CHICAGO, IL — Hours after saying he was "seriously looking at" closing the state's bars and restaurants amid the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. J.B. Pritzker did just that Sunday afternoon.

Three days after expressing frustration at long lines outside bars as revelers continued to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in public, Pritzker said all bars and restaurants are ordered to close to dine-in customers as of close of business Monday, March 16. They will remain shuttered until at least March 30. Drive-thru orders and curbside pickup will still be allowed.

"We are working with restaurant owners and food delivery services across the state to ensure restaurants can safely keep their kitchens open to continue food delivery to people in their homes," Ptritzker said on Twitter. "Every choice that we face — every choice now — is hard and it comes with real consequences for our residents," Pritzker said. "I cannot let the gravity of these choices prevent us from taking the actions that the science and the experts" say is best.

"None of these decisions I come to lightly, and I work hard to consider the benefits and the consequences of each decision," Pritzker said, calling himself an "irrepressible optimist" when it comes to Illinois. "Our people are the bravest, kindest, most hard-working individuals in the nation. I believe in you. I'm going to fight like hell for you," the governor added.

Hours earlier, Pritzker appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press," telling host Chuck Todd he was "looking hard" at making the decision to shut down bars and restaurants, similar to what France has recently done. Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

