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Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Announce New "Safer at Home" Restrictions

11/18/20

By: Justin Boron

The City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania announced new measures this week aimed at curbing the spike in COVID cases in the region, but neither appear to be ready to initiate a broad-based shutdown like the one that began in March earlier this year.

Set to take effect Friday, the City of Philadelphia’s “Safer at Home” restrictions will have the most immediate effect on businesses and employers. Under them, the following business activities are prohibited:

• High schools and colleges must move to online instruction only, with the exception of clinical instruction for students in health sciences. 
• Indoor dining at restaurants and other food service businesses.
• Theaters, including movie theaters, and other performance spaces. 
• Bowling alleys, arcades and game spaces.
• Museums.
• Libraries.
• Casinos.
• Recreational activities and sports for youth, community groups, and schools. 
• Gyms and indoor exercise classes. (Exercise groups and classes may continue outdoors.)
• Senior day services (senior centers and adult day care centers) remain closed.

Additionally, the Philadelphia mayor’s order modifies restrictions on restaurants, retail, and office businesses:

• Restaurants offering outdoor dining must reduce table sizes to four people and limited to members of the same household
• Retail stores and indoor malls have a max density of 5 people per 1,000 square feet.
• Offices are permitted to have only employees that cannot work remotely.

The Commonwealth is taking a more targeted approach, but has mandated mask-wearing both inside and outside. Additionally, travelers in and out of Pennsylvania are encouraged to obtain a negative COVID test or quarantine for 14 days. But Pennsylvania officials acknowledged that they do not plan to actively enforce the guideline.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Justin Boron at jboron@fmglaw.com.

Additional Information:

FMG has formed a Coronavirus Task Force to provide up-to-the-minute information, strategic advice, and practical solutions for our clients.  Our group is an interdisciplinary team of attorneys who can address the multitude of legal issues arising out of the coronavirus pandemic, including issues related to Healthcare, Product Liability, Tort Liability, Data Privacy, and Cyber and Local Governments.  For more information about the Task Force, click here.

You can also contact your FMG relationship partner or email the team with any questions at coronavirustaskforce@fmglaw.com.

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