Governor Tom Wolf announced that the ban on indoor dining and other temporary restrictions will be lifted on January 4th.
Wolf says there has been encouraging trends in the number of coronavirus cases and that the temporary mitigation efforts have accomplished their intention.
“It appears that the number of new cases each day have plateaued,” Wolf said. “That means that our mitigation efforts over the past weeks have done what they were intended to do. And I thank everybody who abided by the restrictions that were put in place to protect us.”
Wolf said that the restrictions in place like mask wearing, gathering limits, and business capacities that we in place prior to December 12th will go into effect.
Now, this does not mean that we’re out of the woods by any means. We still have significant mitigation efforts in place,” Wolf said.
According to the Department of Health, here are the following guidelines in effect starting January 4th:
Business, work, school, child care and congregate settings
- Child care may open, complying with guidance
- Congregate care restrictions in place
- Prison and hospital restrictions determined by individual facilities
- Schools subject to CDC and commonwealth guidance.
- Telework must continue unless impossible
- Businesses with in-person operations must follow updated business and building safety requirements
- Masks are required in businesses
- All in-person businesses may operate at 75% occupancy, except where noted
- Self-certified restaurants may open at 50% capacity for indoor dining; Restaurants that have not self-certified are at 25% capacity for indoor dining,
- On-premises alcohol consumption prohibited unless part of a meal; cocktails-to-go and carryout beverages are allowed
- Serving alcohol for on-site consumption must end at 11 p.m., and all alcoholic beverages must be removed from patrons by midnight
- Personal care services (including hair salons and barbershops) open at 50% occupancy and by appointment only
- Indoor recreation and health facilities (such as gyms and spas) open at 50% occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged; fitness facilities directed to prioritize outdoor activities.
- All entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and museums) open at 50% occupancy.
- Construction at full capacity with continued implementation of protocol.
- Hospitals are still being monitored to determine if elective procedure reductions should be ordered regionally.
- The out-of-state testing requirement is still in place.
- Local governments may still have more strict guidance in place.
Social Restrictions
- Gatherings limits determined using maximum occupancy calculator.
- Face coverings are required to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home.
- Unnecessary travel should be limited.
