CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Illinois Restaurant Association is joining lawsuits across the state that challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order shutting down indoor dining because of rising coronavirus cases.
Over the past week, the governor enforced bans on indoor bar and restaurant services in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Restrictions in Chicago became effective Friday while a ban in suburban Cook County became active Wednesday and those in Lake and McHenry counties begin Saturday.
IRA President Sam Toia said his group is filing friend-of-the-court briefs in a number of cases already in the courts.
Restaurants have taken extraordinary measures to keep customers and staff safe, Toia told WBBM.
Related
He continued, explaining that restauranteurs around the state have done everything to keep their patrons and workers safe, like sanitizing, separating tables and wearing masks. Some have spent thousands on new ventilation systems.
Restauranteurs told WBBM that they’re now suffering.
Jodi Fyfe, owner of Eden’s Restaurant and a catering business in the West Loop, said she had more than 500 employees but is now down to only 24.
She said the governor’s restrictions are “killing” them.
“We’re loosing jobs. We can’t pay our rent. We can’t pay our mortgages. We can’t pay for healthcare,” Fyfe said.
Related
D.J. Bennett, a server at Tavern on Rush, was furloughed during the first shutdown and said the latest mitigations are devastating.
The restaurateurs said they hope to meet with Pritzker next week.
The IRA isn't the only one challenging the governor's order. Some restaurants have openly defied the his orders while others, like a group of 37 restaurants in McHenry County, are seeking approval from a judge to continue indoor dining.
The state saw its highest daily coronavirus caseloads on Friday a 6,943 new confirmed cases reported and a record-setting 95,111 tests taken over the past 24 hours. Pritzker announced on Friday that Region 6, which includes East-Central Illinois, will begin similar mitigations beginning on Monday.