Wolf issues new orders for businesses in green and yellow counties

A new order from Gov. Tom Wolf offers more guidance on what businesses may and may not do as their counties transition from yellow to green under Pennsylvania’s reopening plan.

The updated guidance detailed additional guidance for restaurants in both phases of the plan.

Here’s what it says:

Starting June 5, restaurants in yellow counties will be permitted to offer dine-in services in outdoor seating areas but must continue to keep indoor areas, including bar seating, closed.

Self-service options such as buffets, salad bars and drink stations must also remain closed, and condiments must be dispensed by employees upon request.

Restaurants in green counties may now provide indoor and outdoor seating as long as they provide physical barriers or six feet of distance between customers.

Customers may also sit together at a bar, but must have four or less individuals in their party.

Restaurants in either yellow or green counties have three options when adhering to occupancy limits under the guidance, according to information from the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association.

The businesses can decide their occupancy limits by either limiting the number of customers to 50% of the stated fire capacity, to 12 people for every 1,000 square feet or by arranging the restaurant’s layout so customers aren’t sitting within six feet of another seated table.

The updated orders for green also specify that personal care services, including hair salons and barber shops can operate by appointment, and gatherings of 250 individuals or more will remain prohibited until further notice.

Places of worship, such as churches and synagogues, are specifically excluded from the limitations in the order, but are encouraged to enforce social distancing.