Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Restaurants and Retail Food Service in "Yellow Phase" are Allowed Outdoor Dining Beginning June 5th

On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced new guidelines for restaurants in the "yellow phase" that includes outdoor dining.

According to a press release from Governor Wolf, beginning June 5, restaurants and retail food service businesses located in counties designated as being in the yellow phase are permitted to add dine-in service in outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, including maximum occupancy limits:
  • Indoor areas, including bar areas, of restaurants and retail food service businesses must be closed to customers except for through-traffic. Non-bar seating in outdoor areas (i.e., tables or counter seats that do not line up to a bar or food service area) may be used for customer seating.
  • Customers being served must be seated at a table.
Prohibitions are also included. The following are not permitted:
  • Self-service food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, condiments, and drink stations.
  • Condiments on tables; these must be dispensed by employees upon the request of a customer.
  • Reusable menus.
  • Refilling food and beverage containers or allowing implements brought in by customers.
Schuylkill County will switch from the "Red Phase" to the "Yellow Phase" on Friday, May 29th, 2020.