Half Of Milwaukee County To Shut Down Restaurants, Bars

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — Milwaukee County officials have ordered all bars and restaurants to close except for delivery and carry-out options in 11 of the county's municipalities.

The move, which is in effect as of 2:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, came the same day that Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ordered a ban on gatherings of 50 or more people.

In summary, the Milwaukee County order limits bars and restaurants to doing carryout and delivery. The order restricts food and liquor sales at all Milwaukee County bars and restaurants, and it cannot be consumed on-site.

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According to a WISN-12 report, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said the order was issued in advance of St. Patrick's Day, where large crowds would make social distancing public health policies ineffective. "Participating in St. Patrick’s Day activities would make social distancing nearly impossible," Abele said in the report.

The order affects a total of 11 of the 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County. All municipalities marked by an asterisk are participating in the ban:

* Milwaukee
* Cudahy
Franklin
Greendale
Greenfield
Hales Corners
* Bayside
* Brown Deer
* Fox Point
* Glendale
* River Hills
* Shorewood
* Whitefish Bay
Oak Creek
* South Milwaukee
* Saint Francis
Wauwatosa
West Allis
West Milwaukee

Gov. Evers' order included any gatherings at locations such as public or private schools, theaters, museums, stadiums, conference rooms, meeting halls, taverns, health and fitness centers, and places of worship. Critical infrastructure and services such as grocery stores, food pantries, child care centers, pharmacies and hospitals are exempt from this order.

Restaurants and bars were required to operate at less than 50 percent capacity or have fewer than 50 people, whichever is less, according to the order.

Monday night's order issued in 11 Milwaukee County municipalities supersedes the lesser restrictions imposed by the governor earlier on Monday, according to county officials.