Bars In Pennsylvania Allowed To Reopen Sunday

PENNSYLVANIA — Some of the strictest coronavirus restrictions on bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania will soon be lifted, Gov. Wolf announced this week, a small step toward restoring normalcy as more and more of the population is vaccinated.

The new, eased restrictions will go into effect on April 4. Some of the most notable changes include the resumption of bar service and seating, increasing indoor dining capacity to 75 percent, and removing the 11 p.m. last-call curfew. Mask-wearing and social distancing requirements still apply.

"Pennsylvanians have stepped up and done their part to help curb the spread of COVID-19," Gov. Wolf said in a statement. "The number of people getting vaccinated increases daily and we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It’s time to allow our restaurants, bars and other service businesses to get back to more normal operations."

This comes along with even more expanded capacity for indoor and outdoor mass gatherings; events can now be held at 25 percent capacity indoors, and 50 percent capacity outdoors.

Restrictions on the hospitality industry have been among the most controversial facets of pandemic shutdown orders, both in Pennsylvania and across the nation. At the height of the fall surge of the pandemic, Wolf's administration shut down indoor dining to stop the spread of the virus. Hundreds of establishments protested, even forming an online directory of businesses that were standing in open defiance. In return, the state enforced the orders, and dozens of restaurants were ordered to close for refusing to comply with safety measures.

The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association says they're relieved, but argues that the eased restrictions should go into place now, not on April 4, "especially while neighboring states have been taking action in a timelier fashion."

"We would like to see the Governor allow the hospitality industry the opportunity to come back to the business quicker, so that these businesses can survive this long period of disruption," the Association said in a statement.

Here are the key points of the changes announced by the state this week, effective April 4:

• Bar seating allowed
• Alcohol service allowed past 11 p.m.
• Alcohol purchase allowed without the purchase of food
• Curfew for removing alcoholic drinks from tables is lifted
• Indoor dining capacity raised to 75 percent
• Other businesses can also reopen at 75 percent capacity, including casinos, gyms, theaters, malls, and other facilities