Puerto Rico lifting pandemic curfew, alcohol sales ban

Puerto Rico is lifting its coronavirus pandemic curfew and ban on alcohol sales following a drop in cases.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi announced Tuesday the restrictions on alcohol sales and business hours from midnight to 5 a.m. will be lifted, allowing alcohol sales and business to remain open during those times, The Associated Press reported.

Other restrictions such as indoor mask mandates will stay in place. 

The restrictions on alcohol and gatherings were implemented in August to deal with a surge in coronavirus cases on the island. 

Other measures the U.S. territory has implemented include requiring employees to show proof of vaccination for beauty salons, barber shops, nail salons, spas, gyms, casinos and other venues.

Cases have dramatically dropped since August, with a 3 percent positivity rate for cases currently in Puerto Rico, according to the AP. 

Throughout the pandemic, the island recorded more than 150,000 cases with more than 3,000 deaths.