Pennsylvania’s easing of restrictions on large gatherings provides some breathing room to event organizers during the pandemic — but don’t expect to see the likes of concerts, Broadway shows, parades and other crowd-drawing entertainment to resume in force anytime soon.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, one of the region’s largest nonprofit arts organizations and theater hubs, said Gov. Tom Wolf’s newly announced changes to mandates do not go far enough to start rescheduling imminent shows and performances and other events.
Despite the changes allowing for up to 5,500 fans at Heinz Field, a majority of local arts and cultural venues cannot justify opening at the still-limited capacity of no more than 15% to 20% the occupancy, per the updated state limits, said Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The organization owns more than a million square feet of Downtown Pittsburgh properties and manages the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, Byham Theater, Heinz Hall, Harris Theater and others.
“The new maximum occupancy calculator for indoor events is an encouraging step in our road to reopening,” McMahon said by email Tuesday hours after Wolf’s announcement. “However, we cannot financially operate our venues at an occupancy rate of 15 or 20 percent. Consequently, this announcement does not affect the Trust’s immediate plans.”
Along with many other sectors, Western Pennsylvania’s arts and cultural scene has been hit hard by the pandemic-spurred shutdown and related public health restrictions. Organizations continue to press on with social distance-friendly and virtual events, but few are on track to bring in as much revenue as they typically do while grappling with fixed costs and payroll expenses.
The Allegheny Regional Asset District doles out more than $100 million, collected from the extra 1% Allegheny County sales tax, to more than 100 nonprofit arts and cultural groups annually. It help organizations from small theatrical groups to assets such as the National Aviary and Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens maintain solvency even during good economic times.
RAD Executive Director Richard Hudic said RAD leaders “have been incredibly impressed with our regional assets, who have responded with agility and creativity in the face of this crisis” — from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Place Aquarium turning to drive-thru tours, to children’s art classes and artist performances being broadcast via Zoom sessions.
“From virtual and outdoor programming to enhanced safety measures, our cultural organizations have found ways to remain connected to their audiences and to share their work in a time when it is needed most,” Hudic said Tuesday afternoon. “That being said, the magic of the arts is getting to experience it live and in person, and so today’s announcement helps put a piece of the larger reopening puzzle in place.
“While we are all eager to get back to our theaters and concert halls, the health and safety of our community remains top priority.”
Because it can’t use its typical venue, the Benedum, the Pittsburgh Opera plans an Oct. 17 performance of “Cosi Fan Tutte” with a live audience at its building on Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Attendance will be limited to 52 people per show, depending on how many ticket holders come in groups or as singles. He explained that couples or groups can sit together, allowing more people to fit in the venue with social distancing parameters in place.
“The more people who come by themselves, the fewer people we can fit in total,” said Chris Cox, director of marketing and communications for the Pittsburgh Opera, which had to scrap its final two productions last season. “We have some elaborate covid protocols in place and socially distanced seating. We will be well within the 20% that the governor’s new order allows.”
The upcoming event — which will mark the Pittsburgh Opera’s first live show since March — was planned before Wolf’s latest announcement easing restrictions. There are no plans to expand seating further because of the changes.
“The Pittsburgh Opera is certainly very happy to hear about these restrictions being loosened,” Cox said. “It eliminates a lot of the stress that we’ve been feeling about the upcoming performances. In that sense, we’re very glad about the news. It doesn’t change the seating configuration that we’d already planned on, but we are happy to hear the announcement.”
The Wolf administration’s latest changes, set to take effect Friday, lift previous orders preventing groups of more than 250 or more with a series of percentage limits based on a venue or outdoor area’s occupancy level. Limits on indoor spaces are capped at 20% of maximum occupancy for events with fewer than 2,000 people; 15% for between 2,000 and 10,000 people; and 10% for events greater than 10,000 — up to 3,750 people. Outdoor gathering limits increased to 20% of occupancy at events of up to 10,000 people, and 15% of maximum occupancy at events with more than 10,000 — up to 7,500 people total.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra provided few details on what the changes could mean for its imminent plans.
“The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is encouraged by the actions of Gov. Wolf to make it possible for more people to work at and to attend concerts and events at Heinz Hall,” Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of the organization, said by email. The PSO has been hosting limited outdoor concerts on a mobile stage as part of an open-air concert series.
Among municipalities that have canceled a litany of annual celebrations is Tarentum, which continues to “think outside the box” when it comes to alternatives to celebrate upcoming holidays, Councilwoman Carrie Fox said. Among them: a drive-thru Halloween trick-or-treat option for children set for Oct. 17 and Santa Claus riding a fire truck and making dozens of stops on residential streets Dec. 5.
“You can’t have hay rides; you can’t have a cornstalk maze,” Fox said. “Now, for Christmas, instead of the parade, we did get together with Brackenridge and Harrison, and we’re doing what we call in Tarentum, ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town.’ ”
The outdoor gathering changes came too late to salvage the likes of the holiday parade or Tarentum summer concert series or fall festival, which was disappointing since two shows went on in June in which the crowds maintained proper distancing, Fox said.
“Parades don’t just happen. There is a lot of planning that goes into it,” Fox said. “You don’t know how many people you’re going to get. You don’t know how they’re going to act. We are just trying to be covid-responsible.”
A group of local public health experts issued a statement Tuesday warning residents that “the covid-19 pandemic is still here in our area and country; it will not be leaving any time soon.” Pennsylvania reported 1,036 new covid-19 cases on Tuesday and 17 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the statewide total to more than 165,200 cases and 8,244 deaths.
“Our collective ongoing vigilance to smart action remains the key to limiting illness spread and harm,” said the Western Pennsylvania Regional Chief Medical Officer Consortium, which includes doctors from UPMC, Allegheny Health Network, Excela, St. Clair Hospital and the Heritage Valley and Pittsburgh VA health systems.
The consortium urged everyone to continue to wear facial coverings, wash hands frequently and maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from non-household members, in line with Wolf’s mandate. “It’s not time to stop these steps,” the consortium said.
The changes come about a week after Allegheny County’s Department of Public Health lifted its 100-person limit last week, instead directing residents to abide by state guidance and mandates.
Previously, county orders had limited indoor gatherings to 25 people and outdoor crowds to no more than 100 people. The state has limited indoor gatherings to 25 people and outdoor crowds to 250.
Also last week, the state allowed restaurants to increase their indoor dining capacity to 50%.
Nesbit’s Lanes, a bowling alley in Plum, will be able to welcome back small leagues thanks to Wolf’s updated mandate, according to employee Frank Mercurio.
But the alley still can’t host tournaments and is awaiting guidance regarding high school teams.
“Twenty percent opened it up a little bit. I think the capacity of our building is 250, so it’d be like 50 people allowed in the building,” Mercurio said. “It’s pretty hard. I really don’t know how they expect anybody to run a business like this. We need them to have us at 50% capacity, at the very least.”
ABOUT WOLF’S NEW ORDERS ON EVENTS, GATHERINGS
What’s different?
The Wolf administration’s latest orders regarding large gatherings — announced Tuesday and set to take effect Friday — lift previous pandemic-spurred rules preventing groups of more than 250 or more with a series of percentage limits based on a venue or outdoor area’s occupancy level.
Limits on indoor spaces are capped at 20% of maximum occupancy for events with fewer than 2,000 people; 15% for between 2,000 and 10,000 people; and 10% for events greater than 10,000 — up to 3,750 people. Outdoor gathering limits increased to up 20% of occupancy at events up to 10,000 people, and 15% of maximum occupancy at events with more than 10,000 — up to 7,500 people total.
Businesses and event venues may choose to be more restrictive with their gathering limitations.
Who/what groups/venues and types of events are impacted?
Fairs, festivals, concerts, or shows and groupings that occur within larger, more permanent businesses, such as shows or performances within amusement parks, individual showings of movies, business meetings or conferences, or each party or reception within a multi-room venue.
The changes also applies to youth, high school and professional sports.
Also included are bowling alleys and arcades.
Not included are workplaces such as office buildings, classrooms, production floors, school cafeterias or school buses. Businesses still are urged to telework as much as possible.
Nightclubs remain prohibited from operating.
Weddings are discouraged from having dance floors.
Gyms and fitness centers may continue operating with precautions but are “directed to prioritize outdoor physical fitness activities.”
Why were the caps chosen?
The governor’s office says, “At this time, occupancy caps have been implemented to prevent gatherings that would compromise the public health or health care infrastructure. Contact tracing, testing availability, and hospital capacity are all important public health measures. An ultra large super spreader event could adversely affect this infrastructure.”
What restrictions remain in place?
Face masks and social distancing still are required at all events, with the administration noting that venues must enforce those rules and merely posting signs is not enough. Venues further should implement best practices such as timed entry, multiple entry and exit points, multiple restrooms and hygiene stations. Venues and event planners can review the CDC Events and Gatherings Readiness and Planning Tool for additional information regarding best practices.
How is occupancy calculated?
Venues should use the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code and then apply the attendee calculator to determine how many attendees are permitted to attend the event or gathering. When no fire code capacity is published or available for outdoor events or gatherings venues, establish occupancy as 67 people per 1,000 square feet and then apply the maximum occupancy calculator. Venues may also contact their local building code officials if they are unaware of their occupancy limit.
Why are events held to a different capacity standard than another businesses?
The Wolf administration emphasized that “it is important that each type of business or event be considered uniquely and consider the public health risks of the capacity.
“For example, regular dining in small groups allow restaurants to maintain a relatively static environment where patrons can be kept distanced and in small groups. The structure of a restaurant provides for limited interactions between patrons instead of many individuals having multiple different interactions during an event.
”Events do not provide this level of precaution and instead involve guests moving freely around the space creating more interactions. Additionally, events are also more likely to bring non-household groups together at banquet tables, buffet lines, dance floors, and other mingling opportunities. Events also often have singing, talking, cheering or other opportunities to spread aerosolized or respiratory droplets compared to quiet conversation. Further, events are more likely to have guests arriving at the same or similar time allowing for gathering at entry pinch points.”
Do the orders apply to religious gatherings?
No. Religious gatherings are not affected by the new orders and have not previously been restricted during the covid-19 pandemic. The state Department of Health continues to encourage places of worship to find alternative ways to hold services, including virtual and outdoors, and to employ social distancing and mask-wearing.
When do the changes take effect?
The amended orders go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9.
How will the orders be enforced?
Though some of Wolf’s broader restrictions and stay-at-home orders have been challenged by the court, the Wolf administration said its amended orders will be enforced by the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Health and local law enforcement.
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