With vaccines now available to all adults, governors are beginning to roll back the restrictions placed on bars and restaurants aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker today announced that restaurants, breweries, beer gardens, wineries, distilleries and bars without food service will be able to serve patrons alcohol without a meal beginning May 29. The commonwealth’s table service requirement and 90-minute limit will remain in effect, but the maximum guests per table will be increased to 10, “subject to public health and vaccination data.”
Indoor and outdoor arenas, stadiums and ballparks in the Bay State will be permitted to increase capacity from 12% to 25% beginning May 10.
Remaining Massachusetts business restrictions, such as the shutdown of nightclubs, will be lifted August 1. Baker will also lift the commonwealth’s outdoor mask mandate on April 30, but masks will still be required outdoors when people cannot be socially distant.
“Face coverings will still be required at all times in indoor public places,” an update from Baker’s office read. “Face coverings will also continue to be required at all times at events, whether held indoors or outdoors and whether held in a public space or private home, except for when eating or drinking.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today updated its guidance and announced vaccinated people can forgo wearing masks outdoors so long as they are not in large crowds with people outside their households. The CDC is still recommending that people wear masks when indoors together regardless of their vaccination status.
In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont announced last week that alcohol can be sold without food at outdoor establishments beginning May 1, on which date the state’s business curfew will be pushed back one hour from 11 p.m. to midnight and the limit on patrons per outdoor table will be lifted.
Over the coming days, we'll continue to slowly, cautiously, and safely phase out business restrictions. pic.twitter.com/0oZEwWfico
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) April 19, 2021
However, patrons must order food with drinks at indoor bars and restaurants. Bars without food service that only offer indoor accommodations must remain closed.
Standing service at bars will be permitted outdoors beginning May 1, but is still prohibited indoors, where table service is required for a maximum of eight people per table.
In New York, state Senate Democrats announced a plan to repeal some of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s restrictions, including the meal requirement for alcoholic beverage service.
“As more New Yorkers continue to get vaccinated, and our infection rates continue to decline, it is time to begin removing certain restrictions and regulations that are no longer necessary, so we can safely reopen and rebuild our state’s economy,” state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told ABC News 10 Albany. “We ask New Yorkers to continue to heed public health guidance as it relates to mask-wearing, observe social distancing precautions, and get vaccinated so that we don’t lose ground in our recovery.”