Gov. Wolf Revises Gathering Limits, Eliminates Out-of-State Travel Restrictions

Citing a decline in COVID-19 cases and increased vaccinations Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday announced he is easing restrictions on indoor and outdoor gathering occupancies and eliminating out-of-state travel restrictions.

Under the revised order, occupancy limits for indoor gatherings increase to 15% of maximum occupancy and outdoor events increase to 20% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size, if attendees are able to maintain 6-foot distancing. Mask-wearing guidelines must still be enforced.

Previously, occupancies for gatherings and events were subject to a percentage based on a venue’s maximum capacity.

The Department of Health also is ending its travel order that required 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.

“Pennsylvania is taking a measured approach to revising or lifting mitigation orders,” Wolf said in a statement. “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.”

The updated order defines “an event or gathering as a temporary grouping of individuals for defined purposes, that takes place over a limited timeframe, such as hours or days,” according to the Department of Health. “For example, events and gatherings include fairs, festivals, concerts, or shows and groupings that occur within larger, more permanent businesses, such as shows or performances within amusement parks, individual showings of movies on a single screen/auditorium within a multiplex, business meetings or conferences, or each party or reception within a multi-room venue.”

The updated order does not change requirements for permanent business operations like bars, restaurants, gyms and amusement parks, which can operate at 50% of maximum capacity.

Religious gatherings remain specifically exempt from the order. Educational institutions are subject to separate Department of Education guidance but the gathering order “does apply to school activities within and outside of the classroom that are not related to educational instruction, including, but not limited to, assemblies, school board meetings, staff meetings, and extracurricular activities.”

The revised order also does not impact temporary local ordinances — such as those in State College Borough and College, Ferguson and Patton townships — that place limits on the number of people who can attend gatherings at residences and on public property.

Wolf said the decision to revise the mitigation orders was based on a range of data, including:

• Percent of population receiving at least one dose of vaccine: 14 percent of the population under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health has received at least one dose of vaccine; removing those under age 16, the percentage increases to 16.9.
• Percent positivity: currently at 6.3% statewide
• The incidence rate per 100,000 residents: currently at 101.3 over a 7-day period; and
• Hospital bed capacity (availability): currently at 41%.

He still advised caution.

“Reduced cases, hospitalizations and deaths, and the more than 2.3 million vaccinations are good signs, but the CDC advises that now is not the time to introduce expansive loosening of mitigation efforts known to put people at more risk,” a statement from the governor’s office said. “New cases of variants continue to appear, and some experts warn of a fourth surge in cases.”