New Indoor Dining Rules For PA Restaurants Start Monday

Pennsylvania restaurants can increase indoor capacity to 50 percent occupancy starting Monday. However, there is a self-certification process required for all restaurants that do so.

Gov. Tom Wolf, in a statement announcing the increased capacity, said while it is critical the state continues to keep case counts low, "we must also support the retail food services industry that has struggled throughout this pandemic."

The order increasing restaurant capacity, which was signed by the governor and Health Secretary Rachel Levine, also requires that serving alcohol for on-site consumption must end at 11 p.m. All alcoholic beverages must be removed from customers by midnight.

"This applies to both restaurants that do not self-certify to increase to 50 percent and those that choose to stay at 25 percent. There is no change to the requirements for the temporary sale of cocktails-to-go and take out alcohol sales from bars, restaurants or hotels with a liquor license," Wolf's office said. More information on the self-certification process can be found here.

Officials hope the new rules will help the hard-hit restaurant industry, which has dealt with shutdowns and closures since mid-March.

“As we continue to take critical steps to continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we also recognize that this pandemic has taken a significant toll on the food services industry, so we must balance public health and economic recovery,” Gov. Wolf said. “These orders give restaurants the ability to increase indoor occupancy safely while giving customers confidence when deciding to patronize a restaurant.”

Pennsylvania has reported nearly 150,000 total coronavirus infections since the pandemic began. There have been 7,956 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, after 22 new deaths were reported Saturday.