PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Summer is going to feel a lot more like normal in Philadelphia. City officials on Tuesday announced they are relaxing COVID-19 restrictions on May 21 — and lifting them altogether, except for mask requirements indoors, on June 11.
The timeline puts Philadelphia a couple of weeks behind the rest of Pennsylvania, which Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley says will give the city an extra margin of safety.
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"It gives us time for case rates to fall and vaccination rates to rise," he said at Tuesday's coronavirus response press briefing.
The number of new coronavirus infections has already dropped significantly. The Department of Public Health reported 495 new cases last weekend, while the number was 840 the previous weekend. More people are vaccinated as well. Close to 47% of eligible Philadelphia residents have received at least one dose.
Farley said Philadelphians’ compliance with rules put in place during the worst of the pandemic helped get the city to this point.
“I’m sorry we all had to go through this, but from the bottom of my heart, thank you for doing your part to save the lives of others,” he said.
On Friday, May 21, a number of changes will go into effect.
Restaurants will maintain their occupancy levels at 50% of maximum capacity, or 75% of maximum capacity if they can meet enhanced ventilation standards. And, mask requirements will remain in effect for those not seated or eating. However, the distance between chair backs will be reduced from 6 feet to 3 feet, and the rule that food must be served with alcoholic beverages will end.
Office spaces will be allowed to operate with no density limits, but mask requirements will remain in effect.
Stores, bowling alleys, museums, libraries, and other retail businesses will be allowed to operate with no occupancy limits, but mask requirements will remain in effect.
Gyms, indoor pools and other indoor recreation businesses will be allowed to operate at 75% of maximum occupancy, or 15 people per 1,000 square feet, and all exercise classes will be capped at 25 people.
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Indoor gathering spaces, theaters and performance venues will be allowed to operate at 50% of maximum occupancy, and they must enforce a minimum of 3 feet of space between individual persons or groups.
Outdoor gathering spaces, theaters and performance venues will be allowed to operate at 50% of maximum occupancy, if the site has fixed seating. If the site has no seating, the maximum occupancy will be limited to 33 people per 1,000 square feet. And all spaces must enforce a minimum of 3 feet of distance between individual people or groups.
Indoor catered events will be allowed to operate at 25% of maximum occupancy. Food must be served at the table only. If there will be no music, dancing or alcohol, a maximum of 250 people, including staff, will be allowed. If there will be music, dancing or alcohol, a maximum of 150 people, including staff, will be allowed.
Outdoor catered events will be allowed to operate at 50% of maximum capacity, with no cap on the number of people attending.
Outdoor swimming pools will be allowed to operate with no occupancy limits or maximum capacity.
Casinos may operate at 50% of maximum capacity, or 75% of maximum capacity if they can meet enhanced ventilation standards. They must enforce a minimum of 3 feet of distance between individual people or groups. Alcoholic beverages can be sold to patrons at gaming machines, and mask requirements will remain in effect.
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A week ago, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that mitigation orders, except mask-wearing in public places, would be lifted on Memorial Day. He said the state's mask requirement would be lifted only when 70% of adults are fully vaccinated.
On Tuesday, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said it’s time to get back to all the things we missed over the last year.
"This is a momentous turning point in our fight against the virus," Kenney said. "After so much time, … this is a moment worth celebrating."