Pa's state-owned wine, liquor stores close Tuesday

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania shut down all of its roughly 600 state-owned wine and liquor stores as part of the state’s expanding shutdown as Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration tries to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

All wine and liquor stores and licensee service centers closed 9 p.m. Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board said in a statement.

FULL COVERAGE: CORONAVIRUS

Online sales ended Monday.

Board Chairman Tim Holden said in a statement that he knew store closings will hurt consumers and licensees, but that fighting the public health crisis must take priority.

RELATED COVERAGE:

Wolf orders shutdown of all non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania

How COVID-19 has impacted Delaware Valley so far

Interactive map tracks spread of COVID-19 globally

Restaurants, bars closed in 5 Pa. counties due to COVID-19

Gov. Tom Wolf already ordered the stores to shut down after Monday in four southeastern Pennsylvania counties — Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery — where he had said there was “confirmed evidence of risk.”

Stores in those four counties first drew large crowds over the weekend, and the liquor control board said processing and delivery of online orders would be delayed because of unusually high order volume.

The liquor control board, however, said it would adopt “lenient measures” to allow licencees to sell beer and wine to go, for off-premises consumption.

Retail licensees, including restaurants, bars, hotels, grocery stores and convenience stores, also may continue selling beer or wine to go, while breweries, wineries and distilleries can continue selling their own products for off-premises consumption, it said.

___

For the latest local news, sports and weather, download the FOX 29 News app.

DOWNLOAD: FOX 29 NEWS APP

___

The Associated Press contributed to this report.