Governor Tom Wolf has issued new orders to elaborate on the process of reopening Pennsylvania, and announced that outdoor dining will be allowed in ‘Yellow Phase’ counties (including Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland) beginning on Friday, June 5.
There are strict guidelines that need to be adhered to, including maximum occupancy limits.
Yellow Phase Outdoor Dining
- Indoor areas, including bar areas, of restaurants and retail food service businesses must be closed to customers except for through-traffic. 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.
- Customers being served must be seated at a table.
Prohibitions are also included. The following are not permitted:
- Self-service food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, condiments, and drink stations.
- Condiments on tables; these must be dispensed by employees upon the request of a customer.
- Reusable menus.
- Refilling food and beverage containers or allowing implements brought in by customers.
The Governor has also moved select Pennsylvania counties to the ‘Green Phrase,’ including Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango, and Warren counties. In the Green Phase, retail food service businesses, including restaurants and bars, are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas, as long as they strictly adhere to restrictions.
Green Phase Dining
- Bar seating may be utilized if customers are seated and comply with physical distancing guideline of at least 6 feet or physical barriers between customers. Standing in a bar area will not be permitted.
- A maximum of four customers that have a common relationship may sit together at the bar, while adhering to the physical distancing guidelines or barriers between other customers.
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