Pa. not ready to follow N.Y. in extending stay-at-home order, Gov. Tom Wolf says

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine provide update on the coronavirus

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, and PEMA officials provide an update on the coronavirus known as COVID-19 and outline steps Pennsylvanians can take to keep themselves healthy. on March 6, 2020. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Pennsylvania will not yet follow New York in extending its coronavirus shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Tom Wolf said on Thur., April 16.

On that day, N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo prolonged his state’s stay at home order and non-essential business closures until May 15.

In Pa., Wolf’s similar orders, which went into effect in mid-March, is set to last until at least April 30, and that continues to be the deadline date for now.

“I don’t have any plans along those lines yet, and again, that’s New York and he has to make decisions about what’s best for New York,” Wolf said during a conference call with reporters.

“I will continue to look at what I think is best for Pennsylvania. I understand and appreciate [Cuomo’s] decision, but I have made no decisions along any of those lines for Pennsylvania yet.”

Wolf has already closed schools through the end of this academic year. His stay at home order allows for trips to life-sustaining businesses, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, but starting Sunday night, customers and employees will have to wear a mask to enter any of those locations.

Outdoor exercising is also OK under the order as long as social distancing is practiced, and restaurants can continue to offer curbside and to-go orders, and also make deliveries.

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