Following France and Italy’s lead, Ireland and many major cities in the United States have announced they will close bars and pubs to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The Irish Government has ordered the closure of all pubs and bars until at least March 29.
The closures, which came into effect at midnight on Sunday, have been instituted on the eve of St Patrick’s Day, which is one of the busiest days in the year for the hospitality industry.
The Irish Government has also asked people not to hold house parties, as doing so “would put other people’s health at risk”
The move follows patrons at pubs and bars ignoring advice to socially distance themselves and has been made in consultation with the Licenced Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland.
In a statement the Government said: “The LVA and VFI outlined the real difficulty in implementing the published Guidelines on Social Distancing in a public house setting, as pubs are specifically designed to promote social interaction in a situation where alcohol reduces personal inhibitions.”
It added that it was an “essential public health measure given the reports of reckless behaviour by some members of the public in certain pubs last night”.
“While the government acknowledges that the majority of the public and pub owners are behaving responsibly, it believes it is important that all pubs are closed in advance of St Patrick’s Day,” it said.
The Irish Department of Health has now confirmed 169 cases of COVID-19 in the country, with 45 more in Northern Ireland. Two people have died in the Republic of Ireland after contracting coronavirus.
Earlier, Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, warned that the behaviour of 20 to 40-year-olds who were continuing to socialise in busy pubs and clubs, was “concerning”.
On March 16, the UK government instructed people to avoid public venues such as theatres, pubs, bars and restaurants, but fell short of forcing their closure altogether.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced last Wednesday that bars and restaurants were ordered to shut in the country.
On Saturday, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe ordered the closure of all non-essential public locations, including restaurants, cafes, cinemas and clubs, following a 25% jump in the number of France’s coronavirus cases in one day.
The governors in five states of the US — California, Ohio, Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington — have closed bars, restaurants and wineries in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. In other parts of the country, mayors of major cities have ordered similar restrictions.
In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine said bars and restaurants can stay open for takeaway and delivery but “what we can’t have is people congregating and seated.”
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said all bars, wineries, brew pubs and nightclubs should close. A few hours later, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he would close bars, restaurants, nightclubs and “entertainment venues,” effective from midnight Sunday until at least March 31.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson ordered the closing of all Dallas bars, lounges, taverns, nightclubs, gyms and health clubs, theaters, music venues, and entertainment establishments such as arcades and billiard halls.
In Houston’s Harris County, only bars were ordered to close, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced.
Las Vegas casinos are also shutting down. MGM Resorts International said it is temporarily suspending operations at its Las Vegas properties until further notice. The move will go into effect on March 17. Casino operations will close a day earlier, followed by hotel operations, according to the company.
Wynn Resorts said it has decided to temporarily close Wynn Las Vegas and Encore hotels and casinos as part of the company’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
New York City took similar action late on Sunday, ordering all nightclubs, theaters and concert venues to close by Tuesday morning, a dramatic step in the nation’s most populous city. Restaurants and bars in the city will also be limited to serving only takeout and delivery customers, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.
The annual St Patrick’s Day parade in New York City has also been cancelled for the first time in its 258-year history.
