PITTSBURGH — For the first time in three weeks, restaurants are allowed to offer indoor dining, and businesses such as casinos and gyms can reopen.

An order from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf that was part of COVID-19 mitigation efforts expired Monday morning.

Starting at 8:01 a.m., restaurants and bars could resume indoor dining. However, it is capped at 50% capacity for restaurants that have completed an online certification. For those that have not, the cap is 25%.

The certification is basically a form that says restaurants will follow all COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the state, city or county.

Alcohol still can’t be served without food, and alcohol sales must stop at 11 p.m.

Entertainment venues, such as casinos, theaters and museums, that were ordered to close were also allowed to reopen. So were gyms, fitness centers and spas. They, too, are limited to 50% capacity.

High school and youth sports can also start up again, but games between different schools have to wait until at least Friday.

Casinos Reopen

LIVE! Casino Pittsburgh welcomed back gamblers here Westmoreland County, and after the state’s three-week shutdown, it doesn’t appear to be keeping the crowds away.

“They clean the machines all the time. It’s amazing how many people they have working here. not just a lot of people doing tables and machines, just the people cleaning,” said John Morgart of Irwin.

“At 8 a.m., we had a line out front, not a lot, but enough. And as you might be able to see behind me, a good crowd. People have been waiting to get their entertainment fix on,” said Live! Casino general manager Sean Sullivan.

The casino was only open 18 days before the shutdown. Safety measures were already in place then, but Sullivan said they added even more during the closure.

“We had an opportunity to even clean the property more and deeper and clean the carpets and things you can’t do in the rush of an opening so it was a good break if you will, if you’re looking for a silver lining,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan said the crowds have been consistent and on weekends, the casino pushes near-capacity limits. He believes it’s drawing people in because its giving folks a sense of normalcy.

“It takes them away from the challenges in their life, all the issues that are going on, the distressing news on occasion, right? So here they’re here and they’re smiling,” he said.

The casino still has to operate at half capacity, but they’re hoping to now stay open 24/7 and 365 days a year.

LIVE! Casino Pittsburgh welcomes back gamblers in Westmoreland County

Back to the gym

Exercising tends to top New Year’s resolutions each year, and now folks have the option to workout indoors once again.

For the first time in more than three weeks, gyms and fitness studios were permitted to resume indoor operations in Pennsylvania, but still at 50 percent capacity only.

“It was great to be back inside,” said Todd Hamer, General Manager at Union Fitness on the North Side. “We’re just trying to figure out how to serve people.”

While membership is down 50 percent this year as compared to early last year, Hamer is optimistic and grateful they’ve been able to pull through.

While indoor activity was prohibited, his staff still kept busy, moving equipment to an outdoor area so people could workout. They also allowed folks to borrow equipment to take home, and taught free classes online.

“It was an opportunity to show we care and want to do things the right way.” Hamer said.

Now, doors are cracked to bring in fresh air. Masks are required and certain machines are closed in order to ensure distancing.

“I’m cautiously optimistic we’ll be rolling in six months here,” he said.

At nearby Physique Rx’d, on Western Avenue, owner Lynsey Arch is also keeping a positive mindset.

“I’m very grateful and thankful that I’m still open,” she said.

She, too, is utilizing social media and technology platforms to continue teaching.

On Monday, she welcomed clients back for one-on-one sessions, making sure she had properly sanitized.

For now, she is holding off on hosting in-person group classes.

“I think a lot of people are still cautious about being in a room full of people,” she said. “I think we’re just going to take it one step at a time.”