A recent report by CBS news showed a video of hundreds of people gathered outside of The Vault located at 13057 S. Western Avenue in Blue Island. Social distancing was obviously not in place, nor face coverings in use. When reporter Suzanne Le Mignot called The Vault for explanation, the owner hung up on her.
Le Mignot was able to get in touch with Mayor Vargas who stated that the Blue Island Police have gone to this venue three times since the start of Phase 4, which was just over a few weeks ago. Two of the visits found that The Vault was not in compliance with social distancing, mask wearing, and occupancy, whereupon the owner was given notice to comply.
The Vault is a game room, sports bar, and venue space. Their website shows many pictures of children. As expected, their faces express glee while playing the many games offered. Is it likely that they will be thinking about Personal Protection Equipment? It will be up to parents to ensure proper protection.
I spoke with a Vault rep regarding the CBS video and protocol followed, especially children’s parties. The rep explained that the CBS video was outside and did not reflect indoors. “The staff disinfects everything commonly handled every hour after a party has their scheduled time.”
Since The Vault offers entertainment for both children and adults, this establishment is not alone in the issue of safety concerns. Bar owners have bemoaned the problem of trying to control everyone from socializing with others at another table in such a venue. Some owners have been strapped with fines for breaking rules. The fines have further threatened businesses on the brink of closure from the stay-at-home order itself, while cities need businesses to stay open for the tax revenue.
Another obvious issue is the process of drinking. It’s one thing to wear a mask to a store where you would not engage in consuming drinks, but the whole purpose of the bar is to provide drinking. A mask would likely be in the way. I’ve imagined a mask with a slit that would allow access to a straw to ingest one’s beverage.
But then there is also the alcohol-induced camaraderie. Once the alcohol takes effect, the atmosphere can change with people getting louder and friendlier with each other. Let’s face(mask) it. Inhibitions are lowered, and people let their guards down, as well as their face coverings. As voices get louder, spit may go flying where you’d rather it not.
Are we literally dying to reopen too soon? The mystery remains. Reopening too soon can spread the virus and set all of us back to the previous phase. Business owners are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. However, just because some communities want to open venues and push business forward doesn’t mean you have to partake. It comes down to your own choice. Enter at your own risk.
Since the night at the Vault, many bars in Chicago have been shut down for the second time. If the bars sell food they can remain open to some degree.
It’s very sad that many people are not taking this killer disease seriously. They have the mindset that it will not happen to them.
The urge to party in the summer at a cool bar is more important to them than any invisible killer virus. Amazing.
If everyone would just stay at home, this killer disease might run its course. And that is not for sure, but it’s the best thing to do so far.
There are plenty of things to do at home with all of the advances in technology today.
Just stay at home.
Yes, your points ring true. It seems that people went along with the stay-at-home order, as long as it was temporary. However, once we hit the end of May, everyone seemed to act like things could go back to normal. So now, not surprisingly, the numbers keep going up.
Summer is a difficult time for many to stay home. I think Indiana should give citations to any Illinoisans who are parked at their beaches. Think of all the surrounding states with different rules, so the stricter ones just cross the state line and spread the infection. Perhaps this should be Federal instead of state law governing. Or maybe regionally.