Posted on 07/08/2020 11:22:46 AM PDT by lightman
The Allegheny County Health Department was fielding hundreds of complaints about restaurants and bars not enforcing face masks and other pandemic rules just before the county shut down indoor dining again last week because of a record number of COVID-19 cases.
According to county health department data, there were 419 virus-related complaints involving restaurants and bars the week of June 29.
That compares with 116 complaints received during the first 20 days of the green phase of the state’s reopening plan from June 5-25. Most of those complaints were related to masks.
On June 30, restaurants and bars were ordered to stop serving alcohol indefinitely as county officials grappled with how to contain the spread of the highly infectious virus. As cases continued to soar, indoor dining was cut off July 3 for one week.
More: Allegheny County bans on-site alcohol consumption amid spike in coronavirus cases: ‘We’re going in the wrong direction’
The shutdown is set to end Friday. Officials haven’t said if they will extend the order, but cases of COVID-19 have continued to surge.
At a news briefing Tuesday, county officials said they have been working on “modifications” to the closure order and alcohol ban, which they expect to announce Wednesday afternoon.
Health department director Dr. Debra Bogen said the recent spike in complaints was probably due to a recent request by the department for customers to report what they were seeing, as well as a growing concern about the big jump in COVID-19 cases.
“As we reported more cases, concern increased among the public and made them more likely to report their concerns,” she said during the briefing. “It is helpful for the department to understand what is happening in the community, and we appreciate those reports.”
Dining rooms in southwestern Pennsylvania had only been open for a month after leaving the yellow phase when Allegheny County moved to halt business again on the eve of the July 4 holiday.
Not surprisingly, restaurant and bar operators were not happy. Business owners who said they were following all of the rules complained about being penalized unfairly. Others took to the streets to protest.
Complaints can be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Health at expressforms.pa.gov/apps/pa/doh/COVID-19-Complaint.
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Complainted? I hate when people do that................
bttt
It’s the Karens on Nextdoor.
Allegheny County has had a grand total of 196 deaths.
81% were 70+
12% were 60-69
5% were 50-59
2% were 49 or under
Why panic?
YES. MY NAME IS KAREN. I NEED TO TALK TO THE MANAGER THERE.
I JUST DROVE BY A RESTAURANT.AND IT WAS OPEN!
I SAW PEOPLE IN THERE!
THEY APPEARED TO HAVE GONE TO THIS PLACE VOLUNTARILY.
THEY SEEMED TO BE ENJOYING THEMSELVES.
I DEMAND THIS MUST BE PUT TO A STOP, IMMEDIATELY.
Total deaths of people under age 60 since pandemic began: 12
Population of Allegheny County: 1.2 million
There is a Republican State Senator who says the complaints that were filed are public record. He is working to get them released and will reveal the identities of the squealers.
That’s a lot of complainificationating!
“Dr.” Bogen just doing her part to stall the economic recovery and keep people angry and at each others’ throats and looking sickly with their face diapers until the first Tuesday in November.
Say "NØ" to Nose Nappies!
Maskless protest in Harrisburg on the 22nd.
Allegheny County is full of Karens. Next door in Westmoreland County, we use our brains instead of rules. The government’s edicts are posted on the doors. Nobody much gives a rip.
Hard to eat a Panini wearing a mask.
Hope the squealers go thirsty.
Bars can refuse service so long as it is non-discriminatory.
Of course if you think the Karens are b!tchy now wait until they go into ETOH withdraw.
bunch of whiny ,cowardly pansies.
“Hundreds complainted about virus rule=breakers before Allegheny County closed restaurants again”
I wonder if the complainers are the one keeping their jobs and paychecks in spite of rest of the economy being shut down...like maybe government employees?
I work in a restaurant and it seems we are the only ones here following all the rules.
Last week our governor hinted at the possibility of closing all indoor dining again because so many weren’t following protocol. Extremely unfair to those, like my employer, who are painstakingly following rules.
good expose these cowards
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