After widespread reports of rising COVID-19 case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths, Gov. Wolf on Thursday announced a tightening of business and school restrictions. The following restrictions will take effect on Saturday, December 12 and will run until January 4, 2021:

• All indoor restaurant dining is suspended. Outdoor dining and takeout service can continue.
• Indoor gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited. Houses of worship are excluded from this restriction but are encouraged to find alternative methods for worship.
• Outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people.
• All in-person businesses serving the public may operate only up to 50% capacity.
• Gyms and fitness center operations are prohibited.
• All in-person businesses in the entertainment industry serving the public are prohibited from operations. This includes theaters, concert venues, museums, arcades, casinos, private clubs, and bowling alleys.
• In-person school extracurricular activities are suspended.
• K-12 school sports and youth sports are paused. Professional and collegiate sports can continue but spectators are barred.

Businesses need to review these new, temporary restrictions and assess their impact on operations and on their employees. Businesses that fail to comply with these restrictions face potential enforcement actions by the state. These include penalties, orders, and suspension of state-issued licenses and permits, such as liquor licenses. Attorneys at Barley Snyder are available to assist businesses in navigating the new restrictions. Please contact Martin Siegel or any of the attorneys in our COVID-19 Response Service Team.

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this alert should not be construed as legal advice to be relied upon nor to create an attorney/client relationship. Please note that the reader’s or an industry’s specific situation or circumstances will vary and, thus, for example, an approach that is advisable in one industry may not be appropriate in another industry. If you have questions about your situation or about how to apply information contained in this alert to your situation or industry, you should reach out to an attorney.

The views expressed in this alert are those of each individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or the firm’s clients. The response to the COVID 19 pandemic is particularly challenging, evolving and, in many cases, can be controversial. Any views expressed in this alert are not intended to advocate for or endorse a particular governmental response to the pandemic.