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Pennsylvania Takes Escalating Actions To Mitigate The Spread Of Coronavirus; Total Cases 63

Last week saw a rapid escalation of efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, as Gov. Wolf took actions that affected everyone in the state, but especially in Southeast Pennsylvania.

The issue will continue to evolve rapidly.

As of March 15, there are now 63 presumptive cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania in the counties of Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, Chester, Philadelphia, Monroe, Allegheny, Lehigh, Luzerne, Northampton, Pike, Washington and Wayne counties (roughly in order highest to lowest).

The number of coronavirus cases has been increasing every day as more virus testing is done.

Late Sunday, March 15, Gov. Wolf ordered dine-in service at restaurants and bars in Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties to close for 14 days (March 30). Businesses not complying with this order will be subject to enforcement action. Click Here for more.

Click Here are the latest social distancing and closure actions-- in addition to the restaurant and bar service closures-- strongly recommended by the Wolf Administration and more stringent requirements, including the closure of nonessential businesses, in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties through March 28.

Supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open in these counties.

All public K-12 schools (cyber charters, career and technical centers), childcare facilities and state-owned universities in Pennsylvania will be closed through March 28. Read Guidance To Schools Here.

The Health Departments in Philadelphia and Allegheny County are coordinating the response and issuing recommended precautions in those communities.

The Wolf Administration has also prepared community preparedness and procedures materials, social media graphics and posters for use in educating the public or employees. Read more here.

More details follow on the response and state agency actions.

For the latest information on the coronavirus and precautions to take in Pennsylvania, visit the Department of Health’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage, Follow them on Twitter, or Like them on Facebook.

The Department of Health has also issued coronavirus guidance for businesses.

Click Here for this week’s PA Coronavirus NewsClips.

Escalating Response

On March 12, Gov. Wolf announced the first statewide social distancing restrictions to help control the spread of coronavirus, including strongly discouraging gatherings over 250 individuals, traveling to facilities like gyms, movie theaters and shopping malls and for religious institutions to exercise discretion. Read more here.

In addition, the Governor instituted more stringent social distancing requirements in Montgomery County which has the highest number of coronavirus cases. Read more here. He expanded these more stringent restrictions on March 14 (see below).

He also instituted a ban nonessential travel for state employees, prohibited large gathering and for postponing conferences, meetings, training and other events. Read more here.

On March 13, Gov. Wolf announced the statewide closure of all public K-12 schools (cyber charters, career and technical centers), childcare facilities and state-owned universities in Pennsylvania. Read Guidance To Schools Here.

As of March 14, Gov. Wolf expanded the most stringent social distancing restrictions in place to Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties because those counties have the most coronavirus cases. Read more here.

The restrictions strongly recommend banning nonessential travel, closing all public, private, parochial and institutions of higher learning and closing nonessential retail facilities (Read Definition Here) for 14 days--until March 28. Read more here.

Supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open in these counties.

The Wolf Administration strongly encourages nonessential businesses to act now before the Governor or the Secretary of Health finds it necessary to compel closures under the law for the interest of public health, including section 7301 of the Emergency Management Services Code.

State offices in these four counties will also be closed. For example, DEP’s Southeast Regional Office in Norristown, PennDOT driver service centers and Department of Human Services offices will all be closed for 14 days--March 28.

The Liquor Control Board also announced the phased closure of liquor stores in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Read more here.

These agencies have also issued special coronavirus guidance to facilities under their jurisdiction-- Department of Human Services Guidance For Long-Term Service, Support Providers; and the Department Of Aging Releases Coronavirus Guidance For Senior Centers.

The Wolf Administration has also prepared community preparedness and procedures materials, social media graphics and posters for use in educating the public or employees. Read more here.

The Health Departments in Philadelphia and Allegheny County are coordinating the response and issuing recommended precautions in those communities.

House/Senate

The Senate announced they have canceled voting session on March 16, but plan to be in session on the 17th and 18th. Technically, the Senate is on a 12-hour call notice to come back to Harrisburg, so that could change at any time.

The House has not changed its schedule. They will be in session March 16, 17, 18.

On March 14, House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) announced the three special elections to fill vacant House seats on March 17 will be held as planned in Bucks, Mercer and Westmoreland counties.

Bucks County is one of the four counties where the most stringent social districting recommendations were put in place which may pose a dilemma for voters wondering whether they should go to the polls.

Legislative leaders in the House and Senate have pledged to help the coronavirus reponse.

The House Health Committee is scheduled to meet Monday on legislation-- Senate Bill 633 (Costa-D-Allegheny)-- authorizing the Governor to declare a health emergency and give the Department of Health and other agencies authority to take further actions to respond to a health threat.

CANCELED or CLOSED Due To Coronavirus Concerns:

The following events or facilities have been canceled, postponed or closed due to coronavirus concerns--

-- DEP's Southeast Regional Office Is CLOSED For 14 Days (March 28)

-- DCNR: ALL Organized Events, Volunteer Days, Activities In ALL State Parks & Forests Are Canceled Thru April 30. Parks & Forests are open for individual recreation, except in Bucks, Chester, Delaware & Montgomery Counties. All State Parks In Bucks, Chester, Delaware & Montgomery Counties Are Closed

-- March 16 - House Consumer Affairs Committee hearing on community solar bills

-- March 16 - Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Conservation Committee

-- March 17 - EQB Hearing On Land Recycling Cleanup Standards [More Coming]

-- March 25 - DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council

-- PRPS/PAEE Conference and PA Land Trust Assn. Conference

-- Keep PA Beautiful Suspends Pick Up Pennsylvania

-- Penn State Extension Has Canceled All Public Education Events Thru April 5

-- Game Commission: Middle Creek Wildlife Area Visitors Center

-- Dept. of Agriculture: Farm Show Complex Public Events

-- Wildlands Conservancy Canceling All Education Programs Thru March 30

-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Closed Thru March 30

-- PA Resources Council Cancels March 17, 21 & 25 Workshops

-- March 23-27 Carnegie Mellon University Energy Week - Postponed

NOTICE: Check PaEN Calendar of Events, DEP Calendar of Events and the DCNR Calendar of Events for the latest information. When in doubt, Please Call Ahead To Make Sure The Event You Are Going To Is Still Being Held.

PennDOT

For vehicle registrations, safety inspections and emissions inspections scheduled to expire between March 14 and March 31, 2020, the expiration date is now extended until April 30, 2020. Read more here.

For More PA Information

The Department of Health has also issued coronavirus guidance for businesses.

Click Here for this week’s PA Coronavirus NewsClips.

Federal SBA Assistance

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer Small Businesses impacted by Coronavirus up to $2 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance (EIDL).

Under the EIDL program the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Click Here for the SBA release. Click Here for the SBA handout.

Federal FMCSA Emergency Declaration

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Federal Coronavirus Relief Package

The Trump Administration is also negotiating with House Democrats and Senate Republicans on a multi-billion dollar coronavirus economic relief bill that would provide free testing, sick pay for workers, additional funding for unemployment benefits and a boost for food programs for children, families and seniors. Read more here.

Related Articles - Environment:

DEP’s Southeast Regional Office Is CLOSED For 14 Days

DCNR Cancels ALL Organized Events, Programs, Volunteer Days In ALL State Parks, Forests Thru April 30

Canceled Riparian Forest Buffer Summit To Be Rescheduled For 2021

Keep PA Beautiful Suspends Pick Up Pennsylvania Thru The End Of April, Will Pick Up In May & June

Penn State Extension Has Canceled All Public Education Programs, Events Statewide Thru April 5

PA/NJ Chapter Of The American Chestnut Foundation Converts March 21 Growers Meeting To Webinar

March 23-27 Carnegie Mellon University Energy Week - Postponed

PUC Prohibits All Utility Terminations During Coronavirus Disaster Emergency

Note: If Money Is Needed For State Coronavirus Response,The Senate & House Should Use Their Own $172 Million Surplus Operating Funds First

Related Articles - State Response:

Gov. Wolf Extends Strictest Coronavirus Requirements To Bucks, Chester Counties; Total Cases 47 [PaCN]