Philadelphia eases COVID-19 restrictions on outdoor dining and sporting events

Philadelphia has eased COVID-19 restrictions as positive COVID-19 case numbers within the city continue to decline. 

Restaurants may now have six people per table outdoors, and they no longer need to be from the same household, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Professional sports teams are now allowed to have spectators at a limited capacity, and religious services are permitted to double capacity to 20%, according to the Inquirer.

Pennsylvania is also loosening statewide restrictions, including eliminating the quarantine requirement for people who travel to Pennsylvania from out of state, NBC Philadelphia. 

Professional sports teams with outdoor stadiums are now permitted to host up to 2,500 people; those with indoor venues will be allowed to host a maximum of 500 individuals, 6ABC reported.

The Wells Fargo Center, the home arena of the 76ers and Flyers, will remain closed because it takes more than the 500 permitted individuals to run the indoor arena. Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, is allowed to host the authorized maximum for outdoor venues of 2,500 spectators, 6ABC reported.

Food and drink are now permitted inside theaters if spectators are in groups of four or less, and retail stores may increase their capacity to 20 people per 1,000 square feet, an increase from 10. 

Senior centers will be open for the first time since last March, with a requirement that people double-mask or wear a KN95 mask at the center, the Inquirer reported.

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said that the loosening of the restrictions must be coupled with strictly enforced mask use, 6ABC reported. 

Compared to the rest of the state, Philadelphia’s COVID-19 restrictions are decidedly stricter given the city’s dense population. Farley said that if Pennsylvania further reduces restrictions, Philadelphia may consider following suit. 

”I’m optimistic about where we’re going in the next few months,” Farley said.