DeWine and Acton ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants starting 9:00 PM EDT March 15, 2020, saying the government "encouraged restaurants to offer carryout or delivery service" but that they "would not be allowed to have people congregating in the businesses."[44][2] DeWine said he was "concerned that with St. Patrick's Day coming up Tuesday, people would ignore warnings and go out to bars."[45] Closing of the state's estimated 22,000 restaurants was expected to affect some 500,000 workers.[46] DeWine instituted a liquor buyback program[5] and expanded Ohio's unemployment insurance to cover laid-off restaurant workers.