According to a report from CBS Pittsburgh, the Department of Agriculture has ordered six local businesses to close in the Pittsburgh area for violating the temporary indoor dining shutdown. The business affected by the measure include three in Indiana, one in Somerset, one in Washington and one in Westmoreland.
The names of the restaurants have not been released.
The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Safety have made over 400 inspections at local businesses in the restaurant and retail food service industry from Dec. 14 through Dec. 20, with 84 of those driven by COVID-19 complaints.
The department issued 180 written warnings to restaurants reportedly violating the indoor dining ban. Out of those warnings, 40 were confirmed to be open and they were ordered to close.
COVID-19 warnings were also issued in multiple Pittsburgh-area counties, including one in Armstrong, one in Butler, one in Fayette, one in Somerset, three in Washington and three in Westmoreland.
You can read: A growing number of businesses defy Tom Wolf’s orders to close
Businesses open for indoor dining that refuse to stop when an inspector is there will be ordered to close. If they keep defying the closure order, they will be referred to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for further legal action.
Defying reaction
Many restaurants have reacted to the new restrictions on indoor dining that into effect two weeks ago, and now there is a growing list of businesses openly defying the rules.
While some local businesses have already received warnings from the Allegheny County Health Department, they continue to stay open for indoor dining.
On Monday, dozens of restaurant owners, bartenders and servers gathered in Bethel Park to rally together in reopening.
Complaints about businesses not complying with COVID-19 orders can be reported online.
