AMHERST — An emergency COVID-19 pandemic order in place since Feb. 8 capping capacity at restaurants and fitness studios and requiring eateries to close by 9:30 p.m. was lifted as of last Friday by the Amherst health director.
The decision placed the town back in alignment with the state’s rules on capacity limits and closing times, based on the decision by town Health Director Emma Dragon.
Under the latest state rules, restaurants no longer have a percent capacity limit and are permitted to host musical performances, though patrons are still limited to six per table and can be in the restaurant for only 90 minutes.
Amherst, Hadley and Sunderland all imposed more restrictive measures in place due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the University of Massachusetts that forced the campus to require all students to self-sequester through Feb. 21. Hadley lifted a similar order the previous week.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the early closing time likely had the biggest impact on restaurants in the college town, with many university students heading out to dinner or for takeout meals at the later times.
