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COVID-19 shillelaghs the shennanigans out of local St. Patrick's Day celebrations

Celebrations planned for Mill Market and OutSpoken Brewing are cancelled
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Saultites wanting to celebrate St. Patrick's Day may find themselves eating Lucky Charms at home.

In the midst of COVID-19 concerns, St. Patrick's Day celebrations planned for Mill Market and OutSpoken Brewing are cancelled.

"Effective immediately, in order to do our part in flattening the curve and to protect the community, OutSpoken Brewing will be closed until further notice," the Queen Street watering-hole posted on its Facebook page Monday evening.

"We're recommending people be very cautious about that," Christine Elliott, provincial health minister, said when asked by reporters earlier in the day whether Ontarians should patronize St. Paddy's events.

"Make your own judgment. If you have any concerns, be in touch with your local public health unit if you're holding an event. But certainly, we would discourage people from going into large gatherings... as on any other day," Elliott said.

Asked whether the province ought to be closing all bars and restaurants during the COVID-19 emergency, the minister added: "That is something that is always being discussed... but we don't believe we are at that stage yet. But this is a rapidly changing situation."

At time of writing, it appeared a Tuesday event at The Whiskey Barrel, from 4 p.m. until midnight, had not been cancelled.