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.
Allow me to interrupt Rat speak: "We do not want to become a Red state. We have the scare the living crap out of people, destroy the economy even further, and demonize Trump so that he is not elected in November."
The left will burn it all down and kill anything in their way just to defeat Trump.
Regardless of November's outcome, their elimination can't be effected politically. We've all been trying politics x decades and it's only worsened things.
I think you identified exactly what I meant. There is no political solution. That’s why I referred to 4/19/1775.
You are right my friend. I just made myself the commander of the Central PA Resistance Unit. I’m an army of one :)
However, the WHO also said that if the US (President) resumes sending them money, WHO would be inclined to change its current opinion....(sarc)
Organizations like the WHO, the media and government institutions have become grossly politicized. The info we're getting from these institutions is not dependable.
Dontcha just love seeing these micro-managing morons appear to know WTF they are doing.
FUTW. FURL.
People in PA are NOT going to put up with another shutdown.
You are now officially a force of two. Where do I make my mark?
Restaurants and bars went out and purchased foods and drinks to re-open.
Now they are being forced to cutback or close again....losing all that inventory they just purchased.
This will destroy even more businesses....which is the goal.
Wolf would like a post in a Biden Administration.
The only suitable post for the Commie a Whipping Post.
When the virus "peaked"in early April and governor-imposed anti-Constitutional restrictions remained in place, then were expanded significantly, I concluded this would continue right up to the first Tuesday in November. It now has become very clear what the Democrat/Left Party is doing. There is no denying the strategy they're employing -- quite successfully thus far -- to stop Trump:
If the American people dare elect Trump to a second term, the lockdowns and the widespread fear, distrust, depression and anger generated by the edicts of, primarily, Leftist governors including bans on church services, mandatory masking of healthy people, anti-social distancing, etc., etc. etc. that we've experienced over the past four months will continue for the next four years.
The governors have learned they are omnipotent including the ability to, without challenge, override the protections guaranteed all Americans in the U.S. Constitution and that the federal government will, as they have acted to this point, do little to nothing to protect the rights of citizens trapped in those states or to defend the Constitution as is their oath to do so.
This is the lesson the Democrat/Left Party is teaching: Re-elect Trump and you will (continue) to pay a huge price in terms of the economy, our societal systems and even human life as these governors have had a real taste of unbridled, uncheck power over each and every person in their state.
Since 68% of the deaths in PA have been in nursing homes perhaps Tommie the Commie and Dr “Don’t Call Me Dick” Levine could explain how this would mitigate that.
shouting it alright. I have lost my patience with this crap. Ignorant , brainwashed little turds thinking they are tough because most on our side will not speak, or even those who agree. No more and every time you stand up to these scumbags they back down like the little cowards they are.
I’ll join you, so that makes two
In my County it was reported that in one nursing home 17 employees and 5 residents tested positive after the state required testing in all facilities. All 22 people were asymptomatic. They didn’t even know they had it.
Welcome aboard. We might have a 3rd.
“...individuals in violation of these orders ...”
When did we the people give Wolfe and his lunatic cross-dressing health director the authority to make laws by fiat?
Any cops that enforce this “order” will have abrogated their oath to the constitution, and should be fired.
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