Restaurants and bars in Pennsylvania see some restrictions on COVID-19 lifted outside Philadelphia on Easter Sunday

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – As of Easter Sunday, more business and event capacity limits in Pennsylvania are being expanded and long-standing coronavirus restrictions on bar service have been lifted – except in Philadelphia.

From April 4, patrons can once again saddle up to the bar and get alcohol service without buying food in Pennsylvania.

The bar and restaurant capacity is increased to 75% from 50% for self-certified businesses, although customers still need to be six feet apart. The restaurants that do not self-certify can increase the capacity to 50 percent.

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

“There is light at the end of the tunnel as we continue to follow safety guidelines and be vaccinated,” Governor Tom Wolf tweeted Sunday.

Outdoors have 50% capacity. Indoor events such as concerts and sporting events will be limited to 25% capacity.

SEE ALSO: Philadelphia will not accept Pennsylvania’s relaxed COVID-19 restrictions on April 4, says health commissioner

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

Days later, dr. Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said the city would not follow the rest of the state to adopt relaxed restrictions on April 4 due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

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

So it remains for restaurants in Philadelphia that if they meet ventilation standards, they can eat indoors with a capacity of 50%. If they do not, they can eat within 25%.

Farley said the city would be able to expand the maximum capacity of outdoor events for 250 people from April 4, with some restrictions. The Department of Public Health strongly encourages people over the age of 65 to be fully vaccinated before attending one of these events.

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

Farley said throughout April that he would assess local trends in cases, hospitalizations and deaths if it was safe to further weaken restrictions and get closer to state guidelines. If that happens, the city will announce the changes before April 30 so businesses can plan for the updated guidance.

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

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

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

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

“If you’re familiar with the setup at Citizens Bank Park, and if you think of the Hall of Fame level, the 200 level, the 300 level, all in the right corner of the field, both left and right of the pole “Those sections were emptied the first two games, but it’s now loaded,” Franzke said. “Obviously the seat is at a social distance.”

Phillies television broadcaster Tom McCarthy would also confirm the updated attendance later in the game.

The official attendance of Sunday’s match was 10 773.

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

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

RESTAURANT:

-Restaurants can resume bar service;

-Alcohol services are allowed without the purchase of food;

-The evening clock for removing alcoholic beverages from tables will be lifted;

Capacity for indoor eateries will be increased to 75 percent for restaurants that are currently self-certified and those undergoing the self-certification process, which involves agreeing to strictly adhere to all public health safety guidelines and orders, including cleaning- and mitigation protocols. and other operational requirements contained in the Government’s and Secretary of Health’s combat and enforcement orders issued on 23 November 2020, as amended.

The restaurants that do not certify themselves can increase the capacity to 50 percent.

-The outdoor dining, takeaway and takeaway meals are still encouraged.

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

OTHER BUSINESSES

The capacity for other businesses will also be increased from April 4, including the relocation of personal services, gyms and entertainment facilities (casinos, theaters, shopping malls) to 75 percent occupancy.

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

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

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

“Pennsylvania has acted and done its part to limit the spread of COVID-19,” Governor Wolf said in a statement. “Our number of cases continues to decline, hospitalizations are declining and the percentage of positivity is declining every week – all very positive signs. The number of people being vaccinated is increasing daily and we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It is time to close to allow our restaurants, bars and other service businesses to return to more normal operations. ‘

Wolf also encouraged everyone to keep wearing masks, keep social distance and follow safety instructions.

“We have come this far and it is not the time to stop the security measures we are putting in place to protect ourselves, our families and our communities,” Wolf said. “Keep wearing a mask, remove it socially, and please get vaccinated if it’s your turn.”

SEE ALSO: Pennsylvania to release COVID-19 restrictions on April 4

Associated Press contributed to this report