UPDATE: (7:55pm 6/28)
According to a press release on Sunday evening from Allegheny County, Dr. Debra Bogen, Director of the Allegheny County Health Department, has executed the order for bars and restaurants to cease on-site consumption of alcohol to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The order is effective immediately, although it will not be enforced until after 5 PM on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
The order, which will last until further notice, includes the following disease prevention control measures that are being implemented to abate and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Allegheny County:
- The on-site consumption of alcohol at bars, restaurants, or any other business establishment in Allegheny County is prohibited until further notice. Take-out alcohol sales may continue subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law.
- Face masks must be worn by customers while at the table at restaurants providing in-person dining; masks may only be removed for eating and drinking. All other masking requirements ordered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania remain unchanged and in place.
- Physical distancing of at least 6 feet must be done while at tables inside restaurants; restaurant occupancy, including staff, is limited to 50% of thestated fire code maximum occupancy.
- Restaurants providing in-person dining shall prioritize the use of outdoor seating, if possible.
ORIGINAL STORY (4:40pm 6/28)
Allegheny County has announced new restrictions due to recent spikes in COVID-19 cases.
A special #COVID19 briefing with Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogan was held on Sunday afternoon (6/28).
On-site consumption of alcohol will NOT be allowed at bars and restaurants. Both bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open to serve food and sell to-go alcoholic beverages.
Masks will also be required at all businesses. This also includes restaurants, except when seated at your table and eating. Restaurants will also be held to the physical distancing requirements, the limitation of 50% of stated fire code maximum occupancy and will be asked to prioritize outdoor seating.
Violations reported will be investigated with businesses being ordered closed for a minimum of a week.
A press release issued by The Allegheny County Health Department after the briefing said, "The Allegheny County Health Department is finalizing an order to take effect at 5 PM on Tuesday, June 30 which will restrict on-premises alcohol consumption at any business establishment in Allegheny County." A spokesperson from the county told us the order would take effect after immediately after it is finalized.
The Health Dept. is also recommending that people who have traveled out of state get tested or self-quarantine for 14 days upon returning. A map of testing locations in Allegheny County is available at https://bit.ly/ACTestingSiteMap
The county reported 96 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, which is a new daily record.
You can watch the full video from the news briefing below.
Photo: Getty Images