Economic Partnership Head Takes Issue with New State Restrictions on Bars and Restaurants

LOCK HAVEN – State officials on Wednesday announced stringent new guidelines for bars and restaurants across the state, many of which have been struggling in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, Clinton County Economic Partnership President Mike Flanagan issued a statement regarding the new statewide restrictions that focus on bars and restaurants:

“The new covid-related restrictions are another blow for our Clinton County businesses in the restaurant and bar sector that are just now trying to recover from essentially being closed for some three months. Many of them have followed the rules to reopen the right way, and now they get hit with a 25 percent occupancy restriction as well as the essential closing of bars. This, unfortunately, could be the final blow for some.

“We were just seeing some light at the end of the tunnel for some of these restaurants, and the City of Lock Haven assisted greatly with a pedestrian mall. But when outside dining is not available and with a 25 percent occupancy rate now permitted, you don’t have many options to make it work. Some of the local social clubs have already closed down – yet again.

“It is obviously important to stop the spread of COVID-19 and we respect the difficult jobs facing Gov. Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Rachel Levine. We encourage mask wearing and social distancing, but if one or two areas are having flare-ups, shouldn’t it be one or two areas that get flagged?

“We hope that the case counts get under control for the next couple of weeks and we can get back to at least giving our restaurants and bar operators a fighting chance. We ask that you support these businesses as much as possible.”

At least two social clubs, one in Renovo and one in the Lock Haven area, announced late Wednesday they would be closing their doors.