On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf eased a series of the remaining mitigation measures in light of the state’s decreasing COVID-19 case count and increases in vaccinations.
The governor called the easing of restrictions part of a “measured approach” to changing mitigation restrictions. The most strict mitigation measures were put in place last spring and over the winter holidays as cases and deaths spiked.
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The revised mitigation restrictions announced by Wolf Monday morning:
- Revised maximum occupancy limits for indoor events to allow for 15 percent of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size. Core public health measures such as face covering (mask-wearing), social distancing, and hand hygiene still must be enforced. The 15 percent of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.
- Revised maximum occupancy limits for outdoor events to allow for 20 percent of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size. Core public health measures such as face covering (mask-wearing), social distancing, and hand hygiene still must be enforced. The 20 percent of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.
- Eliminate out-of-state travel restrictions. In November, the Pennsylvania Department of Health provided an updated travel order requiring anyone over the age of 11 who visits from another state to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or place themselves in a travel quarantine for 14 days upon entering Pennsylvania. Today, this order was rescinded. The current downward trend of cases nationwide and implementation of testing requirements and universal face covering on public transportation and transportation hubs are reducing the risk that interstate travel is a vector of disease transmission.
The easing of the restrictions is likely to be welcome news for event and travel and leisure businesses.
“The reason we are seeing cases drop can be attributed, in part, to people following the mitigation efforts we have in place. Mask-wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene are making a difference and need to continue even as we see more and more people fully vaccinated. We need to balance protecting public health with leading the state to a robust economic recovery. We are lifting mitigation efforts only when we believe it is safe to do so,” Wolf said in a statement.
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The governor’s office said while some of the restrictions are being eased, federal health experts have advised that “now is not the time to introduce expansive loosening of mitigation efforts known to put people at more risk.”
State officials warned a new surge in COVID-19 cases is possible, especially with new variants spreading.
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Across Pennsylvania, more than 2.3 million vaccinations have been administered as hospitalizations and deaths decrease. The most recent data showed that the COVID-19 test positivity rate dropped to 6.3 percent. For test positivity, health experts have said a level of 5 percent of higher was concerning.
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