Gov. Wolf imposes new restrictions on bars, restaurants, gatherings

ORDER. JEREMY: GOVERNOR WOLF SAYS THERE HAS BEEN AN UNSETTLING RISING COVID-19 CASES IN THE STATE, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO TRAVEL TO OTHE STATES, IN ADDITION TO A LACK OF SOCIAL DISTANCING IN NIGHTCLUBS AND BARS. HE IMPLEMENTED A NEW PLAN TO TRY TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. SOME OF THE MOST NOTICEABLE CHANGES ARE RESTAURANTS LIMITED TO 25% CAPACITY, AND NIGHTCLUBS WILL BE SHUT DOWN. ALCOHOL CAN NOW ONLY BE SERVED AT VENUES THAT OFFER FOOD A TELEWORKING IS RECOMMENDED. AS FAR AS GATHERINGS, INDOORS THEY ARE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN 25 PEOPLE, AND OUTDOORS TH WILL INCREASE TO 250. >> WE KNOW THAT THE VIRUS APPEARS TO BE PRIMARILY AIRBORNE, SO WE’RE PLACING MORE LIMITS ON INDOOR ACTIVITIE WE KNOW THAT THE VIRUS SPREADS RAPIDLY IN CROWDS, SO WE’ LIMITING CROWD SIZES IN SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO GATHER CLOSE TOGETHER, SUCH AS BARS. THIS IS THE VIRUS SPEAKING. THE VIRUS IS MAKING THE RULES HERE. WE’RE JUST TRYING TO ANTICIPA WHAT THOSE RULES ARE. JEREMY ANY RESIDENTS IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDER CAN FACE FINES. IN REGARDS TO BUSINESSES, THEY CAN ALSO FACE FINES UP T

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced new statewide restrictions on bars and restaurants and larger indoor gatherings. Wolf said Wednesday that the new orders for targeted mitigation efforts are in response to an "unsettling" climb in new COVID-19 cases.“When we hit our peak on April 9, we had nearly 2,000 new cases that day with other days’ cases hovering around 1,000. Medical experts looking at the trajectory we are on now are projecting that this new surge could soon eclipse the April peak. With our rapid case increases we need to act again now,” Wolf said.The new orders include reducing restaurants' indoor dining capacity to 25%, limiting on-premises alcohol consumption to meals only, limiting indoor gatherings to 25 people and implementing telework whenever possible. The restrictions take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday."This is what we have to do. It may feel like a step backwards, but it isn't. It's just a reminder that we need to get back on the course of mask wearing, social distancing and successfully mitigating COVID-19," Wolf said.New ordersAccording to a news release, the new orders from Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine are as follows:Bars and RestaurantsAll businesses in the retail food services industry, including restaurants, wineries, breweries, private clubs, and bars, are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales of food, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, as required by the order, including:Prohibition from conducting operations unless the facility offers sit-down, dine-in meals or is serving take-out sales of alcoholic beverages. All service must be at a table or booth; bar service is prohibited.Alcohol only can be served for on-premises consumption when in the same transaction as a meal. Take-out sales of alcohol for the purposes of off-site consumption are permitted subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law.Non-bar seating in outdoor areas (i.e. tables or counter seats that do not line up to a bar or food service area) may be used for customer seating.Social distancing, masking, and other mitigation measures must be employed to protect workers and patrons. Occupancy is limited to 25% of stated fire-code maximum occupancy for indoor dining, or 25 persons for a discrete indoor event or gathering in a restaurant. The maximum occupancy limit includes staff.NightclubsAll nightclubs, as defined by the Clean Indoor Air Act, 35 P.S. § 637.2, are prohibited from conducting operations.Other events and gatheringsEvents and gatherings must adhere to these gathering limitations:Indoor events and gatherings of more than 25 persons are prohibited.Outdoor events and gatherings of more than 250 persons are prohibited.The maximum occupancy limit includes staff. TeleworkingUnless not possible, all businesses are required to conduct their operations in whole or in part remotely through individual teleworking of their employees in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which they do business.Where telework is not possible, employees may conduct in-person business operations, provided that the businesses fully comply with all substantive aspects of the business safety order, the worker safety order, and the masking order.Gyms and fitness facilitiesAll gyms and fitness facilities, while permitted to continue indoor operations, are directed to prioritize outdoor physical fitness activities. All activities must follow masking requirements as provided by the July 1 order, and must provide for social distancing requirements of persons being at least 6 feet apart, as well as being limited by any limitations related to gatherings. Factors in rise of COVID-19 casesFollowing a spike in coronavirus cases in Allegheny County in late June, the governor said, Pennsylvania has seen cases continue to rise there and in other southwest counties, along with some additional counties.Wolf said three catalysts for case increases have been identified:Some Pennsylvanians have been ignoring mask-wearing requirements and social distancing when they are visiting Pennsylvania bars and restaurants. Those people are unknowingly spreading or picking up the virus.Out-of-state travel is allowing the virus to spread, both through Pennsylvanians returning from travel to hot spot states and travelers visiting from those hot spots.A lack of national coordination has resulted in states in the south and west not committing to social distancing.“The actions the governor and I are taking today are designed to be surgical and thus precise to prevent from repeating the cycle we saw in the spring," Levine said. "We have gained a great deal of experience since the start of this outbreak and have learned from best practices from other states as well as counties right here in Pennsylvania."

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced new statewide restrictions on bars and restaurants and larger indoor gatherings. Wolf said Wednesday that the new orders for targeted mitigation efforts are in response to an "unsettling" climb in new COVID-19 cases. “When we hit our peak on April 9, we had nearly 2,000 new cases that day with other days’ cases hovering around 1,000. Medical experts looking at the trajectory we are on now are projecting that this new surge could soon eclipse the April peak. With our rapid case increases we need to act again now,” Wolf said. The new orders include reducing restaurants' indoor dining capacity to 25%, limiting on-premises alcohol consumption to meals only, limiting indoor gatherings to 25 people and implementing telework whenever possible. The restrictions take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. "This is what we have to do. It may feel like a step backwards, but it isn't. It's just a reminder that we need to get back on the course of mask wearing, social distancing and successfully mitigating COVID-19," Wolf said. 📢 New statewide #COVID19 restrictions (effective 7/16/20):



▪️ indoor dining: reduced to 25% capacity

▪️ bars: open for sit-down meals at tables, no bar service

▪️ gatherings: <25 people indoor, <250 people outdoor

▪️ telework: mandated (if possible)

ℹ️: https://t.co/1Y07qMyas9 pic.twitter.com/jU0dENHpej — PA Department of Health (@PAHealthDept) July 15, 2020 According to a news release, the new orders from Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine are as follows: All businesses in the retail food services industry, including restaurants, wineries, breweries, private clubs, and bars, are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales of food, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, as required by the order, including:
• Prohibition from conducting operations unless the facility offers sit-down, dine-in meals or is serving take-out sales of alcoholic beverages. All service must be at a table or booth; bar service is prohibited.
• Alcohol only can be served for on-premises consumption when in the same transaction as a meal.
• Take-out sales of alcohol for the purposes of off-site consumption are permitted subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law.
• Non-bar seating in outdoor areas (i.e. tables or counter seats that do not line up to a bar or food service area) may be used for customer seating.
• Social distancing, masking, and other mitigation measures must be employed to protect workers and patrons.
• Occupancy is limited to 25% of stated fire-code maximum occupancy for indoor dining, or 25 persons for a discrete indoor event or gathering in a restaurant. The maximum occupancy limit includes staff.
• All nightclubs, as defined by the Clean Indoor Air Act, 35 P.S. § 637.2, are prohibited from conducting operations. Events and gatherings must adhere to these gathering limitations:
• Indoor events and gatherings of more than 25 persons are prohibited.
• Outdoor events and gatherings of more than 250 persons are prohibited.
• Unless not possible, all businesses are required to conduct their operations in whole or in part remotely through individual teleworking of their employees in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which they do business.
• Where telework is not possible, employees may conduct in-person business operations, provided that the businesses fully comply with all substantive aspects of the , the , and the .
• All gyms and fitness facilities, while permitted to continue indoor operations, are directed to prioritize outdoor physical fitness activities. All activities must follow masking requirements as provided by the July 1 , and must provide for social distancing requirements of persons being at least 6 feet apart, as well as being limited by any limitations related to gatherings. Following a spike in coronavirus cases in Allegheny County in late June, the governor said, Pennsylvania has seen cases continue to rise there and in other southwest counties, along with some additional counties. Wolf said three catalysts for case increases have been identified:
• Some Pennsylvanians have been ignoring mask-wearing requirements and social distancing when they are visiting Pennsylvania bars and restaurants. Those people are unknowingly spreading or picking up the virus.
• Out-of-state travel is allowing the virus to spread, both through Pennsylvanians returning from travel to hot spot states and travelers visiting from those hot spots.
• A lack of national coordination has resulted in states in the south and west not committing to social distancing. “The actions the governor and I are taking today are designed to be surgical and thus precise to prevent from repeating the cycle we saw in the spring," Levine said. "We have gained a great deal of experience since the start of this outbreak and have learned from best practices from other states as well as counties right here in Pennsylvania."