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PRLA Calls on Governor Wolf to Reverse Indoor Dining Ban Based on Compelling New Data

PRLA CALLS ON GOVERNOR WOLF TO REVERSE INDOOR DINING BAN BASED ON COMPELLING NEW DATA
NY State Contact Tracing Shows Over 74% of Case Spread Occurred in Private Gatherings

Harrisburg, PA (December 14, 2020)—In response to the statewide shutdown of indoor dining, the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA) is calling on Governor Wolf to reverse his decision in light of New York State’s contact tracing data showing restaurants account for only 1.4% of COVID-19 cases while 73.84% of COVID cases were spread at private gatherings. PRLA is also urging the PA Department of Health to provide greater transparency in policy making decisions and adopt stricter protocols for contact tracing to collect data to prove or disprove restaurants' role in the coronavirus spread. This call to action follows New York State Governor Cuomo releasing contact tracing data on Friday, December 11, 2020, for 46,000 cases between September and November.

The PRLA has consistently reinforced that there is no evidence indicating that restaurants following proper CDC protocols are a significant source of spreading the virus. The New York State contact tracing system data further supports the association’s position that the hospitality industry is being targeted when the virus's significant and damaging spread is happening in unregulated, private environments.

“Governor Wolf can make a difference – restore indoor dining at the safe levels at which they were operating and demand action from Congress. We are an industry that values safety, and there is no conclusive data showing that restaurants cannot operate safely when exercising CDC protocols,” says John Longstreet, President and CEO of the PRLA. “Considering this new compelling data, we beseech Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine to implement the same level of thorough contact tracing protocols. Thousands of lives and livelihoods are at stake.”

About the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association
The PRLA strives to promote, protect, and improve the hospitality and tourism industries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PRLA conveys the unified voice of these industries to the Commonwealth’s citizenry and elected officials.

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Media contact:

PRLA: Stephanie Otterson, (717) 963-8369 or [email protected]

Food Shelter PR: Lorraine Gimblett, (215) 254-6601 or [email protected]