Rules changing again for Pa. bars, restaurants
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Restrictions for indoor dining and drinking in Pennsylvania are about to change again.
On Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine signed new orders loosening restrictions on alcohol sales, but not by much.
Last week, Wolf announced that bars and restaurants could increase their indoor seating capacity from 25% to 50% starting Monday — if they go through an online self-certification process by Oct. 5 — and would force on-premise alcohol consumption to end at 10 p.m.
The new order applies to restaurants that choose to self-certify to increase to 50% and those that stay at 25% capacity.
Restaurants and bars are permitted to remain open for food and take-out alcohol sales if they have a valid liquor license.
The move comes three days after a federal judge in Pittsburgh found that orders issued by Wolf restricting the size of gatherings and closing non-essential businesses to protect against the spread of COVID-19 were unconstitutional.
Legal representatives for the administration plan to seek an immediate stay to halt the order. They also expect appeal the ruling in the suit filed by several businesses and their owners, along with state Reps. Mike Kelly, Daryl Metcalfe, Marci Mustello and Tim Bonner, as well as Butler, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.
Until a decision is made in appeals court, all orders remain in place.
“As we continue to take critical steps to continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we also recognize that this pandemic has taken a significant toll on the food services industry, so we must balance public health and economic recovery,” Wolf said. “These orders give restaurants the ability to increase indoor occupancy safely while giving customers confidence when deciding to patronize a restaurant.”
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