Governor Wolf publicizes the indoor eating ban and short-term efforts to include COVID-19 expire on Jan 4th – CBS Pittsburgh

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

HARRISBURG (KDKA) – Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that the temporary COVID-19 restrictions in Pennsylvania will expire on January 4 at 8 a.m.

“I announce today that the temporary abatement orders that came into effect on December 12th will expire as planned on January 4th at 8 a.m. Operations in restaurants and bars as well as gyms and entertainment venues and the cessation of extracurricular activities,” said Wolf.

In an official press release, the governor’s office said the temporary damage control orders had helped “reduce” the rising coronavirus cases and deaths after Thanksgiving.

The only mitigation mandates that expire are those that were issued on December 12th.

Here is a full list of the governor’s office entities affected and the restrictions still in place:

• Childcare can be opened if the guidelines are observed
• The congregation has care restrictions
• Prison and hospital restrictions set by each institution
• Schools subject to CDC and Commonwealth guidance.
• Teleworking must continue unless this is impossible
• Personally operated organizations must follow the updated business and building security requirements
• Masks are required in companies
• All personal businesses can be 75% busy unless otherwise noted
• Self-certified restaurants can be 50% open for indoor dining. Restaurants that are not self-certified have a 25% capacity for indoor dining.
• On-site alcohol consumption prohibited unless part of a meal; Take-away cocktails and take-away drinks are allowed
• Alcohol serving for on-site consumption must end at 11 PM and all alcoholic beverages must be removed by guests by midnight
• Personal care services (including hair salons and barber shops) are 50% open and only open by appointment
• Indoor recreational and health facilities (such as gyms and spas) are 50% busy, and appointments are strongly recommended. Fitness facilities to prioritize outdoor activities.
• All entertainment offers (such as casinos, theaters and museums) are used at 50%.
• Construction at full capacity with continued implementation of the protocol.
• Hospitals will continue to be monitored to see if electoral reductions should be ordered regionally.
• The requirement for non-state tests remains.
• Local governments may have stricter guidelines.
• Assembly limits determined with the maximum occupancy calculator.
• Face covers must be worn indoors and outdoors when you are not at home.
• Unnecessary travel should be limited.

Temporary restrictions have been in place across the country for nearly three weeks, including a ban on indoor dining.

“In the past three weeks, the Pennsylvania hospitality industry, employees and related businesses have been destroyed by another unilateral and unjustified shutdown by Governor Wolf. Our state deserves better, and Pennsylvanians shouldn’t have to live in fear of another unexpected and ill-advised shutdown, ”said Jason Gottesman, Republican caucus spokesman for the Pennsylvania House. “When we return to the session next week, the House Republican Caucus will begin work on a stimulus plan for all Pennsylvanians that will help ensure these destructive shutdowns and restrictions never happen again.”

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“While this is positive news for facilities across the state, the ongoing business and employee impact will unfortunately begin to be felt by 2021,” said Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association. “Businesses lost an important time of the year while many bartenders and servers typically missed out on very generous tips during the holiday season.”

Moran urges Governor Wolf to lift the bar seating restriction, provided restaurants and bars follow bar-seat social distancing guidelines. He says this will help bars, especially since they have little or no table for guests to have.

Life! Casino announced today that it will reopen its facilities on January 8th at 8:01 am CET. Other institutions await announcements.

Stay with KDKA as we follow this developing story.