On Monday, it will not be just a new year. It could be a new start for the besieged restaurant and bar industries that have endured the impact of coronavirus restrictions in 2020.
“It will be good to get people back to work,” said Bill Fuller, corporate chef and president of the Big Burrito Restaurant Group, after state officials announced they would lift the expanded covid-19 restrictions that took effect on December 12 at 8 am Monday.
Big Burrito includes nine Mad Mex locations in the region, Soba, Umi and Casba in Shadyside, Downtown’s Eleven and Alta Via at Fox Chapel Plaza.
Removing restrictions does not mean going back to business as usual, but Fuller said he would accept.
“Many people haven’t been able to work for three weeks,” said Fuller. “We already have people booking next weekend.”
The news, combined with the progress made in the distribution of envious vaccines, left Fuller hopeful.
“I feel like we’re almost out of danger,” he said. “Hopefully this is the last stoppage. We can pay the bills again and put people to work ”.
Wolf warned that the pandemic and its restrictions are far from over.
“It does not mean that we are out of danger,” Wolf said during a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
The orders that will expire were a targeted effort to gain control of the coronavirus pandemic, as cases and deaths across the community increased beyond those reported in the spring.
Others saw it differently.
“These are the 10 most frustrating months of my life,” said Joe Kolek, manager of the family-owned Anchor Inn in Harrison. “If I made decisions like that, we would have been out of business for 65 years.”
The restrictions and the way they have been implemented have been frustrating, said Kolek.
“We are like a yo-yo,” he said. “You cannot plan anything. It is hard. It’s almost ridiculous. “
The restrictions that are set to expire have suspended all internal meals, limited internal meetings for 10 people, external meetings for 50 people and all other personal business with 50% of normal capacity.
Theaters, casinos and other entertainment venues have also been closed, as have indoor gyms and fitness centers.
To live! Pittsburgh Casino at Westmoreland Mall is scheduled to reopen on Monday at 8:01 am – one minute after Wolf’s emergency request expires.
This means that many people will return to work, said general manager Sean Sullivan. The casino opened on November 24 and had 570 employees before being temporarily closed. Some employees remained essential workers during the strike.
“It’s great for our team members who have been out of work for some time,” he said. “The lion’s share has been released.”
Visitors will be limited to 1,900 at a time at the 100,000 square foot facility. The importance of maintaining cleanliness and following the guidelines will be paramount, said Sullivan. He does not want to risk another potential closure if the number of cases increases again.
“It’s as important as ever,” said Sullivan.
Shortly after Wolf spoke on Wednesday, a Commonwealth Court judge denied an emergency injunction request to close the order filed by 15 restaurant and bar owners in the state.
“I think we saw the flattening of the curve,” said Wolf of the reasoning behind the decision to let the increased mitigation efforts expire.
On Wednesday, 8,984 new cases and 319 deaths were recorded across the state. They included 525 new cases and 47 reported deaths in Allegheny County and 215 new cases and 15 deaths in Westmoreland County.
What drives what can happen next depends on what people do between now and Monday, said Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine.
She said that future increases in cases could be stopped if people follow the advice that has been given by health officials throughout the year: wear a mask, wash your hands, stay at home.
“Get out as little as possible,” said Levine.
She also ordered that a percentage of vaccine distribution be set aside for healthcare professionals, starting January 6, to speed up vaccination of about 1 million in that sector, said Levine.
Before a briefing at 1pm, @SecretaryLevine announced an order directing a percentage of all vaccine distributions to health personnel. pic.twitter.com/Igyiy4pRu5
– Tom Davidson (@TribDavidson) December 30, 2020
Wolf urged people to be patient and to be vigilant, as it will be months before the vaccine is publicly distributed.
He was also concerned about the impacts of the pandemic on students of all ages in the state.
“I think everyone is concerned about the learning gap,” said Wolf.
Seeing the end of the pandemic will take time and is dictated by the virus and not by people, Wolf said.
“I don’t want to give false expectations to Pennsylvania,” said Wolf. “My wish is that I could snap my fingers and have everyone get the vaccine today.”
This is not possible for a number of reasons that are beyond your control. Weekly vaccine allocations in the state vary and those in the state have not received enough federal financial support to assist in the process, Wolf said.
There are 1 million health professionals and first responders ahead of the phased distribution process and the order Levine issued on Wednesday requires that at least 10% of each vaccine shipment be allocated to health professionals, including those not affiliated with a hospital or health care system.
The vaccination process for these people will take months, Wolf said.
“We are all doing the best we can,” he said.
The state has launched a new online panel for people to monitor how the vaccine is being distributed. It includes the number of vaccines administered in each municipality and also provides demographic information about the people receiving the vaccines.
“Every day, more and more citizens of Pennsylvania are being vaccinated against covid-19, which means that we are closer to beating this virus,” said Levine.
The only constant during the pandemic is the coronavirus itself and people need to adjust as the spread justifies, Wolf said.
It is too early to know whether a restaurant or bar should make plans for crowds on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7 or Valentine’s Day, usually days when people like to go out.
“We can’t let our guard down,” said Levine.
What people do between now and when orders are relaxed on Monday – that is, celebrating the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 – can make a big difference in the need for new restrictions, she said.
“We are all tired. We all feel hurt by this year’s demands, ”said Wolf. “We have come a long way since March, when I announced it (the first case).”
Tom Davidson is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. You can contact Tom at 724-226-4715, [email protected] or via Twitter .
Tags:
Coronavirus | Pennsylvania News | Best stories