Many Delaware County restaurants and bars returned to indoor seating, with restrictions, on Friday as the county entered a green phase of reopening, writes Alex Rose for the Daily Times.

Jerry McArdle, owner of Jack’s Tavern in Media, said he went back to regular hours Friday with more limited occupancy.

“Of course we’re social distancing with tables and barstools in the bar area, and also our deck and tent is still open,” said McArdle. “If you’re seated, then you don’t have to wear a mask, but if you get up to go to the bathroom or use the ATM or whatever, you have to wear a mask.”

Yet as the county moved to green from low number of new COVID-19 cases, Pennsylvania cases have actually gone up, worrying state officials.

There were 600 new cases Friday, 621 on Saturday.

Delaware County was under 20 daily cases last week. Five weeks ago, daily cases were above 100.

That means keep wearing masks in public, social distance and wash hands, even as the county reopens.

“We don’t want to be lulled into a false sense of security that this pandemic is over,” said Delaware County Councilman Brian Zidek said.

Read more about the county’s reopening  here.

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