'Great American Takeout': Support Illinois Restaurants Tuesday

ILLINOIS — Restaurants in Illinois and across the country are encouraging diners to order takeout on Tuesday to support the industry as the coronavirus outbreak forces them to shut their doors.

Over the weekend, state officials issued a stay-at-home order across Illinois, closing bars, restaurants and most public spaces, and restricting residents to only essential activities outside the home. But many restaurants are still open for delivery or curb-side pickup.

Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

The coalition of restaurants sponsoring the "Great American Takeout" day includes Panera Bread, Veggie Grill, California Pizza Kitchen, Chevys Fresh Mex and others. According to the group, the restaurant industry employs about 15 million Americans.

"The coalition is asking Americans to order at least one delivery or pick-up meal on Tuesday to show support for the industry," the group of restaurants said in a statement.

According to the CDC, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus has infected anyone through food or food packaging. It can survive for hours on surfaces like cardboard and plastic, however, so you should take precautions as you would with any item coming into your home.

If you want to help your local restaurants, simply order food from them Tuesday (then keep ordering from them as often as you can). If you want to go a step farther, snap a pic of your meal and post it to social media with the hashtag #thegreatamericantakeout.

Don't know where to order from? We'll help you find some great options:

• Algonquin, LITH Bars, Restaurants Open For Delivery, Pickup
• Aurora Restaurants Offer Discounts, Pickup: Coronavirus Closures
• Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park Restaurants Offer Pick-Up, Add Delivery After Dine-In Shutdown
• 25+ Drive-Thru, Take Out, Delivery Food Options in Bolingbrook
• Coronavirus Shutdown: Crystal Lake Restaurants Plan To Offer Takeout, Delivery
• Evanston Restaurants Offer Delivery, Carry Out During Coronavirus
• Evergreen Park Restaurants Offering Takeout, Delivery During Coronavirus
• Geneva Restaurants Offering Curbside Pickup, Delivery
• Coronavirus Updates In HG, Lockport: Restaurants Offer Carry-Out
• Joliet Coronavirus: 10 Local Carryout Options To Consider
• La Grange Restaurants: More than 25 Still Open
• Coronavirus Updates In New Lenox: Restaurants Offering Carry-Out
• Takeout, Delivery Options In Oak Forest Amid Coronavirus
• Oak Lawn Restaurants Offer Takeout, Delivery During Coronavirus
• Western Springs Coronavirus: Some Restaurants Still Open

Nick Garber contributed to this reporting