Governor orders COVID-19 shutdown across Pennsylvania
By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf has extended a shutdown order to the entire state of Pennsylvania in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
The statewide shutdown of all nonessential businesses will start at midnight and last for at least two weeks. Restaurants are urged only to remain open for carry-out and delivery orders.
Non-essential businesses include community and recreation centers; gyms, including yoga, barre and spin facilities; hair salons, nail salons and spas; casinos; concert venues; theaters; bars; sporting event venues and golf courses; retail facilities, including shopping malls and except for pharmacy or other health care facilities within retail operations, according to a news release.
Wolf had already called for nonessential government offices to close and nonessential business activity to end in four heavily populated southeastern Pennsylvania counties.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court gave local judges the ability to shut down county courthouses as needed and the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchanges will no longer take cash or credit cards.
Mitigation Efforts
- All restaurants and bars close their dine-in facilities to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so but eating and drinking inside restaurants and bars is temporarily prohibited.
- A no-visitor policy for correctional facilities and nursing homes has been implemented and will be evaluated for other facilities.
- Freedom of travel will remain, but all Pennsylvanians are asked to refrain from non-essential travel.
- All child care centers licensed by the commonwealth close as of Tuesday, March 17 and will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the 14-day statewide closures. Philadelphia County families should check with their child care facilities to determine status of business operations.
- Adult day care centers, adult training facilities, Provocations facilities, LIFE centers and Senior Community Centers close beginning Tuesday, March 17 and will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the 14-day statewide closures.
- Essential State, County, and Municipal services will be open: police, fire, emergency medical services, sanitation, and essential services for vulnerable populations.
- Supermarkets, pharmacies, and gas stations will remain open. The administration issued guidance for non-essential businesses, such as gyms, movie theaters and shopping malls during county-specific mitigation periods to protect employees, customers, and suppliers and limit the spread of the virus through personal contact and surfaces. Additional statewide business guidance is forthcoming.
- Governor Tom Wolf announced on March 13 that all K-12 Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced on March 13 that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16.
- The Wolf Administration strongly encourages the suspension of large gatherings, events, conferences of more than 10 people, and per White House guidelines, ask that individuals and groups cancel any gatherings planned over the next eight weeks.
- The Wolf Administration encourages religious leaders to exercise discretion in order to mitigate the spread of illness.
- Restricted visitors in state centers to ensure health and safety for individuals with an intellectual disability.
- Restricted visitors in assisted living and personal care homes to minimize exposure to our seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Commonwealth Employees
- The Office of Administration will provide a message to all commonwealth employees regarding telework.
- Individuals will be instructed to work from home if feasible.
- The commonwealth is authorizing a 10 workday paid absence for individuals who don’t have telework capabilities.
- Commonwealth facilities that provide essential services will remain open.
- County-administered facilities will follow the same procedures as those of the state
Cases confirmed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health have exceeded 75, as of Monday.
The majority of confirmed cases have been in southeastern Pennsylvania. None have been reported in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper declared a disaster emergency Monday afternoon effective immediately.
