Pennsylvania restaurants, bars see some COVID-19 restrictions lifted on Easter Sunday outside Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – Since Easter Sunday, more capacity limits for business and events in Pennsylvania have now been extended and long-term restrictions on bar services have been lifted – with the exception of Philadelphia.

From April 4, patrons can return to the bar and receive alcohol services without buying food in Pennsylvania.

The capacity of bars and restaurants is increased to 75% from 50% for self-certified units, although customers will still have to be one meter away. Restaurants that do not self-certify can increase capacity by 50%.

Gyms, malls and casinos will also be able to increase capacity to 75%.

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel if we continue to follow safety guidelines and get vaccinated,” Governor Tom Wolf wrote on Sunday.

Outdoor seats will have a capacity of 50%. Indoor events, such as concerts and sporting events, will be limited to a capacity of 25%.

SEE ALSO: Philadelphia will not adopt relaxed restrictions on COVID-19 in Pennsylvania on April 4, says health commissioner

The list of changes was announced by Governor Wolf on March 15.

Days later, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said that due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the city will not follow the rest of the state by adopting relaxed restrictions on April 4th.

“We believe that these changes, if we adopt them here in Philadelphia, could further increase the rates of cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” Farley said.

So for Philadelphia restaurants, the fact remains that if they meet ventilation standards, they can dine indoors at 50% capacity. Otherwise, they can dine indoors at a capacity of 25%.

Farley said that starting April 4, the city will allow the maximum capacity of outdoor catering events to expand to 250 people, with some restrictions. The Department of Public Health strongly encourages people over the age of 65 to be fully vaccinated before attending any of these events.

The city will also allow food to be served at business meetings.

Throughout April, Farley said he will review local trends in cases, hospitalizations and deaths to assess whether it is safe to loosen restrictions and approach in line with state guidelines. If this happens, the city will announce the changes before April 30, so companies can plan the updated guide.

Meanwhile, attendance was allowed to increase Sunday at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday for the third game of the Philadelphia Phillies season.

The Phillies are playing “in front of the biggest crowd of the season so far,” said broadcaster Scott Franzke.

Franzke said CBP was allowed to increase the occupancy limit from 20% to 25%.

This means that the maximum capacity is now up to 11,000.

“If you are familiar with the configuration of Citizens Bank Park, if you think about the Hall of Fame level, the 200 level, the 300 level, all in the right corner, both to the left and to the right of the column, those sections have been emptied. the first two games, but they’re loaded now, “Franzke said.” Obviously, socially distant places. “

Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy will confirm his updated presence later in the game.

The official participation in Sunday’s match was 10,773.

Phillies sent the following statement to Action News:
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has increased the maximum occupancy limits for outdoor events to 50% as of today. The city of Philadelphia did not match the state level, but it allowed us to increase our maximum capacity from 20% to 25% (8,800 to 11,000).

The following is a list of changes currently in effect in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia:

RESTAURANT:

-Restaurants can resume the bar service;

-Alcohol service will be allowed without the purchase of food;

– The blockage for removing alcoholic beverages from the tables will be lifted;

-Indoor dining capacity will be increased to 75% for restaurants that are currently self-certified and for those that are subject to the self-certification process, which implies an agreement to strictly follow all public health safety guidelines and orders, including the clean-up and mitigation protocols and other operational requirements contained in the mitigation and enforcement orders of the Governor and the Secretary of Health issued on 23 November 2020, as amended.

-Those restaurants that do not self-certify can increase capacity by 50%.

-Outdoor dining, pick-up and pick-up on board are still encouraged.

-Requirements also apply, such as wearing a mask and social distance, including 6 feet between meals.

OTHER BUSINESS

-Capacity for other businesses will also increase from 4 April, including the relocation of personal service facilities, gyms and entertainment facilities (casinos, theaters, malls) to 75% occupancy.

EVENTS:
-Maximum occupancy limits for indoor events to allow 25% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size;

-Maximum occupancy limits for outdoor events to allow 50% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size.

-Maximum occupancy is allowed only if participants and workers are able to meet the physical distance requirement of 6 feet.

“Pennsylvania has stepped up and helped reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Governor Wolf said in a statement. “The number of cases continues to decline, hospitalizations are declining, and the percentage positivity rate is declining every week – all very positive signs. The number of vaccinated people is increasing daily and we see light at the end of the tunnel. It is time to allow restaurants, bars and other service companies to return to more normal operations. “

Wolf also urged everyone to continue wearing masks, keeping a social distance and following safety orders.

“We have come so far and now is not the time to stop the security measures we have in place to protect ourselves, our families and our communities,” Governor Wolf said. “Keep wearing a mask, social distance and please get vaccinated when it’s your turn.”

SEE ALSO: Pennsylvania will repeal COVID-19 restrictions on April 4

The Associated Press contributed to this report