St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina Tuesday issued an executive order placing new late-night closing limits on bars and restaurants in the city to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
St. Charles bars and restaurants will be required to close by midnight Monday through Sunday effective at midnight Friday.
“The goal is to avoid our area regressing under mitigation efforts or returning to phase three of the Restore Illinois Plan,” Rogina said in a news release.
The mayor is concerned with a fluctuation of cases in the region, he said. State officials on Monday announced stricter regulations beginning Wednesday in Will and Kankakee counties at restaurants, bars and casinos to slow the spread of COVID-19 there.
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“It’s in the late-night hours that following proper social distancing and other public health recommendations tend to become more lax. Signs are pointing to backsliding to phase three if we don’t do something now. I want St. Charles to do its part in helping slow the spread of COVID-19 in our area,” Rogina said.
Earlier this month, Kane County was added to an Illinois Department of Public Health Watch List for significant increases of COVID-19 transmission. While Kane County was removed from the list Aug. 21, the warning highlights the need to remain vigilant and act proactively to keep the metrics down, according to Rogina.
“I’ve thought long and hard about this,” Rogina said. “I feel this action is in the best interest of the health and safety of the public. I want to take a measured approach and keep our area moving in the right direction. I ask everyone to follow recommendations to wear a mask, watch your distance and wash your hands.”
All of the city’s late-night liquor permits will be temporarily suspended as of midnight Friday. The city plans to refund late-night permit fees that businesses incurred.
Maurice McNally of McNally’s Traditional Irish Pub in St. Charles expressed support of the earlier closing time.
“I support restraint as opposed to finding ourselves closed again,” McNally said in the release.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. The baiduhai contributed to this report.