More COVID Restrictions Will Be Relaxed Starting Saturday, May 1

More COVID Restrictions Will Be Relaxed Starting Saturday, May 1

By Larry Janezich

Posted April 28, 2021

Mayor Bowser held a Situational Briefing today and announced the further relaxing of Phase Two Covid restrictions, starting on Saturday, May 1.

Among the changes are the following:

• •  Restaurants:
  • The number of people who can sit together at a table outdoors at a restaurant increases from 6 people to 10 people.  The 25% of capacity on indoor restaurant dining remains unchanged. 
  • Live music will be allowed outdoors for summer gardens, courtyard dining and sidewalk cafes controlled by the restaurants.
  • For outside customers, alcohol can be purchased without purchasing food.
• Movie theaters can operate at up to 25% capacity per auditorium.
• Indoor capacity limit for non-essential retail business is raised from 25% to 50% or 250 people, whichever is lower.
• Indoor fitness classed can include up to 25 people.
• Gyms and fitness centers can operate at 50% capacity but no more than 250 guests.
• Places of worship may admit up to 40% of their capacity for the room or area where services will be held. This total limit includes worshippers, not including clergy and staff.  Health and safety protocols, such as mandatory masking and social distancing, remain in place.
• Multi-purpose facilities, concert venues, and theaters may open at 25% capacity, up to 500 people, but attendees must remain seated.
• Weddings and special events are allowed indoors and outdoors at 25% capacity with a waiver for attendance greater than 250. Attendees must remain seated and socially distanced.
• Conventions and regional business meetings are allowed indoors at 25% capacity with a waiver for attendance greater than 250. Attendees must remain seated and socially distanced.
• Public and private pools may open with health and safety plans in place; hotel pools may only open to overnight guests.
• Outdoor splash pads will be able to open at full capacity.

Mayor Bowser’s PowerPoint presentation can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/2QYrwlF