T-R Photo by Thomas Nelson An hour before Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Public Health Proclamation went into effect people sat at The Tremont.

Shortly after Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a public health emergency Tuesday morning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, area businesses braced for the impact.

The proclamation orders restaurants to only offer delivery, take-out and drive through service until March 31.

“It’s kind of a shock,” said JP Howard, owner of The Tremont in downtown Marshalltown. “It basically puts us out of business for two weeks.”

The proclamation came as Iowa has its 23rd confirmed case of COVID-19 a virus which has spawned a pandemic around the world killing thousands and infecting almost 200,000 people world-wide.

Howard found about the proclamation around 11 a.m. when there were still 10 or more people in the Tremont.

T-R PHOTO BY THOMAS NELSON Wendy Mohler, Jack’s Pho House owner, tells Bach Giang and Thi Nguyen the restaurant will close in an hour as a result of the state of emergency declared in Iowa.

“The governor just shut us down,” Howard told one of the patrons as he found out the news.

The Tremont has encouraged take-out and delivery services recently.

“We’ll just have to switch gears,” Howard said. “Obviously we’ll have to work with fewer people.”

The regulars, who have supported The Tremont for years, will have their life disrupted, Howard said.

He’s been watching the impact of COVID-19 on nearby states and seeing the restaurant closures there as well.

“We hope that the government will help the people,” Howard said. “That’s what I worry about.”

He plans to keep The Tremont open as long as he can.

“If no comes and no one orders, how long do you stay open?” Howard said. “It’s going to be hard.”

This is the first time The Tremont has been closed since the 2018 tornado, which shut the restaurant down for seven weeks.

Insurance was able to help support The Tremont then.

“It would really help us if the Governor would have insurance companies compensate us for business interruption,” Howard said. “Because right now the insurance companies won’t do it unless they’re made to do it.”

The closure order comes on St. Patrick’s Day, which regularly brings a large amount of business to local bars and pubs.

Next to The Tremont is the Fiddle and Whistle Irish Pub.

“It’s a big day for them, one of their biggest days and it’s done they can’t do anything,” Howard said.

Wendy Mohler, owner of Jack’s Pho House, expected the closure.

“I was waiting for it,” Mohler said. “I just don’t want to have to close. We can’t really afford to close.”

A lot of Jack’s Pho House’s business is through delivery and take-out, she said.

Leona Wallen, owner of Your Plate or Mine, was worried about the future of her catering and restaurant as the news came down from Des Moines.

“I agree we need to do what we need to do to save lives,” Wallen said. “I’m gonna go two weeks without income.”

Reynold’s proclamation went into effect at noon and also closes all theaters, casinos and gatherings of 10 or more people.

Vehicle regulation requiring registration and licenses have also been relaxed.

“It’s strange times,” Howard said. “The governor’s closed us.”

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Contact Thomas Nelson at (641)753-6611 or tnelson@timesrepublican.com