PA To Lift More Coronavirus Restrictions On April 4

PENNSYLVANIA — Occupancy restrictions will ease next month on many restaurants and other businesses across the state. Most eateries, malls, gyms, movie theaters and casinos will be allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity as of April 4.

Restaurants may resume bar service and alcohol service will be allowed without the purchase of food. Additionally, the curfew for removing alcoholic drinks from tables will be lifted.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday that restaurants that have self-certified in regard to cleaning and mitigation protocols will be allowed to increase capacity to 75 percent. Those that have not self-certified will be allowed to increase capacity to 50 percent. Wearing masks and observing social distancing still will be required.

The self-certification measures require restaurants to strictly comply to all public health safety guidelines. The self-certification documents will include a statement that the owner has reviewed and agrees to follow the requirements in the state's restaurant industry guidance. Additionally, restaurants must state the business' maximum indoor occupancy number based on the fire code, as well as a statement that the owner understands that the certification is subject to penalties if falsified.

Maximum occupancy limits for outdoor events will be being raised to 50 percent while indoor event total occupancy is increasing to 25 percent. Maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

“Pennsylvanians have stepped up and done their part of help curb the spread of COVID-19,” Wolf said in a news release. "Our case counts continue to go down, hospitalizations are declining, and the percent positivity rate gets lower every week – all very positive signs.

"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.”

According to the Pennsylvania Department Of Health, there have been 829,005 coronavirus cases in the state and 24,587 deaths as of Monday. Approximately 1.3 million people have been fully vaccinated against the virus.