Restaurants, bars, and stores will be able to open at 100 percent capacity after more than a year. Coronavirus restrictions will be lifted starting Memorial Day, writes Erin McCarthy and Justine McDaniel for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

That’s when Pennsylvania will lift its coronavirus mitgation measures.

“As more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with our reopening efforts,” acting Secretary Health Alison Beam said in a statement.

Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, called the announcement “the long-awaited light at the end of the tunnel and a return to sense of ‘normalcy.’”

The end of restrictions applies to restaurants, bars, stores, salons, gyms, theaters, event venues, nightclubs, and other businesses.

Crowd-size limits will be lifted on indoor and outdoor gatherings.

Masks will still be required until 70% of Pennsylvanians 18 and older are vaccinated.

About 63% have received at least one vaccination dose; 41.8% are fully vaccinated.

In Delaware County, about 35 percent are fully vaccinated.

Schools won’t have to report coronavirus prevention measures to the state.

Businesses will not be mandated to clean, sanitize or apply distancing mandates, though following CDC guidances are still recommended.

In Delaware County, as of May 5, new infections continue to drop as the number of vaccinated continues to increase, according to The New York Times.

Even so, The Times continues to list Delaware County’s COVID-19 risk level as “very high”.

The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized remained at the same level this past week as the previous week. COVID-19-related deaths increased.

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer about the lifting of restrictions. Read more at The New York Times about the current COVID-19 risk in Delaware County.