Pennsylvania restaurants can increase indoor capacity to 50% later this month

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Restaurants in Pennsylvania will be able to increase their indoor capacity from 25% to 50% starting Sept. 21, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday.

Restaurants will have to strictly follow all public health safety guidelines and orders through a self-certification process.

“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 in a statement.

Restaurants that self-certify will appear in the Open & Certified Pennsylvania searchable online database, which people will have access to so they can find certified businesses in their area.

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Wolf also announced Tuesday that starting Sept. 21 restaurants will not be allowed to sell alcohol past 10 p.m.

The self-certification documents and information about the Open & Certified Pennsylvania program can be found online starting September 21 and will contain the following:

• A list of requirements contained in the current restaurant industry guidance and enforcement efforts
• A statement that the owner has reviewed and agrees to follow these requirements
• The business’ maximum indoor occupancy number based on the fire code
• A statement that the owner understands that the certification is subject to penalties for unsworn falsification to authorities

Any restaurant that wishes to increase to 50% indoor capacity on Sept. 21 must complete the online self-certification process by Oct. 5.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Restaurants gearing up to increase dining capacity to 50%

Cox Media Group