The Allegheny County Parks Department is the latest entity to announce operational changes after Gov. Tom Wolf this week issued new orders to help curb the spread of covid-19.
According to the parks department, all indoor facility rentals and sports and fitness programs including flag football, hockey leagues, hockey lessons and ice-skating lessons are canceled Saturday through Sunday, Jan. 3.
Full refunds will be issued for canceled facility rentals and programs.
Ice rinks at North Park and South Park will remain open, but their operations will be modified. Changes at the ice rinks include permitting only 50 skaters per session and closing rink buildings, including indoor restrooms. Portable toilets, lockers and benches will be provided outside.
The drive-in Holiday Laser Show at North Park will continue as planned through Sunday, Dec. 20.
The golf courses at North Park and South Park will continue to operate under covid-19 guidelines.
The changes came a day after Wolf announced new mitigation orders that shut down indoor dining, gyms, school sports and entertainment venues. The orders also cap indoor gatherings at 10 people and outdoor gatherings at 50 people. All other in-person businesses must operate at 50% of normal capacity.
The order goes into effect Saturday and will last through 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4.
Data released by the Allegheny County Health Department Friday showed the county set a record for new covid-19 cases with 1,322 new cases reported. This is the fourth time new reported cases have exceeded 1,000, all of which have come this month. Total cases for the county now sit at 38,029.
The county also reported 33 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing total deaths to 658.
