Philly easing coronavirus restrictions march 1: what to know

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia is slowly moving closer to a return to normalcy as officials announced Friday that some coronavirus restrictions would be eased at the start of March. During a

news conference Friday, Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said the city will relax several restrictions in place to match the state's restrictions. Farley said the executive order

that implemented restrictions on theaters, indoor and outdoor gatherings, and more expires Sunday. With that expiration, falling case rates, and increasing vaccination rates, the city will

allow more activities to resume on Monday. Before listing the new relaxed restrictions, Farley said they are all contingent on consistent and universal mask usage. However, masks are not

requires (because they simply cannot be used) when eating or drinking. According to Farley, the city's limits on indoor and outdoor event sizes will now match the state's

guidelines. Regarding outdoor spaces, venues that can host 10,000 people or more are capped at 5 percent capacity up to 2,500 people. With that limit in place, the Phillies can allow fans in

the stadium during its home games. However, that 2,500 figure includes athletes, coaches, and venue staff in addition to fans. Outdoor venues with up to 2,000 capacity limits can only have

15 percent of their capacity, and venues with 2,001 to 10,000 capacity limits can only have 10 percent of their capacity. For indoor events and gatherings, places with a 2,000 person

capacity can have up to 10 percent of that capacity indoors; 2,001 to 10,000 capacity spaces can have 5 percent capacity; and places with 10,000 of greater people inside cannot have more

than 500 people. Restaurant restrictions will remain largely unchanged. However, Farley said outdoor dining can now allow six people per table, up from four people. Additionally, diners were

only allowed to eat with members of their own household but as of Monday outdoor diners can eat with people from outside their household. Movie theaters will also have some eased

restrictions. Farley said food and drink sales will be permitted in theaters. However, theater-goers will be limited to four per group. Retails businesses will be permitted to allow 20

people inside per 1,000 square feet of space starting Monday. Senior centers will open again after being closed for months, but restrictions apply. Farley said Kn95 masks or double masks — a

surgical mask under a cloth mask — must be worn by people in the centers, and no more than 25 people are permitted in one room of the centers at a time. Outdoor catered events will be

permitted starting Monday, but attendance is capped at 100 people. Indoor catered events are still banned even after Monday. Religious services can increase capacity to 20 percent as of

Monday, as well.