Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf announced that a red, yellow, and green phased approach will be used to reopen the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The initial benchmark we’re setting is for the population to have an average of less than 50 cases per 100,000 individuals over the course of 14 days in order to return to work," Wolf said, “but we’re also going to continue to look at areas like testing rates, the ability to investigate cases, contact tracing capabilities and proximity to high-risk settings.”
The assessment will be a regional one.
Wolf said that all of Pa. is currently in the red phase, and reiterated that May 8 is the target date for a phased reopening. That’s when the statewide stay at home order is currently set to end, of course. The north-central and northwest parts of the state could go first.
It’s worth noting, too, that delays could occur if the case-count requirement is not met.
Gov. Tom Wolf's red, yellow and green phases reopening Pennsylvania after coronavirus-related shutdowns in 2020. (Graphic via the governor's office.)
Here’s how Wolf outlined what would be allowed in each stage (information from a news release provided by the governor’s office is in intalics:
Red
“We’re currently obviously in the red phase statewide, with only life-sustaining businesses operating in Pennsylvania, and [we’re] staying at home, except to fulfill critical needs.”
Yellow
“This yellow phase will lift some restrictions, including parts of the business closure order,” Wolf said.
“The phase will continue to limit things like high-risk activities, such as keeping school buildings closed, restricting restaurants to curbside pickup or delivery only, allowing retail to reopen with protections in place for workers and customers in preventing large social gatherings, and businesses will need to continue to prioritize telework or abide by worker safety guidelines if telework isn’t possible.”
Allowed:
- Telework Must Continue Where Feasible
- Businesses with In-Person Operations Must Follow Business and Building Safety Orders
- Child Care Open with Worker and Building Safety Orders
- Congregate Care and Prison Restrictions in Place
- Schools Remain Closed for In-Person Instruction
Not allowed
- Stay-at-Home Restrictions Lifted in Favor of Aggressive Mitigation
- Large Gatherings of More than 25 Prohibited
- In-Person Retail Allowable, Curbside and Delivery Preferable
- Indoor Recreation, Health and Wellness Facilities (such as gyms, spas), and all Entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) Remain Closed
- Restaurants and Bars Limited to Carry-Out and Delivery Only
Green
“Finally, a region will move to the green phase, which will include lifting the remaining parts of the stay at home orders but still require Pennsylvanians to adhere to CDC and Department of Health guidelines. An example would be to still require universal masking if the CDC and the Department of Health are recommending it when a region reaches this green face.”
Allowed
All Businesses Must Follow CDC and PA Department of Health Guidelines
Not allowed
- Aggressive Mitigation Orders Lifted
- All Individuals Must Follow CDC and PA Department of Health Guidelines
Added Wolf:
“I want to emphasize that Pennsylvania ins should take the guidance given to their communities and their businesses seriously. The more community committed to staying home and succeeds at suppressing the case count. The sooner, and faster restrictions can be eased.”
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- Coronavirus cases by day in Pa. (4/22/20): How fast is COVID-19 spreading?