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Local Restaurants and Bars Allowed to Reopen, Gov. Pritzker Says

 By Shayna Griffith


Image Credit: Joliet Herald-News

Gov. Pritzker gave Will and Kankakee County restaurants and bars the green light to resume serving indoor guests during a press conference on Friday morning. This means that Will and Kankakee Counties will return to Phase 4 starting this week.


In late August, restaurants and bars were ordered to temporarily end serving guests indoors as coronavirus cases increased in Will county, breaking the 8% threshold. However, as of Friday, Will and Kankakee Counties have reached the threshold to lift these restrictions as coronavirus cases decreased for three consecutive days with only a 5.6% positivity rate.


Many small businesses are celebrating these lifted restrictions in the Joliet area since the outdoor-only seating mitigations were damaging their business. The Joliet Area Restaurant and Bar Guide posted the news to its Facebook page on Friday morning: 


“Great News. Will County is back in business. Per Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health ... This means that the region is returned to Phase 4 at 5 p.m. today. Restaurants and bars can reopen for indoor dining and meetings, social events and gatherings can return to a limit of 50 people."


In his press conference, Gov. Pritzker described the communities’ committed efforts to keeping coronavirus cases low by taking restrictions seriously and staying home when ordered. “We can't outrun this virus,” he said, “but with the tools we know to work – masks, distancing, handwashing, and respect for public health and each other – we can beat it back enough to keep our businesses open and our neighborhoods safer all at once. Don't let up now, Region 7 – let's keep this success going."


But some business did just the opposite for the sake of staying open. Rick Thayer, owner of Joliet's Thayer Bros. Deli on Ruby Street, started serving indoor guests 5 days before the restrictions were even lifted. 


Coronavirus positivity rates will continue to be monitored in the upcoming weeks. If the percentage rate surpasses the 6.5% threshold, restaurants and bars will once again be restricted to outdoor seating only.


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