PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says he will allow COVID-19 restrictions that were imposed almost three weeks ago to expire as planned on Jan. 4.
The governor temporarily halted school sports, closed gyms, theaters and casinos, and banned indoor dining back on Dec. 12 to help prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
Wolf said on Wednesday that those safety measures will be lifted as planned on Monday at 8 a.m.
“Our mitigation efforts over the past several weeks are working,” Wolf said in a statement. “Every time we make a small decision to avoid risk — or take steps to make our actions a little bit less risky — we are helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”
Wolf said the state has seen a drop in the positivity rate the past two weeks, and that’s a big reason for his decision. However, he stresses this does not mean we are out of the woods yet.
He anticipates it will still be months before vaccine distribution becomes available to the general public.
And, if Pennsylvanians get complacent and let case numbers rise again, he said the danger to the community and the health care system will return with swift and deadly consequences.
The state will revert back to the restrictions that were in place on Dec. 11, which includes limits on gathering sizes.
Businesses can operate at 75% capacity. Indoor dining can open at 50% capacity, though restaurants that are not self-certified with the state can open at 25%.
Alcohol can only be served in-person as part of a meal up until 11 p.m.
Salons, barbershops, gyms and entertainment venues, like casinos, theaters and museums, can open at 50% occupancy.
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Mask-wearing and social distancing are still encouraged.
The out-of-state testing requirement is still in place.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, city officials previously decided to extend some of its restrictions. The ban on indoor dining will continue until at least Jan. 15.
Indoor gatherings and sports, theaters, and casinos will still be prohibited through Jan. 15. Philadelphia museums, gyms and outdoor sports can resume on Jan. 4.