File photo
File photo
At least two Douglas County restaurants have returned to offering dine-in service for their customers, in direct defiance of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order.
“After fully complying with the governor’s initial stay at home orders, we have decided to cautiously reopen our small family business, as we feel it is essential to support our families and allow our employees to safely return to work,” Yoder’s Country Kitchen owner Anna Hershberger told WCIA.com.
Patrons have also been spotted dining in at Jo’s Country Diner, where reporters said “the parking lot was full of customers” one recent evening.
Hershberger has defended her actions by arguing the restaurant might not be able to survive if it kept its doors locked for much longer. She added workers are taking every precaution to make sure the environment is safe.
Douglas County State’s Attorney Kate Watson has already gone on record with her decision not to file charges against “businesses or churches that reopen within our county when sufficient social distancing protocols are in place.”
As of May 22, Illinois reported 105,444 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 4,715 deaths. Douglas County has 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
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