Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is expected to announce new measures including limits on restaurant capacity, alcohol sales and gatherings in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state due to a recent increase in cases.
The new mitigation efforts, which are expected to be announced at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The following restrictions will go into effect Thursday, July 16 at 12:01 a.m.:
Bars
- All bars are prohibited from conducting operations unless they offer sit-down, dine-in meals.
- Alcohol only can be served for on-premises consumption when in the the same transaction as a meal.
- All service must be at a table or booth; bar service is prohibited.
- Take-out sales of alcohol for the premises of off-site consumption are permitted, subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law.
- For purposes of the order, occupancy requirements are:
- Limited to 25 percent of state fire-code maximum occupancy for indoor dining.
- A discrete indoor event or gathering in a business in the retail food services industry is limited to 25 persons.
Restaurants and private catered events
- For purposes of the order, occupancy requirements are:
- Limited to 25 percent of state fire-code maximum occupancy for indoor dining.
- A discrete indoor event or gathering in a business in the retail food services industry is limited to 25 persons.
All businesses in the retail food services industry, including restaurants, wineries and bars, are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales of food, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas so as along as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, as required by the order, including:
- Non-bar seating in outdoors areas (i.e. tables or counter seats that do not line up to a bar or food service area) may be used for customer seating.
- Customers being served must be seated at a table.
- The maximum occupancy limit includes staff.
- Social distancing, masking and other mitigation measures must be employed to protect workers and patrons.
- Alcohol only can be served for on-premises consumption when in the same transaction as a meal. Take-out sales of alcohol for the purposes for the purposes of off-site consumption are permitted subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law.
Nightclubs
- All nightclubs are prohibited from conducting operations.
Other events and gathering
Events and gatherings, other than those in businesses in the retail food services industry, must adhere to these gathering limitations:
- Indoor events and gatherings of more than 25 persons are prohibited.
- Outdoor events and gatherings of more than 250 persons are prohibited.
- The maximum occupancy limit includes staff.
Teleworking
- Unless not possible, all businesses are required to conduct their operations in whole or in part remotely through individual teleworking of their employees in the jurisdiction(s) in which they do business.
- Where telework is not possible, employees may conduct in-person business operations, provided that the businesses fully comply with all substantive aspects of the business safety order, the worker safety order and the masking order.
Gyms and fitness facilities
- All gyms and fitness facilities, when permitted to continue indoor operations, are directed to prioritize outdoor physical fitness activities. All activities must follow masking requirements, as provided by the July 1 order, and must provide for social distancing requirements of persons being at least six feet apart, as well as being limited by any limitations related to.