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Gov. Pritzker Urges Mask Wearing to Help Bars and Restaurants Resume Indoor Service

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The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting four thousand new COVID-19 cases Tuesday.

Over half of the state's regions are under stricter mitigations -- including no indoor dining because of rising test positivity rates.
Governor J-B Pritzker was asked if he would consider allowing restaurants in these areas to remain open inside as the weather gets colder.

"Right now, the studies really don't show that gatering inside in large numbers in restaurants and bars can be done as safely as other kinds of service. That doesn't mean that we aren't going to try to help our bars and restaurants to get on their feet."

The governor says the state has grant programs available to struggling businesses and says the best thing everyone can do is mask up and take other safety precautions so numbers come down and the extra rules can be lifted.

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