Late-Night Liquor Ban Lifted Despite Surge In Coronavirus Cases

ST. CHARLES, IL — Bars and restaurants in St. Charles can now stay open past midnight after aldermen lifted a curfew on late-night liquor permits. But those establishments could soon face new restrictions from state officials.

The St. Charles City Council voted unanimously Monday to remove the midnight curfew on bars and restaurants, meaning they can stay open until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., depending on which permit they hold, the Kane County Chronicle reports.

Restrictions Near As Positivity Rate Tops 8% In Kane-DuPage

Mayor Raymond Rogina signed an executive order in late August that imposed a midnight curfew on those businesses, citing their role in rising coronavirus positivity rates in the region.

Despite the curfew being lifted, bars and restaurants are likely to be targeted if public health officials impose new coronavirus-related restrictions in Kane and DuPage counties.

St. Charles To Get $1.9M In Coronavirus Relief From Kane County

The Kane-DuPage region, also known as Region 8, could trigger new restrictions Tuesday if its positivity rate remains above 8 percent. Region 8 is also close to triggering new restrictions due to its rising positivity rate and sustained increases in coronavirus-related hospitalizations.

Kane County Back On Watch List As Positivity Rate Tops 10%

Kane County’s positivity rate has climbed from 6.4 percent on Labor Day to 10.9 percent by Monday, according to public health data. Over the same period, St. Charles’ positivity rate fell from about 6 percent to 4.5 percent by Monday, the Chronicle reports.

St. Charles will work to enforce any new restrictions placed on the region, Rogina said.

REGIONAL NEWS:

• Middle School Cross-Country Team Sidelined By Coronavirus
• Aurora School Named Illinois' Best Public High School
• Tell Patch If You See Election Shenanigans In Kane County
• St. Charles Wow House: Modern 3-Bedroom Home Hits Market At $365K