St. Patrick’s Day has never looked quite like this.

With Ontario declaring a state of emergency due to COVID-19 early Tuesday morning and the prohibition of groups over 50, any hope Ontarians had of heading to the pub for a green beer was off the table.

Thankfully, social media is here to help. From his downtown Toronto apartment, Mitch Vopni, 25, told the Star that his usual St. Patrick’s Day plans were going digital. It’s the only way to hold on to a hint of normalcy under these conditions, now that empty streets are a common sight.

Vopni and his friends usually plan to go out, a tradition that has followed him to Toronto from university. “Even after we graduated, we tried to get together for St. Patty’s Day,” Vopni said.

Plans “kind of dissipated … about a day or two ago” when it became clear that social distance was encouraged and large gatherings were too dangerous to risk, he said.

Since they’re all in the same position of isolating at home, Vopni and his friends decided they would join a video chat together to stay in touch.

As for the logistics, “I think we’re going to just try to FaceTime,” he said. “Even if it’s just for 35 minutes or an hour. Just to … show face and keep some sort of routine when there doesn’t seem to be much routine going on right now.”

Many people are with family right now, but Vopni lives alone. “As much human interaction as I can get at this point is is definitely welcomed,” he said.

His group is spread out over much of the GTA, but they’ve remained friends since university. “We still try to stay in close contact with one another but definitely have not resorted to these means” in the past, Vopni said.

While Vopni couldn’t find green food colouring, he said he bought some green cans to try and keep things festive.

Nearly 350 kilometres away in Leamington, Maureen Lamotte said that the coronavirus had cancelled her usual St. Patrick’s Day gathering.

Stay updated on COVID-19 for free at thestar.com:

They “would usually have a house full,” says Lamotte, whose roots go back to the Irish town of Wexford. Her three daughters and son-in-law will still be celebrating, though — small gatherings at home haven’t been restricted.

Lamotte said she plans to put out the “silly leftover decorations.” She’ll cook the usual green chicken chili. Then, “we’ll hoist a few drinks and call it a night.”

Typically, Lamotte and her husband hosts anywhere from 35 to 40 people. Local friends, family and relatives from Stratford and London usually come to join in on the festivities.

The party usually runs “all night,” Lamotte said. “People can come and go. Most stay the whole night.”

She said it’s a bit early into isolation to say how the family will handle it long term, but with their close ties, she figures that if one of them falls ill, “I figure that the six of us are already baked in” to all catch the virus too.

Back in Toronto, Robert Hand is grappling with the virus’ financial toll. His pub the Jersey Giant, like all bars in Toronto, won’t have any patrons tonight.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

It should be the busiest day of the year, Hand said.

“This is the only day that pubs actually make money,” Hand said, continuing that pubs often use St. Patrick’s Day to get caught up on annual expenses. Adding to the stress is a 67 per cent rent increase the pub received in January.

But with Ontario’s government ordering the closure of all bars and restaurants — except those that offer takeout — Hand has found himself with enough food for “hundreds” of people.

What worries Hand is that his employees are now not making money. “They live off their tips. If they’re not getting tips they’re not going and buying groceries.”

The extra food won’t last. “I’m offering the staff to come down every day if they can’t afford food,” he said.

“I’m going to cook for them. If they’re interested, I’ll be here every day.”