*story courtesy of Angelina Spencer and ACE National
ACE National is noticing a governmental trend in states that allow bars to reopen. Known as the “Last Call” Option, it limits alcohol service past 10 or 11 pm.
Alabama: At the direction of Gov. Kay Ivey, the state health officer has amended a “safer at home” order until Oct. 2. There is a mask mandate. Restaurants, bars and breweries can offer limited dine-in services, as long as social distancing and sanitizing measures are taken. Entertainment venues must continue to limit occupancy and implement sanitation and social distancing practices.
Alaska: Gov. Mike Dunleavy modified a travel mandate that requires those arriving in Alaska to show a negative COVID-19 test, agree to be tested on arrival or opt to self-quarantine for 14 days. Dunleavy permitted all businesses, including restaurants, hair salons, gyms, museums and entertainment venues to reopen at 100 percent capacity. Safeguards are recommended. In group gatherings, individuals from separate households are encouraged to maintain a 6-foot distance from one another.
Arizona: Gov. Doug Ducey and the Department of Health Services released requirements and guidelines for bars to reopen once benchmarks are met. Last Friday, bars withe food licenses were permitted to reopen at 50% capacity. Under the new guidance, approximately fifteen counties have been given the go-ahead to reopen their bars. Large gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited, but local authorities can approve them if certain safety precautions are met. Ducey has restricted residential evictions until Oct. 31.
Arkansas: The state moved to phase 2 of its reopening plan on June 15. Restaurants expanded capacity for dine-in services. With an approved plan, indoor and outdoor entertainment venues can hold events of up to 66 percent capacity. For gatherings of 100 people or fewer, no approved plan is required. A mask mandate is in order if social distancing cannot be maintained. Governor Hutchinson also issued an order protecting businesses from liability for damages or injury relating to coronavirus exposure. There is an exception for “willful, malicious or intentional misconduct.”
California: Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to modify a stay-at-home order for the state’s 40 million residents. Bars must remain closed. Restaurants are permitted outdoor operations only. Churches, hair salons, gyms, etc. are closed unless they can operate outside. Businesses providing essential services, including gas stations, pharmacies, food stores, banks and laundry facilities, remain open statewide. Retail stores can also operate with limitations. Everyone must wear a face mask in public spaces.
Colorado: Gov. Jared Polis extended bar service with an 11pm cutoff for alcohol service. The state is under a modified safer-at-home order, by which residents 65 and older and other vulnerable individuals are urged, but not required, to stay at home. Indoor gatherings are allowed but must be limited to 100 people, among other restrictions. Outdoor events must have no more than 175 people. Restaurants are open at 50 percent capacity or 50 people (whichever is fewer), and bars at 25 percent capacity or 50 people (whichever is fewer). Masks required.
Connecticut: Restaurants are permitted to resume dine-in services at 50 percent capacity. Casinos can reopen, with precautions in place. Governor Lamont has increased the number of people allowed to gather indoors for social and recreational purposes to 25, and outdoors to 100. Outdoor organized events, such as concerts, are capped at 500 people, and participants must maintain a 15-foot distance from one another (for example, blanket to blanket).
Delaware: Gov. John Carney has delayed moving the state to phase 3 of its economic reopening plan. Under phase 2, retail stores, restaurants, hair salons and most other businesses can resume operating at 60 percent capacity. Exercise facilities must remain at 30 percent capacity. Indoor gatherings of more than 250 people must be approved. Face masks required in public.
District of Columbia: Washington, D.C., is in phase 2 of the region’s reopening plan. People must continue to practice social distancing, and gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited. Restaurants resumed indoor dining with restrictions, such as spacing tables 6 feet apart and limiting the size of a party to six people. Bars and nightclubs are among nonessential businesses that must remain closed.
Florida: Halsey Beshears, secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, ordered bars that derive more than 50 percent of their sales from alcohol to stop selling alcohol for on-premises consumption. Gov. Ron DeSantis had signed an order that permitted most counties to begin phase 2 of their reopening plan on June 5. Restaurants can offer indoor service at 50 percent capacity. Beshears met with bar and brewery owners. He responded to one bar owner in an email that he can offer no ‘end date’ for bar closures but if the bar owner insists, it will be sometime after January 2021, and he advised the bar owner to manage his finances wisely until then, which resulted in a flood of disgruntled emails to the DPBR office.
*The Palm Beach County Commission meets tomorrow about moving into phase 2, specifically, the commission will address adult entertainment and bars; we need as many employees or friends to join us to support our cause. Please join us …..The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 9:30am at 301 N. Olive Avenue, 6th Floor, West Palm Beach, FL. You will go through security and then take the elevator to the 6th Floor.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez permitted indoor dining in restaurants today. Dining room capacities are limited to 50 percent, no more than six people at a table, doors and windows must be open to allow for fresh air to circulate, and air conditioning and fans must be on while people are inside the restaurant. Face masks required.
Georgia: Gov. Brian Kemp’s “shelter in place” orders have expired for the majority of Georgia businesses as of today. The Public Health State of Emergency remains in effect through September 10, 2020. Gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed, but individuals must maintain a 6-foot distance from each other. Restaurants must adhere to strict sanitation and social distancing guidelines. Bars and nightclubs are reopen with limited capacity and safety restrictions.
Hawaii: Gov. David Ige announced that, as of Sept. 1, travelers arriving in Hawaii from out of state must show a negative COVID-19 test result or self-quarantine for 14 days. Until then, a travel mandate remains in effect that requires all people entering Hawaii from out of state to self-quarantine for 14 days except for those who perform emergency response or critical infrastructure functions. The state is under the Act With Care phase of its reopening, which allows many businesses to resume operations, with restrictions. Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed, but individuals should practice social distancing. Ige issued an order requiring people to wear a face mask while inside an essential business or while waiting in line to enter one.
Idaho: Gov. Brad Little announced that he is extending Stage 4 of Idaho’s reopening plan and that the state will move to a regional response going forward. Under Stage 4, gatherings of any size are permitted, but people should practice social distancing and follow hygiene recommendations. While businesses may resume operations, they should adhere to social distancing and sanitation recommendations.
Illinois: Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the state is in phase 4 of a 5-phase plan to reopen the economy. As of June 26, gatherings of up to 50 people or 50 percent of a room’s capacity are permitted. Nonessential businesses can reopen if they have safety measures and other restrictions in place. Anyone over age 2 must wear a face mask when indoors at a public space or when outdoors at a public place where a 6-foot distance between people cannot be maintained. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that she is reinstating restrictions on some businesses. Among other rules, restaurants must limit a party’s size to six people, and bars, breweries and similar alcohol establishments that don’t serve food cannot offer indoor service. The restrictions took effect July 24.
Indiana: Gov. Eric Holcomb announced stage 4.5 of the state’s reopening plan expired Aug. 27. Under that stage, bars, nightclubs, movie theaters and other entertainment venues can reopen at 50 percent capacity, among other restrictions. Restaurants can operate at 75 percent capacity; retail stores, at full capacity. Reopened businesses are required to implement a safety plan that ad-dresses sanitation and social distancing. Gatherings of up to 250 people are permitted, indoors and outdoors, provided that social distancing is practiced. Adult day care facilities can allow outdoor visits. Holcomb ordered people to wear a face covering when in an indoor public space, when outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained and when using public transportation
Iowa: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation permitting more businesses to reopen on a limited basis. Casinos, amusement parks and bowling alleys were among the businesses most recently allowed to reopen with restrictions. Reynolds permitted restaurants to reopen with a customer limit and a requirement to space parties 6 feet apart. Effective at 5:00 pm on August 27, 2020 until 11:59 pm on September 20, all bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries, night clubs must close in the following six counties: Black Hawk, Dallas, Johnson, Linn, Polk, and Story county. They may continue to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises. Restaurants in these six counties are permitted to remain open, but must stop selling and serving alcoholic beverages after 10 pm
Kansas: Gov. Laura Kelly signed an order prohibiting evictions and foreclosures due to pandemic-related financial hardship until Sept. 15, 2020. A mask mandate remains in place. She also announced that counties should come up with their own plans to reopen businesses. A statewide plan to restart the economy in phases offers guidance, but counties aren’t required to follow it. The state Department of Health and Environment mandated a 14-day home quarantine for all Kansans who traveled to a state with widespread transmission. The mandate also applies to anyone who traveled internationally or on a cruise ship on or after March 15.
Kentucky: Gov. Andy Beshear signed an order requiring landlords to give tenants 30 days’ notice before eviction for failure to pay rent. The order also requires the landlord and tenant to meet during that time in order to try to work out an agreement, and it bans late fees on rent through Dec. 31. Beshear extended a mask mandate that requires anyone over age 5 to wear a face covering while inside a public space or while outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained. After closing bars for two weeks to stop the spread of COVID-19, Beshear issued an order allowing bars and restaurants to resume operating at 50 percent capacity, as long as parties can maintain a 6-foot distance from one another. Food and beverage service must stop at 10 p.m. Private gatherings, which had been capped at 50 people, are now capped at 10.
Louisiana: Gov. John Bel Edwards announced he will extend phase 2 restrictions of the state’s reopening plan beyond Aug. 28. Masks are required in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, unless social distancing can be maintained. Indoor social gatherings are capped at 50 people. Outdoor social gatherings of more than 50 people are permitted only if individuals from separate households can maintain a 6-foot distance from one another. Edwards also closed bars for on-premises food and drink consumption, but they can remain open for pickup or delivery.
Maine: Gov. Janet Mills signed an order permitting outdoor gatherings of five people per 1,000 square feet or 100 people (whichever is smaller). The limit for indoor gatherings remains at 50 people. Face coverings are mandatory. Mills modified a travel mandate that requires those visiting Maine who plan to stay in a lodging establishment to show a negative COVID-19 test or opt to self-quarantine for 14 days. Travelers from five states, including Vermont and New Hampshire, are exempt. Bars and tasting rooms can offer outdoor dining, but the reopening of indoor dining has been postponed.
Maryland: Gov. Larry Hogan expanded a mask mandate in the public spaces of all businesses or areas outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained. The state is in Phase 2 of its reopening plan. Restaurants can offer in-dining services at 50 percent capacity, among other restrictions. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has ordered restaurants and similar food establishments to stop serving alcohol after 10 p.m. The order allows tanning salons, tattoo parlors and massage businesses to reopen. Restaurants in Baltimore may reopen for indoor dining under a new executive order signed by Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young, at 25% capacity.
Massachusetts: Gov. Charlie Baker signed an order tightening restrictions. The state is in step 1 of phase 3 of its reopening plan. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people (down from 100). The limit on indoor gatherings remains at 25 people. The rules on face coverings have been updated to require everyone over age 2 to wear a mask in public places. Restaurants can continue indoor service but must space tables 6 feet apart, among other restrictions. Retail stores and close-contact businesses, such as nail and hair salons, can remain open but must follow precautions. Baker ordered travelers entering the state to self-quarantine for 14 days or show a negative COVID-19 test result.
Michigan: On July 1, Gov. Whitmer signed an executive order which closes indoor service at bars throughout much of lower Michigan effective July 1 at 11 p.m. This excludes Regions Six and Eight including the Upper Peninsula and much of northern Michigan. Outdoor service can continue at bars statewide. Gov. Whitmer also signed into law Senate Bill 942 and House Bills 5781 and 5811, measures the Chamber supported through the legislative process. These laws allow the sale of cocktails-to-go at bars and restaurants and expand social districts with additional outdoor seating and areas that allow visitors to gather while physically distancing.
Minnesota: Under the state’s Safely Reopen plan, restaurants can resume indoor dining provided that they adhere to restrictions, including requiring reservations. Indoor gatherings will still be capped at 10 people, but outdoor gatherings of up to 25 participants will be permitted. Under new rules, bar patrons have to be seated at tables spaced at least 6 feet apart. No more than four unrelated people, or six people who are related, may sit at each table. Staff are still allowed to mix drinks at the bar, but they must serve them tableside. Dance floors and open space near the bar where people would normally congregate may be converted to seating without any additional city permits. Businesses that fail to comply face a $200 fine; the penalty doubles for each subsequent violation.
Mississippi: Gov. Tate Reeves amended the group-gathering restrictions in his Safe Return order. Across the state, indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people, and outdoor gatherings to 20. Bars can serve alcohol only to seated patrons, among other restrictions. Some gatherings are exempt, such as those at religious organizations or students meeting in classrooms. All businesses may reopen as long as restrictions are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba extended an order mandating a citywide curfew. People should avoid nonessential trips between midnight and 5 a.m.
Missouri: Gov. Mike Parson announced that the state will fully reopen June 16. A press release issued by the governor’s office said, “All statewide restrictions will be lifted, though local officials will still have the authority to put further rules, regulations, or ordinances in place.” Parson encouraged people to continue to practice social distancing and take precautions, such as practicing good hygiene and avoiding large crowds.
Montana: Gov. Steve Bullock directed individuals in counties experiencing four or more active cases of COVID-19 to wear a mask in indoor public spaces, or when outdoors if 50 or more people are gathered and social distancing cannot be maintained. Phase two reopening began June 1. All businesses can operate and should implement social distancing. Restaurants can increase capacity to 75 percent. People are encouraged to maintain a 6-foot distance from others when in public and avoid gathering in groups of more than 50.
Nebraska: For counties in phase 4 of Gov. Pete Ricketts’ reopening plan, indoor gatherings are permitted at 75 percent rated occupancy. Outdoor gatherings are permitted at 100 percent rated occupancy. Groups must maintain a 6-foot distance from one another. For counties in phase 3, restaurants and bars can operate at full capacity, but parties must be limited to eight people. Indoor gatherings of up to 50 percent occupancy are permitted but cannot exceed 10,000 people. Outdoor gatherings of up to 75 percent occupancy are allowed, up to 10,000 people.
Nevada: A COVID-19 response task force has been formed that now reviews criteria for each county, and must create targeted measures to address counties with an increased risk of transmission. Restrictions remain in place. Gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited, and employees are encouraged to work remotely. Restaurants are permitted to resume dine-in services, as long as they adhere to sanitation and social distancing guidelines. Bars and breweries remain closed. Retail stores can allow customers on site in a limited capacity. Movie theaters, bowling alleys, gyms and hair salons are permitted to be open with restrictions. People must wear a face covering whenever they leave home. People will have to wait at least two more weeks for bars to reopen. Nevada’s COVID-19 task force voted last week to keep Clark County bars closed, with limits on how many people can eat together at restaurants. “This is the population base for the state, this is the largest number of people, this is the economic backbone of the state,” said task force chairman Caleb Cage. The task force wants to work with Clark County officials to enhance plans to increase compliance and enforcement to stem the spread of COVID-19, Cage said.
New Hampshire: Gov. Chris Sununu ordered individuals to wear face coverings at scheduled activities where 100 people or more are gathered, such as religious services, concerts or sporting events. Sununu permitted the state’s stay-at-home order to expire June 15. Bars and restaurants resumed both indoor and outdoor dining services, but tables should be spaced 6 feet apart, among other guidelines. Gyms are reopen at 50 percent capacity. Sununu permitted retail stores, hair salons, barbershops and similar businesses to reopen, with restrictions. He reopened all seacoast beaches and lifted the restrictions on certain activities, such as sunbathing and picnicking. In an effort to avoid a surge of cases and limit super-spreader events, Sununu said in his August 11 news conference that the state liquor enforcement division will be increasing their presence to ensure that all restaurants and bars in the state are following New Hampshire’s guidance documents.
New Jersey: New Jersey bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen their indoor dining sections with restrictions ahead of the Labor Day weekend, Gov. Phil Murphy announced TODAY. Restaurants can allow customers indoors beginning Friday, Murphy said. Restaurants will be required to operate under limited capacity and follow other safety guidelines.
New Mexico: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced she will amend the public health order to ease restrictions. Restaurants can resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity. Outdoor dining service can continue if safety precautions are followed. Houses of worship can operate at 40 percent capacity. Most retail stores can reopen at limited capacity. Gyms, hair salons and other close-contact businesses can also operate at limited capacity. State parks may reopen for day use. Individuals are required to wear face masks in public, including while exercising at gyms or fitness centers. Beginning Saturday, New Mexico restaurants may seat more customers, including limited indoor service, and houses of worship may allow more congregants to gather. Under an amended public health order taking effect Aug. 29, New Mexico is also doubling its cap on social gatherings to 10, while a requirement that New Mexicans wear face masks in public remains in place.
New York: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that most of the state is in Phase 4 of reopening. However, NYC bars remain mostly closed with no end date in sight for re-opening. Then, on August 24th, the state liquor authority restricted fun for the rest of the state, limiting capacity and requiring social distancing and masks when not seated. the Liquor Authority is clarifying what can and cannot go on there: No pool, darts, karaoke, cornhole or any other bar game. And no dancing, exotic or otherwise and no comedy either. Cuomo announced that travelers arriving in New York from states with high rates of COVID-19 must self-quarantine for 14 days. He has mandated that anyone over age 2 must wear a face mask in public if social distancing cannot be maintained. The governor also issued an order permitting businesses to deny entry to anyone who is not wearing a mask. He increased the fine for not following social distancing guidelines from $500 to $1,000. Cuomo also extended a pause on evictions for those who cannot pay rent due to a COVID-19 hardship.
North Carolina: Gov. Roy Cooper signed an order extending Phase 2 of a safer-at-home plan until 5 p.m. on Sept. 11. Residents are encouraged to stay in and work from home as much as possible. Restaurants and retail stores can operate but must limit the number of customers, and restaurants, breweries, wineries and similar establishments will continue to be prohibited from serving alcohol after 11 p.m. Gatherings of 25 or fewer people outdoors and 10 or fewer indoors are allowed if social distancing can be maintained. Entertainment venues, including bars, remain closed.
North Dakota: Gov. Doug Burgum signed an order encouraging people to follow the state’s Smart Restart plan. It recommends that restaurants, cafés and similar food establishments operate at 75 percent capacity. Hair salons and other personal-care businesses should operate with sanitation measures in place. Gyms and fitness centers that hold classes should follow social distancing practices.
Ohio: Governor DeWine signed an order adopting a rule that bans restaurants and bars from selling alcohol after 10 p.m. DeWine said the order was an attempt to curb the behavior of people gathering indoors in close contact. Restaurants can offer table service indoors, with restrictions. Retail stores may reopen, but certain sanitation and social distancing practices must be implemented. Hair salons and other close-care businesses can reopen, provided they abide by strict sanitation rules. Nonessential medical procedures may resume, and nonessential offices, construction and manufacturing businesses may restart operations.
Oklahoma: Businesses should implement sanitation and social distancing practices. Some cities require people to wear a face covering when in public.
Oregon: Gov. Kate Brown lifted a stay-at-home order for Umatilla County after a decline in COVID-19 cases. The county can move to phase 1 of the state’s reopening plan. For counties in phase 1, restaurants and bars can resume indoor dining, but they must place tables 6 feet apart and take other precautions. For all counties, social gatherings are capped at 10 people and cultural or faith-based gatherings at 25. Brown ordered people age 5 and older to wear face coverings in outdoor spaces where a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained and in indoor public spaces.
Pennsylvania: Gov. Tom Wolf announced new restrictions on the state’s phased reopening plan. All counties are in the green phase, but restaurants must now limit indoor dining to 25 percent capacity. Indoor gatherings are capped at 25 people, and outdoor gatherings, at 250 people.
- Restaurants and Bars Open at 25% Capacity for Indoor Dining.
- On-premises Alcohol Consumption Prohibited Unless Part of a Meal; Cocktails-to-go and Carryout Beverages are Allowed.
Rhode Island: Gov. Gina Raimondo outlined phase 3 guidance for the state, which began June 30. Restaurants can expand indoor dining to 66 percent capacity. Retail stores can resume operations with capacity limits. Close-contact businesses, such as gyms and hair salons, can also reopen with restrictions. Private indoor social gatherings are limited to 25 people or 50 people with a licensed caterer. Private outdoor social gatherings are limited to 50 people or 100 with a licensed caterer. Public mass outdoor gatherings are limited to 250 people. Public mass indoor gatherings are permitted to up to 1 person per 100 square feet with 6-foot spacing. Bar service is allowed as long as patrons are seated. No service will be offered to standing patrons unless they are picking up takeout food
South Carolina: Gov. Henry McMaster issued an order that makes certain recommendations for restaurants and other businesses requirements. Restaurants must require patrons to wear a face covering when inside the establishment except when they are eating or drinking. Dine-in service at restaurants is limited to 50 percent capacity, tables must be spaced at least 6 feet apart, and guests cannot congregate in a bar area, among other restrictions. Entertainment venues, such as theaters and concert halls, and other types of mass gatherings cannot exceed 50 percent occupancy or 250 people (whichever is smaller). Masks are required. Other nonessential businesses can reopen, and guidelines are recommended.
South Dakota: Gov. Kristi Noem signed an order putting the state’s “Back to Normal” plan in effect. The plan encourages employers to sanitize high-traffic areas and screen employees for illness. Retail businesses should operate in a manner that promotes social distancing and should consider limiting the number of customers inside their stores. Bars and clubs are open.
Tennessee: Gov. Bill Lee issued updated guidelines for businesses as they reopen. It recommends that restaurants space tables 6 feet apart and limit parties to 10 people, among other restrictions. Retail stores should limit customers, and gyms, hair salons, spas and similar close-contact businesses should implement strict social distancing and sanitation practices. Amusement parks, movie theaters and other large venues can also reopen but should separate people from different households or small groups by 6 feet and encourage customers to wear face masks, among other precautions. Previously, Lee issued an order permitting groups of up to 50 to gather. People not within the same household should practice social distancing.
The Metro Board of Health for Nashville and Davidson County ordered individuals in the region to wear masks in public. Gov. Lee has also given mayors in counties without a locally run health department permission to issue a face mask requirement.
Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott announced at a press conference on August 11th that based on the advice of doctors, the state’s case positivity rate must drop below 10% for a sustained period of time, and hospitalizations must decrease, before he’d consider reopening bars and clubs. He also expressed sympathy for business owners and employees that were forced to stay closed. As of August 11, the average positivity rate in Texas was 25%. Bar owners across Texas feel they have no choice but to oppose the state and reopen. But this time, owners say they’ll stay open for good. This Saturday, bar owners across Texas, led by Chris Polone, owner of the Rail Club Live in Fort Worth, will defy Gov. Greg Abbott’s June 26 executive order that shut down bars to control the spread of COVID-19. The event dubbed Come and Take It will kick off at 6 p.m. Polone said he expects about 1,000 bars to participate.
Utah: Gov. Gary Herbert signed an order updating the guidance for the reopening plan. The state uses a color-coded system. Most counties are in the yellow low-risk phase, under which all businesses can reopen if they take precautions. Restaurants must space tables 6 feet apart. A few counties require people to wear a face mask in public places; other counties encourage, but don’t require, this practice. Private gatherings are capped at 50 people or fewer. Cultural arts and other events can exceed 50 people if certain guidelines are followed. For counties in the green new-normal phase, restrictions on private gatherings are lifted, but people are encouraged to take personal responsibility to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Vermont: Gov. Phil Scott ordered people age 2 and older to wear a face covering in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, when physical distancing isn’t possible. Restaurants and entertainment venues are expanded to 50% capacity of maximum occupancy. Indoor events of up to 75 people and outdoor organized events of up to 150 are allowed.
Virginia: Gov. Ralph Northam ordered additional restrictions on the Hampton Roads area. Restaurants, breweries and similar establishments cannot sell alcohol after 10 p.m. and must limit service to 50 percent capacity, among other measures. Private or public gatherings are capped at 50 people in that area. Virginia is in phase three of its reopening plan. Outside the Hampton Roads area, restaurants can offer indoor service at full capacity if parties are separated by 6 feet, among other restrictions. Bar seats and congregating areas must remain closed except for foot traffic. Social gatherings of up to 250 people are allowed. Movie theaters, concert venues and other entertainment areas can reopen but must follow strict guidelines.
Washington: Gov. Jay Inslee announced new limitations on gatherings under the state’s phased reopening plan. For counties in phase 3, a cap on social gatherings has been reduced from 50 to 10 people. Restaurants must limit capacity to 50 percent and parties must be from the same household, among other restrictions. Theaters can operate at 25 percent capacity. For counties in phase 2, social gatherings are limited to five people. Gyms and fitness centers can also permit only five people at a time, including staff. Restaurants can resume indoor dining services but must operate at 50 percent capacity. Hair and nail salons and housecleaning services can operate with restrictions; retail stores may allow customers inside in a limited capacity. In counties still in phase 1, social gatherings of any size are prohibited. Individuals 65 and older and other high-risk populations remain under a stay-at-home order. Retail businesses can offer curbside pickup. Restaurants are limited to delivery or takeout service. Live entertainment, indoors or outdoors, is also prohibited in all counties.
West Virginia: Gov. Jim Justice extended an order closing bars in Monongalia County. The countywide bar closure has been lifted. In order to reopen, such establishments must implement additional safety measures as described in the guidance document: Supplemental Protocols for Reopening Monongalia County Bars. Justice ordered people age 9 and older to wear a face covering when in a confined indoor public space where social distancing cannot be maintained. He also issued guidance for businesses as they reopen. Restaurants can open for indoor service, with restrictions. Social gatherings of up to 25 people are permitted. Hair salons, gyms, museums and other businesses should follow safety and sanitation protocols.
Wisconsin: Gov. Tony Evers issued a mask mandate, effective Aug. 1. Previously, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the state Department of Health Services’ safer-at-home order, issued under the direction of Evers. Evers issued a statement in response to the ruling, asking Wisconsinites to continue to do their part to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Private businesses can enforce their own restrictions, such as requiring patrons to follow social distancing practices, but the state is open.
Wyoming: Under the direction of Gov. Mark Gordon, the state health officer extended an order on coronavirus-related restrictions through Sept. 15. Indoor gatherings of 50 people in a single, confined space are allowed. If social distancing and other restrictions are in place, indoor events with up to 250 people are permitted. Gatherings at hotels, livestock auctions, grocery stores and faith-based organizations are among those that are exempt. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 percent of a venue’s capacity or 1,000 people (whichever is smaller). Under Gordon’s direction, the state public health officer allowed restaurants to resume indoor service if precautions are taken, such as adequately spacing tables and requiring staff to wear face masks.
