After multiple employees tested positive for COVID-19, Andy’s Restaurant in Crystal Lake will be closed until further notice.

In a Facebook post written on Wednesday night, Andy’s said they were informed Tuesday that the staff members tested positive and that they are working with the health department and hiring a sanitizing company to deep clean the entire building to “safely reopen in the upcoming weeks.”

Andy’s Restaurant is one of many restaurants in McHenry County that went against the state’s recent ban on indoor dining because of rising coronavirus rates in the area. They acknowledged that they have been under scrutiny for this decision in the Facebook post.

Some applauded the restaurant for fighting the mandate, saying it was needed for the owners to pay their bills and employees' paychecks. Others called the decision "ignorant," "selfish" and "irresponsible" in the face of worsening COVID-19 metrics.

Andy’s Restaurant isn’t alone in not complying with the state’s mitigation orders, nor is it the first McHenry County restaurant to announce a temporary closure in light of COVID-19 cases.

Miller's Diner in McHenry will remain closed through the end of the week after a server tested positive for COVID-19, owner Kim Ribar said told the Northwest Herald.

“As a business owner it’s a no-win situation,” Ribar said. “It’s every day that I ask myself that. You’re responsible for your people, so that they can pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads and their families fed. Or do we all just take the risk of being exposed? That’s the choice I have to make every day. Every day is, what do I do?”

An estimated 90% of restaurants and bars in some neighboring counties are not complying with the ban on indoor service, according to the McHenry County Department of Health.

During a Board of Health meeting Monday, Director of Environmental Health Patricia Nomm said noncompliance among food businesses, in particular the ban on indoor seating, has been increasing in McHenry County and across the region.

Andy’s, in its Facebook post, said the business has not taken COVID-19 lightly.

“We understand we have been under a microscope in recent news and have received a lot of support from the community along with a lot of negative feedback regarding our decision to stay open against the mitigation order,” the post said. “Regardless of what everyone’s opinions have been, our priorities have been to keep our staff and customers safe and to try and survive as a business during these difficult past 8 months.”

The owners of Andy’s declined to comment further Thursday.