Pittsburgh forms task force to enforce new covid-19 restrictions

Pittsburgh Public Safety has formed a task force to enforce new covid-19 restrictions.

It was formed at the request of Mayor Bill Peduto to help enforce Gov. Tom Wolf’s renewed coronavirus mitigation efforts, Public Safety Spokesman Chris Togneri said Wednesday.

“The task force will conduct random, unannounced compliance checks at various businesses tonight,” Togneri said. “All violations will be documented. In addition, police officers on regular patrol will respond to all complaints for violations of the Governor’s order.”

Among the mitigation efforts is an order halting alcohol sales at all bars and restaurants at 5 p.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. Thursday. The night before Thanksgiving, Wolf noted, is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, and Wolf said the one-night stay on on-premise sales is eliminating one more opportunity for the virus to spread.

New orders also scale back the maximum capacity for indoor and outdoor gatherings, capping outdoor limits for the largest venues at 10% capacity up to 2,500.

Timothy McNulty, communications director for the mayor’s office, said Peduto has nothing more to add beyond what was sent out by Public Safety.

Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine again scaled back capacity limits for large gatherings both indoors and outdoors, slashing the maximum capacity for the largest outdoor venues by 5,000.

No fans will be allowed at the Steelers game against the Ravens Sunday at Heinz Field as a result of the restrictions.

Wolf had issued a stay-at-home advisory on Monday.

More information about Wolf’s restrictions can be found here.