Pennsylvania has loosened some of its COVID-19 regulations on gatherings and travel as vaccinations roll out and hospital beds have become more available.

The state on Monday said out-of-state travelers no longer have to quarantine upon arrival in Pennsylvania, nor do they need a negative COVID-19 test to forego quarantining. The November mandate for traveling outside of the state was enacted as coronavirus cases were on the rise, and were put in place before the holiday season in an attempt to squash a possible nightmare scenario of a new wave of cases crippling the state’s health care infrastructure.

The state also on Monday amended its laws for gathering sizes. Indoor events and gatherings are now limited to 15% of the venue’s maximum capacity, and outdoor events are limited to 20% of the maximum occupancy. An “event or gathering,” according to the state, includes events such as weddings, fairs, festivals, concerts, movies, sports and other congregant events.

Monday’s changes advise venues that the capacity should be defined by the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code. If a venue doesn’t know what its occupancy limit is, the state requires it to be set at 67 people per 1,000 square feet, and then use the capacity limits now set.

Events must continue to comply with social distancing and masking requirements, and the per-person capacity regulations include staff. In addition, event hosts must maintain a list of all guests, including phone numbers and their expected location 14 days after the event.

The state stressed in its most recent FAQ sheet that there is no change in the telework requirements, and that all companies should be following the telework guidelines when it is possible.

If you have questions on how these latest COVID-19 updates could affect your business, please contact any member of the Barley Snyder COVID-19 Response Service Team. 

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The views expressed in this alert are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the firm or the firm’s clients. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is particularly challenging, evolving and, in many cases, can be controversial. Any views expressed in this alert are not intended to advocate for or endorse a particular governmental response to the pandemic.