This article was first published in the afternoon of Thursday, January 14, 2021.
Five Berks County restaurants were ordered by the state last week to shut down for violating COVID-19 restrictions.
Four of the five were previously ordered to close for defying a temporary statewide ban on indoor dining.
The five were on a list of 24 restaurants across the state ordered to close for violating COVID-19 restrictions that was issued by the state Department of Agriculture this week. The department has been issuing such lists each week.
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The closure orders are based on inspections done by the department, most of which are initiated by complaints from the public.
8 Berks restaurants among 22 state is petitioning Commonwealth Court to close and fine
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55 More Defiant Pennsylvania Restaurants Ordered Closed -- Some Possibly For Good
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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.