a similar measure statewide.

RELATED: Coronavirus live updates: APS superintendent reports district's first COVID-19 case

The popular restaurant, Slutty Vegan, used creative social media videos to announce they’ve signed up with Uber Eats to allow for deliveries.

While the executive order doesn’t force retail businesses to close, many like Art Bath Soul, in Virginia Highlands, shut down voluntarily.

The owner, Catina Stavroulakis, says she plans to allow shopping by appointment.

In the meantime, she’s started selling “social distancing kits” featuring aroma therapy, online only.

She’s selling them on her website for $20, including free shipping.

“I’ve been thinking of my own finances, but I’m also very concerned about my staff,” Stavroulakis said.

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