Indoor dining in DC will resume at 25% capacity starting Friday, January 22.
Sounds like DC’s indoor dining ban will end this coming Friday, January 22, according to John Falcicchio, Mayor Bowser’s Chief of Staff. Falcicchio tweeted the news earlier on Wednesday, January 21, explaining the ban or “Inauguration Pause” would coincide with the breakdown of the barriers set up all around Downtown DC.
We are told that breakdown will start in earnest at 6 pm and will likely take about 36 hours.
That aligns with the end of the Inauguration Pause on indoor dining which is set to expire on Friday, January 22, at 5 am. Restaurants will then be able to return to 25% indoor.
— John J. Falcicchio (@falcicchio) January 20, 2021
The ban which was first implemented on December 23 and which was set to expire January 15, was extended by Mayor Bowser following the January 6 attack on the Capitol and the ongoing public health & safety concerns.
Museums and libraries which were forced to close under the December ban will most likely resume their activities on Friday as well. It is unclear whether the Smithsonian Zoo and museums will open once again to the public at this time. The Smithsonian Institution along with the National Gallery of Art and several other cultural institutions closed earlier in November ahead of the ban and have yet to announce a reopening date.
See also: DC’s Winter Restaurant Week Kicks Off Next Monday!
[Featured image: Unsplash]