Posted on 07/15/2020 1:05:19 PM PDT by lightman
Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf has announced new coronavirus mitigation restrictions that mainly target bars and restaurants.
An order released Wednesday that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on July 16 reduces indoor dining capacity at businesses in the retail foodservice industry from the current 50 percent to just 25 percent. It also forces bars to close unless they are serving sit-down, dine-in meals, and mandates that alcohol can only be served if it is within the same transaction as a meal or if it is for offsite consumption.
Additionally, bar service is prohibited, even outdoors, but the state’s outdoor dining rules have otherwise not changed. Takeout and delivery orders can continue to be placed, as well.
The order also requires businesses to have employees telework if possible and indoor gatherings are now limited to just 25 people while outdoor ones cannot exceed 250.
Music and nightclubs must close, too and gyms, while still allowed to permit workouts indoors, are asked to consider offering more outdoor workout activities.
The full text of the order can be viewed below.
Wolf said that the reason for the rollback in freedoms associated with the green phase of his reopening plan is due to fears about a new coronavirus case surge.
“During the past week, we have seen an unsettling climb of new COVID-19 cases throughout Pennsylvania,” Wolf said.
“During the past week, that has especially been bad. Medical experts, looking at our current trajectory, are projecting that a new surge is in the offing, and what we’re seeing right now could soon be even worse than what we saw before.”
Wolf went on to say during a news conference Wednesday that three factors, according to contract tracers, have led to an increase in confirmed coronavirus case counts daily: Citizens not respecting the state’s mask mandate at bars and restaurants, out-of-state travel, and a lack of national coordination in terms of reopening decisions in other states.
“Together these three catalysts have turned our downward trend into an alarming escalation, and we’re already at a tipping point where we really have to act,” Wolf said.
“We don’t want to become Florida, [don’t] want to become Texas, we don’t want to become Arizona. We have got to act now.”
It was not immediately clear how long the new restrictions would continue to be in place.
Pa. reported nearly 1,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases as of 12:01 a.m. on July 14, and has been consistently reporting nearly 1,000 cases per day for multiple days in a row.
“We know what will happen if we wait until cases rise exponentially before taking action,” Health Department Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The numbers would continue to increase in our entire state. We then [would] potentially have to quarantine.
“By acting now, and making these specific and targeted mitigation efforts statewide, we can get ahead of the curve and ensure that not only our hospitals and health care system be available to patients, but the economy will survive, while still saving lives.”
Here are the complete details of Wolf’s order, courtesy of a press release:
Bars and Restaurants
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 percent 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.
Nightclubs
All nightclubs, as defined by the Clean Indoor Air Act, 35 P.S. § 637.2, are prohibited from conducting operations.
Other events and gatherings
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.
The maximum occupancy limit includes staff.
Teleworking
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 business safety order, the worker safety order, and the masking order.
Gyms and fitness facilities
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 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.
Enforcement
Businesses and individuals in violation of these orders, issued pursuant to the authority granted to the Governor and the Secretary of Health under the law, including the Pennsylvania Disease Control and Prevention Law, could be subject to fines, business closure or other applicable enforcement measures.
Beginning with a spike in cases in Allegheny County in late June, Pennsylvania has seen cases continue to rise there and in other southwest counties, along with additional select counties in the state.
I’m the Maryland contingent.
Sometimes I feel somewhat embarrassed by my fellow Freepers. Ain’t diversity great.
‘That’s why I referred to 4/19/1775.’
you going to grab a smooth bore musket and start firing grapeshot...?
‘People in PA are NOT going to put up with another shutdown.’
you might want to rethink that; there is nothing Wolf can do that these mewling PA cowards (think females, young and old, and inexplicably wussy men) will not grovel at his feet and thank him profusely for doing...
There was a time in the history of America, when people were denied the ability to congregate and enjoy an adult beverage. Enterprising people avoided the dictates of the government and opened clandestine establishments, Called ‘Speakeasys.’ Perhaps we should start considering a return to the past.
Don’t be an idiot.
‘Don’t be an idiot.’
lighten up, bud; I’m just trying to break up all the doom and gloom...
Sorry about that. I took your post to me literally, as in I would do something so insanely stupid.
Oh voting won’t be cancelled. We need to oust Trump, not keep him in.
But you can bet they’ll insist all be mail-in fraud...voting.
This is totally absurd.
Every single person I talked to yesterday is upset over this power grab.
I’m not the only one that will pay a price.
Misery loves company.
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