Citing declining COVID-19 case numbers and ongoing vaccinations, Gov. Tom Wolf has revised limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings and lifted the travel restriction on out-of-state visitors.

Outdoor venues are now allowed to host events up to 20% of their maximum capacity, regardless of venue size. Indoor occupancy will be 15% of maximum capacity, regardless of venue size, Wolf said Monday. Face mask wearing and social distancing requirements remain in place for indoor and outdoor events.

Indoor event spaces had been limited to either 5% or 10% of their maximum occupancy, and no events were permitted to have more than 500 people.

Limits for outdoor events were 2,500 people for venues with a capacity of more than 10,000, 15% for venues with occupancy limits of up to 2,000 and 10% for venues with capacity limits between 2,000 and 10,000.

The state also is doing away with a requirement that people who are traveling to Pennsylvania from another state and Pennsylvania residents who are returning from out of state must test negative for the virus within 72 hours before arrival. Under the order, people who refused to be tested were required to quarantine for 14 days.

“Pennsylvania is taking a measured approach to revising or lifting mitigation orders,” Wolf said. “The reason we are seeing cases drop can be attributed, in part, to people following the mitigation efforts we have in place. Mask-wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene are making a difference and need to continue even as we see more and more people fully vaccinated. We need to balance protecting public health with leading the state to a robust economic recovery.”

State numbers improve

Pennsylvania Department of Health reports back up Wolf's argument, showing that fewer people are being hospitalized with COVID-19, the recovery rate has increased by a percentage point to 91%, and thousands of people are getting vaccinated every day.

The 14-day average number of people hospitalized per day is about 4,000 lower than it was at the peak on Dec. 25. The 14-day average is also below what it was at the height of the spring peak on May 3.

Of the 3,699,180 doses allocated so far, 2,426,963 have been administered as of Sunday, including 1,687,711 first doses and 739,252 second doses.

A person is considered fully covered after receiving both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the single-dose Janssen vaccine produced by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Co., owned by Johnson & Johnson.

The health department reported 3,361 new cases Saturday, 1,945 Sunday and 1,628 Monday for a statewide total of 933,270 cases.

There were 21 new deaths Saturday and five on Sunday, raising the total to 24,026.

Local numbers

In the county, the number of people who contracted the virus since the beginning of pandemic reached 8,945 on Monday, and one new death was reported since Friday, raising the total to 369.

Butler Memorial Hospital reported having six COVID-19 patients, including three in intensive care.