Indoor dining ban to expire next week as planned as COVID-19 has plateaued

Gov. Tom Wolf said he will lift a temporary ban on indoor dining and other COVID-19 mitigation efforts as planned Monday as new cases of the virus have plateaued.
Wolf said casinos and gyms can reopen, but other elements of his orders remain in place, including capacity limits and mask wearing in public.
“The fight against this is not over,” Wolf said during a virtual meeting Wednesday with the media.
As COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Pennsylvania, it could take months before they are available to the general public, he said.
While the future appears brighter, Wolf said, the virus is still posing a threat on the state’s health-care systems.
A surge in post-Thanksgiving cases prompted Wolf to issue the temporary order Dec. 12, and he said it appeared to have worked.
He said the public needs to cooperate with ongoing efforts to slow the spread of the virus or it “will return with swift and deadly consequences.”
“We cannot let our guard down,” state Health Sec. Rachel Levine said.
The virus has killed 15,672 Pennsylvanians since March after 319 new statewide deaths from the disease were announced Wednesday, including seven in Fayette County. Washington County saw six new virus deaths while one was announced in Greene County.
Fayette County added 78 new cases, taking its cumulative total to 7,078. Washington County reported 71 new cases, bringing its total to 8,798. Greene County’s case-count grew by 37 to 1,659.
The pandemic led Washington County to extend the closure of Courthouse Square in Washington for another month through Jan. 31. Business will be conducted there by appointment only, the county announced Wednesday.
COVID-19 mitigation orders remain in place after temporary order is lifted Monday:
- 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.
- The out-of-state testing requirement is still in place.
- Local governments may still have more strict guidance in place