Restaurants allowed to increase indoor occupancy to 50 percent starting Sept. 21

Gov. Tom Wolf announced this week that certified restaurants will be able to increase indoor seating capacity to 50 percent starting Sept. 21.

“While our aggressive and appropriate mitigation efforts have kept case counts low, we must continue to take important steps to protect public health and safety as we head into the fall. At the same time, we must also support the retail food services industry that has struggled throughout this pandemic,” Wolf said.

The governor’s announcement preceded the state Senate Law and Justice Committee’s Sept. 8 action approving House Bill 2513 seeking to safely increase indoor occupancy for bars and restaurants and offer a revised plan to expand seating for outdoor dining.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, I have been trying to make sure that our economy can reopen safely, including increasing capacity for bars and restaurants,” said state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), whose H.B. 2513 amendment to increase capacity for bars passed unanimously.  “The committee action today to increase capacity, in addition to the announcement by the governor to ease restrictions, will help restaurants, bars and the hospitality industry.”

Restaurants must comply with all public health safety guidelines and orders through a self-certification process to continue Pennsylvania’s commitment to mitigating the spread of COVID-19. All restaurants that wish to increase to 50 percent seating capacity must complete the online self-certification process by Oct. 5.

Self-certified restaurants will appear in the Open & Certified Pennsylvania searchable online database, which consumers will be able to access when making decisions about dining establishments to patronize.

“The self-certification ensures that restaurants can expand indoor operations and commit to all appropriate orders so that employees and customers alike can be confident they are properly protected,” Wolf continued.

The self-certification documents and information about the Open & Certified Pennsylvania program will be available online also starting Sept. 21. The web resource will include a list of requirements contained in the current restaurant industry guidance and enforcement efforts as well as the business’ maximum indoor capacity based on the fire code.

The self-certification will be used as part of ongoing enforcement efforts conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, and will be shared with the departments of State, Labor & Industry and Health, and other enforcement agencies.

Social distancing, masking, and other mitigation measures must be employed by the establishments to protect diners and employees. Additionally, restaurants with liquor licenses will close alcohol sales at 10:00 PM.