In regular times, the night before Thanksgiving is typically the biggest bar night of the year. This year, amid surging coronavirus cases, Pennsylvania residents will not be able to consume alcohol in bars or restaurants the night before the holiday.
Fox News reports that Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that alcohol’s on-site sale will be suspended at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and will remain in effect until 8 a.m. Thursday morning. Alcohol will be available to purchase for takeout.
“It turns out that the biggest day for drinking is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” Wolf said. “When people get together in that situation, it leads to an increase in the exchange of fluids, that leads to an increase in infection.”
On Saturday, Pennsylvania recorded more than 7,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 4,000 new cases on Sunday. Because of surging cases, a stay-at-home advisory was issued to residents on Monday. Indoor dining remains at 25 to 50 percent capacity, and retail is still open at 75 percent capacity.
Starting on Friday, businesses must allow their employees to work from home. Gatherings of more than 500 people indoors or 2,500 outdoors have been banned.
“Transmission of Covid-19 is reaching new heights that we have not yet encountered,” Levine said.
