SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The health department in the Illinois county that includes the state's capital city says it will allow indoor service at bars and restaurants this weekend. The governor's office isn't happy about it.
The Sangamon County Department of Public Health said the coronavirus positivity rate has fallen enough to let the businesses reopen for indoor service at 25% capacity.
But Democratic Gov. J.B Pritzker's office said the metrics that would allow the county return to limited indoor service have not been met.
The governor's office also lamented that the county health agency's decision comes at the end of what has been the deadliest month since the pandemic began. The city of Springfield hasn't decided whether it would follow Sangamon County's lead, WCIA-TV reports.
The potential clash between Sangamon County and state government comes as some suburban Chicago establishments have said they will not follow the indoor-service ban on New Year’s Eve.
Chicago officials warn they will penalize bars and restaurants that serve people indoors, with fines of $10,000. They have discouraged people from gathering with others from outside their immediate households.
On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 8,009 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus, including 133 additional deaths.
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