Bars must still remain closed, but many reclassified their businesses as restaurants last summer, and this increase in capacity applies to those spaces as well.
But, you might want to hold off on that birthday brunch reservation. Even though restaurants are allowed to seat more customers indoors that doesn’t mean they have the space to do so; parties must still maintain 6 feet of distance. At 75% capacity, 6 feet apart isn’t a doable layout for most restaurants.
Then, there’s also the fact that we’re just barely below the 15% COVID-19 hospital threshold (11.2% on Feb. 23). And with the vaccine rollout continuing, it’s possible we’re rounding the final turn here. No one wants to flout safety protocols, paving the way back to higher hospitalization rates.