March 15, 2020 – Gov. JB Pritzker announces that the state will order the closure of restaurants and bars effective at close of business, Monday, March 16. This restriction will be in place until March 30th.
The unprecedented move comes after the Governor encouraged people to avoid gathering in bars over the weekend. That warning was not heeded. “It wasn’t taken seriously when I warned about this. This is not a joke. No one is immune. You have a responsibility to act in everyone’s best interest,” said Pritzker.
Gov. Pritzker said that drive-through, curbside and delivery services will be allowed to continue. He added that state staff is still working through logistics on this action with the Illinois Restaurant Association.
Pritzker added “This was no easy choice to make. There are no easy decisions left to make. Every choice we make now is hard and comes with consequences.”
