Will County Bars, Restaurants Can Reopen: Gov. Pritzker

JOLIET, IL — After going more than three weeks without the ability to serve indoor guests, coronavirus restrictions imposed on Joliet area bars and restaurants by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in late August have been lifted.

On Friday morning, Brian Bessler informed his nearly 15,000 Facebook followers on the Joliet Area Restaurant And Bar Guide that "WE ARE BACK!"

"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," he informed everyone.

On Friday morning, Pritzker's administration issued a news release stating that Region 7 had been moved to stricter mitigations following three consecutive days of a rolling positivity rate above 8 percent. As of Friday, Region 7 has reached the threshold to lift mitigations of three consecutive days of a rolling positivity rate below 6.5 percent, with Friday's rate at 5.6 percent.

This means that as of 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, indoor dining and bar service can resume along with larger gathering sizes as outlined in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.

"Today, Region 7 – Will and Kankakee Counties – will return to the standard Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan because residents chose to be all in for each other, for their small businesses, for their bars and restaurants, for their kids, for their neighbors,” said Governor JB Pritzker in a statement issued around 11 a.m. “Let that be a testament to the power of a community that embraces doctor-recommended mitigations proven to reduce risk and slow the spread. We can’t outrun this virus, 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.”

On Thursday, Joliet Patch produced an exclusive revealing that a number of Joliet area restaurants were no longer following the governor's rules. Rick Thayer, owner of Joliet's Thayer Bros. Deli on Ruby Street, started serving indoor restaurant guests at the start of this week.

Following the announcement that Region 7 mitigation measures were lifted, State Senator Michael E. Hastings, a Democrat from Frankfort, released a statement.

“Three weeks ago, enhanced mitigation measures were placed on Will County and Region 7. Our local businesses and municipalities were forced into an extreme and dire situation. With the hard work and discipline of Will County residents, the COVID-19 infection rate has decreased to a point where the enhanced mitigation measures will be lifted effective at 5 p.m. this evening," Hastings announced.

“I want to thank our businesses and chambers of commerce for their feedback and involvement throughout this process. Listening to our local leaders is essential to effective leadership. For those businesses still struggling, I encourage you to visit the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s website for information on the Business Interruption Grant program.

“Moreover, I could not be more proud of our people for coming together and taking proper precautions. As we move forward, our local businesses cannot afford another setback. We must remain vigilant for the sake of economic recovery and public health.”

Syl's Reacts To News Of Indoor Dining's Return