PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania is easing some restrictions on restaurants and other businesses, including allowing bar service.
Gov. Tom Wolf says, with case counts and hospitalizations going down and vaccinations on the rise, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. He says that means it’s time to allow restaurants, bars and other businesses that have been dealing with capacity limits to “get back to more normal operations.”
On April 4, restaurants can resume bar service. In addition, the governor’s office says they’re doing away with the rule that patrons must buy food to buy alcohol. They’re also lifting the curfew for drinks.
Any restaurants that have gone through the self-certification process can increase capacity to 75% as long as they keep tables six-feet apart. Restaurants that have not self-certified can increase capacity to 50%.
The governor’s office says outdoor dining, curbside pick-up and takeout are still encouraged.
Also on April 4, other businesses like movie theaters, casinos, gyms, spas, and hair salons can increase to 75% capacity as long as the business can still follow the 6-feet-apart requirement.
The governor’s office is again raising occupancy limits for indoor and outdoor events. Those limits were just raised on March 1, but as of April 4, they’ll climb to 25% of maximum capacity for indoor events and 50% outdoors, regardless of the size of the venue.
Philadelphia has set its own standards and, at least for now, those aren’t changing.