The state Department of Agriculture shut down 21 restaurants last week for violating COVID mitigation orders.
While restaurants were allowed to reopen Jan. 4 following a three-week shutdown ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf, they still must abide by capacity limits of 25% to 50%, masking of employees, and limits on alcohol sales.
Each of the restaurants ordered to be shut down were found to be operating in violation of the orders, and management refused to make corrections while an inspector was present, officials said.
The Department of Agriculture inspects restaurants only in counties that do not have health departments .They do not perform restaurant inspections in Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Erie, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
Two dozen more Pa. restaurants receive closure notices for defying COVID orders
Updated Jan 13, 2021;
Posted Jan 13, 2021
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced another round of closure notices for restaurants.
File photo by Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.comTHE PATRIOT-NEWS
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More restaurants in Pennsylvania have been ordered to close for not following the state’s COVID-19 enforcement orders.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced today 24 restaurants received closure notices for defying Gov. Tom Wolf’s measures. The inspections took place Jan. 4-10.
In the one week period, the department conducted 729 inspections of which 171 visits were prompted by complaints about COVID-19 mitigation orders not being followed. An additional 130 of those visits were deemed followups for COVID-specific complaints.
Fat Boys Summit Diner Somerset
The Blue Collar Tavern Emlenton
Angelo’s Family Restaurant Washington
Sharkey’s Café Latrobe
Read Tarkowski s complete statement below:
The governor and Secretary of Health’s orders were issued pursuant to the authority granted to them under the law, and as such they have the force and effect of law. This authority extends to all local enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania. Local law enforcement received guidance on enforcement of the various COVID-19 orders in place from the Pennsylvania State Police through the PA Chiefs of Police Association. Local police departments have discretion whether to warn or cite a business for violations. Enforcement efforts include issuing citations and fines, and possibly undertaking regulatory actions for repeat offenders.
Restaurants that continue to defy the closing orders and operate in any manner, according to the Department of Agriculture will be referred to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for further legal action.
About 79 visits to restaurants throughout the state were complaint-driven based on establishments offering dine-in service, said Shannon Powers, Department of Agriculture spokeswoman. The restaurants are among 180 establishments issued warnings by the department
The 40 restaurants were ordered to close for refusing to comply, while the others either agreed to stop dine-in service or had already done so, Powers said.
Some restaurant owners have unsuccessfully filed lawsuits against Wolf’s indoor dining ban. On Wednesday, a judge refused a plea by two central Pa. restaurants and a trade association to end enforcement of the indoor dining ban.