Birmingham City Council will introduce a series of legally enforceable measures from Wednesday to try and contain the spread of coronavirus.
The changes, which mostly make previus recommendations enforceable by law, come after consultation with the UK government over a recent spike in case numbers in the city.
Although figures in recent days seem to suggest the number of cases were coming down.
The new powers will allow the Council and Police to investigate reports of business premises which are failing to comply with Covid-secure risk assessments - and issue fines.
They will allow local council chiefs to restrict access to, or close bars or restaurants if they are deemed to be creating a risk.
It will also give the council powers to prohibit certain types of event taking place on the basis of a maximum event size, including life events such as weddings or funerals.
Though the council has said that there is no intention to change the numbers of people that can attend those events.
It will also give officials the power to restrict access to, or close, public outdoor places if there is a public health need to.
Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council said: “While the recent figures show our rates are going down, we cannot be complacent."
He said that "staying disciplined now is a price worth paying when compared to the cost of damaging the future life chances of our City’s children – which may happen if there is a spike in the rate of infections and schools have to close, or parents do not send them due to concerns about the potential risk"
He added: "No one wants to see a continual ‘stop, start’ approach as to what citizens can do and where they can go, least of all our business community.
"Most of whom are adhering to the guidance and are doing all they can to keep our citizens safe. For those that are not we are now enacting powers to ensure that they do.
"These new powers will allow us to intervene when businesses are putting staff and customers at risk of infection. By all working together to take action now, we can hopefully bring the numbers down, prevent further restrictions and protect the health and jobs of people across the city."
