The District of Columbia will lift most capacity and other coronavirus restrictions on businesses May 21, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced Monday, following numerous pleas for clarity from local businesses and residents.
Capacity limits for bars, nightclubs, large sports arenas and entertainment venues will be increased to 50 percent on that date and then lifted June 11. Masks will still be required indoors.
Bowser said health metrics have been continuing to improve. The District's seven-day average of new daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents is 6.6, an improvement from the upward of 40 cases seen over the winter.
As vaccinations have increased and cases have declined, local business owners have been calling on Bowser to loosen what they called unnecessarily stringent restrictions.
