DC will undergo tougher restrictions on Wednesday amid surge in coronavirus cases

(Win McNamee / Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) Mayor Muriel Bowser announced more stringent coronavirus guidelines on Monday, clamping down on the capacity restrictions of gatherings and restaurants.

Most of the new restrictions will take effect on Wednesday, Nov. 25:

• Indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people (down from 50)
• Outdoor gatherings, except worship services, are limited to 25 (down from 50)
• Group indoor workout classes are suspended, and outdoor workout classes will be limited to 25 people. Individual workouts are permitted while guidelines on organized sports are not yet determined.
• Restaurants cannot sell alcohol after 10 p.m. but can open for dining until midnight.
• Indoor worship services will be capped at 50 people or 25% capacity.
• All non-essential, non-retail business employees are encouraged to work from home.
• Live entertainment pilot, which allowed six venues to have up to 50 people for events, will be suspended.

Meanwhile, restaurant capacity will be lowered from 50% to 25% on Dec. 14, allowing businesses to make room for adjustments. Some took to Twitter to criticize the decision, DCist reported.

Bowser described the guidelines as an “adjustment” to the city’s Phase Two restrictions, which began on June 22 and allowed gatherings of up to 50 people while businesses, libraries, and restaurants operated at half capacity.

The turnaround comes as the District reported 139 new cases and two deaths on Monday, bringing the District’s total positive cases to 20,409 and coronavirus deaths to 673, as of Nov. 23.

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