State to enforce COVID-19 guidelines for bars, restaurants

Pennsylvania is threatening to fine bars and restaurants up to $1,000 for failure to enforce COVID-19 social distancing and masking guidelines.
Those businesses also risk having their liquor licenses revoked or suspended for such violations, Gov. Tom Wolf said in a Wednesday news release.
“We have put forth guidance with critical requirements to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 so that these businesses can remain open,” Wolf said in a news release.
His reminder about the guidelines came a day after Allegheny County banned the indoor sales of alcohol after a record-setting spike in COVID-19 cases linked to young adults crowding bars.
Staffs at bars and restaurants are to require all customers to wear masks indoors unless they are seated at their tables. These businesses also are required to operate with 50% occupancy.
Further, employees are required to wear masks covering their noses and mouths at all times, a spokeswoman for the state Liquor Control Board said.
Since mid-March the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement has carried out compliance checks at more than 15,100 establishments, with an average of 1,500 a day.
The bureau has issued 162 warnings and 103 notices of violations to date.
Complaints regarding licensees not complying with COVID-19 mitigation mandates may be directed to the BLCE at 1-800-932-0602, or reported through the BLCE’s online complaint form: expressforms.pa.gov/apps/pa/psp/blce-online-complaint.
COVID-19 requirements for bars and restaurants:
- Require all employees to wear masks covering their noses and mouths at all times
- Require all customers to wear masks while entering, exiting, or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail food service business. Face coverings may be removed while seated
- Provide at least six feet between parties at tables or physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back. If tables or other seating are not movable, seat parties at least six feet apart
- Where possible, stagger work stations to avoid employees standing next to each other. Where six feet of separation is not possible, consider spacing options that include other mitigation efforts with increased frequency of cleaning and sanitizing surfaces
- Establish a limit for the number of employees in shared spaces, including break rooms, and offices to maintain at least a six-foot distance
- Don’t use shared tables among multiple parties unless the seats can be arranged to maintain six feet of distance between parties.
- Train all employees on the importance and expectation of increased frequency of handwashing, the use of hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, and provide clear instructions to avoid touching hands to face
- Assign employees to monitor and clean high touch areas frequently while in operation
- Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signage on walls to ensure that customers remain at least six feet apart in lines or waiting for seating or in line for the restroom