As the vaccine rollout continues and an estimated 24 percent of Pennsylvania residents have received at least one dose as of last week, Governor Tom Wolf has announced further easing of restrictions for businesses.

Effective April 4, restaurants 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. Those restaurants that do not self-certify may raise capacity to 50 percent. 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.

Capacity for other businesses also will be increased effective April 4, including moving personal services facilities, gyms and entertainment facilities (casinos, theaters, malls) to 75 percent occupancy.

The governor also announced revised maximum occupancy limits for indoor events to allow for 25 percent of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size, and maximum occupancy limits for outdoor events to allow for 50 percent of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size. Maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

“Pennsylvanians have stepped up and done their part to help curb the spread of COVID-19,” Wolf said. “Our case counts continue to go down, hospitalizations are declining, and the percent positivity rate gets lower every week – all very positive signs. The number of people getting vaccinated increases daily and we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It’s time to allow our restaurants, bars and other service businesses to get back to more normal operations.”

As of March 18, Pennsylvania vaccine providers have administered more than 3.9 million doses of vaccine, 24 percent of Pennsylvanians have received at least one dose and more than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation for the number of COVID-19 vaccines administered per 100,000 people over the past week.

As of Monday, the state has 844,567 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 24,789 deaths. Lehigh County has 32,671 confirmed and 799 deaths; Northampton County has 28,955 confirmed and 669 deaths; the city of Bethlehem has 7,013 confirmed and 102 deaths.