18 November 2020
CLAYTON, Mo. (KMOV.com) – About 40 St. Louis County {restaurants|dining establishments} {have|have actually} {filed|submitted} {a lawsuit|a suit|a claim} to {halt|stop} {new|brand-new} COVID-19 {restrictions|limitations|constraints} being {implemented|executed|carried out} by County Executive Sam Page.
The {lawsuit|suit|claim} was {filed|submitted} Wednesday by a group of {restaurants|dining establishments} {including|consisting of} Bartolino’s, Syberg’s and the Shack. The Missouri {Restaurant|Dining establishment} Association is {also|likewise} {a party|a celebration} to the {suit|fit|match}.
The {restrictions|limitations|constraints} {took effect|worked} Tuesday and were put in {place|location} in {response|reaction|action} to the {rising|increasing} {number of|variety of} coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in the St. Louis {area|location}.
The {plaintiffs|complainants} {say|state} the {new|brand-new} {restrictions|limitations|constraints}, {which include|that include} no indoor dining and {limited|restricted|minimal} {outdoor|outside} dining, threaten their {livelihood|income}, {adding|including} that {expenses|costs|expenditures} such as {rent|lease} {must|should|need to} continue to be paid while the {restrictions|limitations|constraints} {are in|remain in} {place|location}. The {restaurants|dining establishments} {also|likewise} {say|state} it will be {very|extremely|really} hard for them to {survive|make it through|endure} {solely|entirely|exclusively} off takeout orders, {which make|that make} up {a small|a little} {portions|parts} of their sales.
The county {said|stated} about 20 health {complaints|grievances|problems} {have|have actually} been {filed|submitted} with the health department over {restaurants|dining establishments} still {allowing|enabling|permitting} indoor dining and {in some cases|sometimes|in many cases}, some {say|state} {employees|workers|staff members} weren’t {wearing|using} masks. {Some of|A few of} these {complaints|grievances|problems} are {coming from|originating from} {restaurants|dining establishments} in Florissant, Bridgeton, Clayton and Chesterfield.
“T {hey|hello|hi} {should|ought to|must|needs to} {expect|anticipate} letters from us, {alerting|notifying|informing|signaling} them that we{‘ve| have actually} {received|gotten} {a complaint|a grievance|a problem} {since|because|considering that|given that} the {new|brand-new} order {took effect|worked}. It{‘s important| is essential| is very important| is necessary} to {note|keep in mind}, {just because|even if} {someone|somebody} {has|has actually} {complained|grumbled}, {doesn’t|does not} {mean|imply|indicate|suggest} that the {restaurant|dining establishment} or {business|company|service|organization} {is in|remains in} {violation|infraction|offense} {but|however} we {start|begin} that {dialogue|discussion} with a letter,” Christopher Ave with the health department {said|stated}.”We will {probably|most likely} hand {deliver|provide} those letters, we will {literally|actually} have {people|individuals} going to these {restaurants|dining establishments} to see if they are {offering|providing|using} indoor dining. “The {restaurants|dining establishments} in the {lawsuit|suit} claim they {have|have actually} {always|constantly} {abided by|followed|complied with} {reasonable|sensible|affordable}
{health and safety|health and wellness} {guidelines|standards}. [READ: Page {warns|cautions|alerts} of {additional|extra} {restrictions|limitations|constraints} if {hospital|medical facility|healthcare facility|health center} load continues to increase
] {According to the {lawsuit|suit|claim}, Page does not have the sole power to {issue|provide|release} the COVID-19 {restrictions|limitations|constraints}, {adding|including} that they {must|should|need to} be {approved|authorized} by the County Council {first|initially}.|According to the {lawsuit|suit|claim}, Page does not have the sole power to {issue|provide|release} the COVID-19 {restrictions|limitations|constraints}, {adding|including} that they {must|should|need to} be {approved|authorized} by the County Council.} The {lawsuit|suit|claim} {also|likewise} calls the {new|brand-new} order”{arbitrary|approximate}.” Some {restaurants|dining establishments} {have|have actually} {chosen|selected|picked} to continue to {offer|provide|use} indoor dining, {saying|stating} the {alternative|option} is {layoffs and closures|closures and layoffs}.
Page {says|states} that puts {health care|healthcare} {workers|employees} and others at {risk|danger|threat}.”I {don’t|do not} {know|understand} why {anyone|anybody} would {want to|wish to} {eat|consume} at {a restaurant|a dining establishment} that {doesn’t|does not} follow health orders,”Page {said|stated} Wednesday.”By {going against|breaking} public health {experts|professionals|specialists}, you’re {telling|informing} our
public health {workers|employees} you {don’t|do not} {appreciate|value} or {respect|appreciate} the sacrifices they are making to keep you safe and your {families|households} safe.”