New Restrictions On Restaurants, Gatherings As PA Cases Rise

Kara Seymour
Updated ·2 min read

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday announced additional restrictions on indoor dining, alcohol consumption and large gatherings as the state aims to regain control of the coronavirus after a surge of cases in recent weeks.

"We have got to act now," Wolf said during a news conference. He said he will sign an executive order for targeted mitigation that will implement the following restrictions:

  • Indoor restaurant dining seating capacity will be limited 25 percent. All service must be at a table or booth; bar service is prohibited. The rules for outdoor dining remain the same.

  • Alcohol sales at restaurants and bars will be limited to consumption with a meal. All nightclubs are prohibited from opening.

  • Indoor gatherings will be limited to 25 people and outdoor gatherings to 250.

  • Unless not possible, all businesses are required to conduct their operations in whole or in part remotely through teleworking.

The developments come as the state reported nearly 1,000 more COVID-19 cases Wednesday. Since the pandemic began, 97,665 residents have been infected, and there have been 6,957 deaths.

The state Department of Health reported 994 cases Wednesday, including 246 in Allegheny County and 135 in Philadelphia.

"During the past week, we have seen an unsettling climb in new COVID-19 cases throughout Pennsylvania," Wolf said.

He said experts fear Pennsylvania is on track to be right back where it was during the peak of the pandemic. "What we're seeing right now could be worse than what we saw before," he said.

But, he noted, officials know more about the virus now than they did then. Broad measures, such as total shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, are not necessary at this point, Wolf said.

"We need to act again, but this time we have more knowledge. We have a better sense of how this virus is affecting Pennsylvanians."

Through contact tracing, state health officials believe the local rise in cases is attributed to some not following social distancing and mask requirements at bars and restaurants, as well as out-of-state travel to hot spots.

Wolf said there is "a lack of national coordination, and that has resulted in states in the South and Southwest not committing to do the things they should have done to control this virus."

States including Texas, Arizona and Florida are currently experiencing widespread surges of the virus, and "we're paying the price," the governor said.

Wolf said he would like to avoid a similar fate.

The new regulations "may feel like a step backwards, but it isn't," Wolf said.

This article originally appeared on the Newtown Patch