COVID-19 Prevention! Bars & Restaurants in Illlinois, including Chicago Closed Until 30 March
COVID-19 Prevention! Bars & Restaurants in Illlinois (USA), including Chicago Closed Until 30 March
Mangaluru: A phone call this morning made to my friend, Ajay Patel, who owns two Indian restaurants on Devon Avenue aka Indian Town, in Chicago USA, where I was his regular customer years ago, revealed that as of Monday 16 March night, all bars and restaurants in Illinois have to close their doors to dine-in customers from the end of business Monday night through March 30, as per orders of Governor of Illinois State JB Pritzker, due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Patel said, “I know that I will losing a huge revenue, in the same time It’s really hard to operate under the current conditions, however, I think it’s really important to follow our Governor’s orders,”.
Sources reveal that a normally busy stretch of popular dinner spots in downtown Chicago is now empty, as the 250,000 restaurants and bars across the state of Illinois-USA prepare for mandated closures during the COVID-19 chaos. As of 9:00 p.m. Monday, the businesses were no longer able to service dine-in patrons in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, many are hoping customers will still call in for delivery or takeout orders. After images of packed bars and restaurants over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend spread, so did the concern over increased virus.
Sources reveal that Pritzker made the announcement during the latest briefing on the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois Sunday afternoon. Under the order, all restaurants and bars will not be open to the public, although employees can still go in. Drive-through and pickup services will still be allowed. It comes after crowds of people descended on downtown Chicago to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Saturday, contrary to recommendations from Pritzker and health officials.
As per sources, the Governor had said, “There are no easy decisions left to make as we address this unprecedented crisis. As your governor I can’t allow the gravity of these decisions from taking the measures that the science and the experts say will keep people safe. I tried earlier this week to appeal to everyone’s good judgement to stay home, to avoid bars, not to congregate in crowds. It’s unfortunate that many people didn’t take that seriously. The time for persuasion and public appeals is over. The time for action is here.”
In the meantime, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city would enforce the measures announced by Pritzker, while trying to find ways to mitigate any long-term effects the closures could have. “I think and I hope people recognize and understand these decisions are being made for the long-term well-being and health of everyone, Lightfoot said. “If we were to delay the inevitable we would be putting every one’s health in jeopardy.” While Lightfoot said she gets the tradition of St. Patrick’s Day, she asked people stay home on the actual date of the holiday this Tuesday, March 17. “I do not want to see hordes of people out in the streets. The bars will be shut, so please: stay home and be safe,” Lightfoot said.
Chicago officials announced restrictions limiting the capacity of bars and restaurants that sell liquor across the city. Now, those and other dining establishments will all be closed to customers until March 30. It should be noted that Chicago being a Port of Entry among few other cities, where a large number of immigrants from different parts of the world come in- and Chicago is a place you can find all kinds of restaurants serving world food, and ethnic restaurants are spread all over the City.
