iradiophilly | News - Philly Lifts Ban on Large Events; PA to Allow Bars, 75% Dining 4/4; SEPTA Closes Kensington Station

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Philly Lifts Ban on Large Events; PA to Allow Bars, 75% Dining 4/4; SEPTA Closes Kensington Station

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 03/16/21 12:37 am | updated: 03/16/21 12:37 am

Philadelphia has announced that it will lift the ban on large events held in the city after Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf will significant lifting gathering restrictions in the state starting April 4. The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office of Special Events will begin to accept permit applications starting Tuesday, March 16. Residents and event producers will have to certify that their event will follow the current public health guidance on the day of the event including the allowable crowd size. You may also have to submit a COVID-19 safety plan. Currently, any event that plans to serve food will be capped at 100 people. The Streets Department will start accepting permit applications for block parties and street festivals on April 15. Organizers for the Dad Vail and Stotesbury Regattas in May are planning on holding the events on the Schuylkill River.

SEE ALSO: Philly Cancels Large Events Until Feb 2021

Pennsylvania Governor Wolf announced some significant lifting of restrictions for restaurants and other businesses starting Easter Sunday, April 4. He cited declining coronavirus COVID-19 cases and increasing vaccinations as reasoning for the moves. For restaurants, they may resume bar service; alcohol service will be allowed without the purchase of food; the curfew for removing alcoholic drinks from tables will be lifted; and indoor dining capacity will be raised to 75 percent for those restaurants that are currently self-certified and those that undergo the self-certification process. If you haven't undergone self-certification, dining capacity is at 50%. Outdoor dining, curbside pick-up, and takeout are still encouraged. Requirements such as mask-wearing, and social distancing, including 6 feet between diners, also still apply.

Personal services facilities, gyms, entertainment (casinos, theaters, malls) can also move to 75%. Indoor events can be 25% and outdoor events can be 50%, as long as there can be 6-feet social distance. It's unclear whether a theater can have 75% for a concert or if that is considered an indoor event and limited to 25%.

SEE ALSO: Gov. Wolf: Effective April 4, More Options for Restaurants and Other Businesses, Mass Gathering Maximums Increase
SEE ALSO: Open & Certified Pennsylvania program

Effective April 4, weâ€™ll also increase capacity for other businesses to 75%, including personal services facilities, gyms, and entertainment facilities like casinos, theatres, malls.
â€” Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) March 15, 2021

SEPTA will be temporarily shutting down the Market-Frankford Line station in Kensington to clean up the stop and make repairs. Somerset Station is located at the intersection of Kensington Avenue, East Somerset Street, and D Street. It will close indefinitely starting Sunday, March 21. The station is at the heart of the city's burgeoning drug problem causing safety and security problems. "Unfortunately, we are having a lot of challenges with our vulnerable population people experiencing homelessness, addicted to drugs," SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards said. "The elevators, due to urination, due to needles being jammed in certain parts of the elevators, have stopped working," Richards said. The entrances and stairs are often littered with paraphernalia and blocked by people. Police and emergency personnel are responding to the station to deal with crime and medical emergencies at increasing rates.

However, the residents of Kensington still utilize the train to access the city for work, school, doctors, or other personal business. SEPTA says that 'customers may use Allegheny or Huntingdon Stations for travel' but some customers may not be able to walk or may fear walking to those other stops. Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez said in a statement, "I am deeply troubledâ€¦ Many working people from the neighborhood use this station to get to work every day. It is vital that SEPTA work with public safety stakeholders to reopen the station as soon as possible."