Allegheny Co. now allowing indoor dining at 25%, rescinds previous order

PITTSBURGH — Restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Allegheny County were updated Friday to fall more in line with statewide orders from Gov. Tom Wolf that went into effect Thursday.

The new order rescinds a July 8 order from the ACHD and takes effect at 5 p.m. Friday. All measures ordered by the state will be in effect, with the following exceptions for Allegheny County:

• Indoor and outdoor seating areas for sit-down, dine-in service at bars, restaurants, and private catered events shall be closed to patrons by 11:00 p.m. Take-out sales continue to be permitted after 11:00 p.m., consistent with applicable Pennsylvania law.
• The use of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited at all indoor and outdoor dining facilities and indoors at casinos.
• Events and gatherings other than those in businesses in the retail food services industry are limited to:
• Indoor events and gatherings of more than 25 persons are prohibited; and
• Outdoor events and gatherings of more than 50 persons are prohibited.

ACHD Director Dr. Debra Bogen worked with other health department staff to go over the state’s order, as well as the previous one for the county, to determine the latest restrictions. Officials said the county won’t be any less strict than what the state is ordering, though they can choose to be more restrictive.

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During a news conference this week, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine praised what had been done in Allegheny County to stop the spread.

In a one-on-one interview with Channel 11 News, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald shared his thoughts on the issues with testing delays and a possible change in the county’s mandate.

“One of the things this country needs to do ... we need to have a national strategy about testing. It should have been done months ago when this all began,” Fitzgerald said.

You can watch that full interview below.

The now rescinded July 8 restriction from the ACHD were as follows:

• Indoor dining or alcohol consumption at bars, restaurants, or any other business establishments in Allegheny County is prohibited;
• Indoor areas, including bar areas, of restaurants and retail food service businesses must be closed to customers except for through-traffic;
• Customers are subject to a three (3) drink maximum for dine-in service at outdoor seating areas;
• Dine-in service at outdoor seating is permitted until 11:00 PM;
• The use of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited at outdoor dining facilities and indoors at casinos; and
• Events and gatherings of more than 50 persons outdoors in Allegheny County are prohibited.

Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald talks about COVID-19 mandates Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald talks about COVID-19 mandates

Cox Media Group