Of the 3,900 plus licensed-liquor establishments visited by Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers this week, 44 received warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements.
Between July 13 and 16, officers performed compliance checks to ensure businesses were abiding by mitigation requirements that include social distancing and wearing masks, as well as checking on other health and safety requirements of the state’s liquor code.
There were 109 compliance checks in Harrisburg, and nine warnings related to COVID-19 mitigations efforts handed out.
Compliance checks are unannounced and can occur anywhere in the commonwealth, although the focus is on areas experiencing higher coronavirus transmission rates.
Among other requirements, all businesses and employees in the restaurant and retail foodservice industry authorized to conduct in-person activities are mandated to:
- Require all customers to wear masks while entering, exiting, or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail foodservice business (face masks may be removed while seated). Further, employees are required to wear masks at all times.
- Provide at least six feet between parties at tables or physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back.
- Ensure maximum occupancy limits for indoor and outdoor areas are posted and enforced.