PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As new COVID-19 cases continue to drop, Philadelphia is loosening more restrictions on indoor dining and events.
Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley said all restaurants will be allowed to seat at 50% capacity starting May 7. Restaurants that have updated their ventilation systems will be allowed to seat at 75% capacity.
Patrons should still maintain social distancing, but tables of six people will be allowed indoors and groups of 10 outdoors. Food is still required with any alcohol orders.
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In addition, indoor catered social events will be allowed for the first time in more than a year. Farley said these are still the riskiest occasions, so there are still limits.
The maximum occupancy for indoor catered events will start at 75 people and increase to 150 on May 21, if all goes well. But Farley has one request.
“Anyone participating in these higher-risk, higher-density events should be vaccinated first,” he said. “For those people planning their weddings and social events, ask now for your guests to get vaccinated first. Put it in your invitations.”
Farley said there are still a lot of people who are infected with the virus in the city, but the surge in cases that started in March seems to have subsided. New cases are now averaging 458 per day — down by about 20% from last week.