Pennsylvania officials announced new “targeted mitigation measures” as COVID-19 cases spiked and hospizations rose.
The measures are not as drastic as the ones implemented in the spring when the pandemic was new to the country.
Advertisements
The mitigation efforts announced Monday during an afternoon press conference cover safety at schools, lower the number of people that can gather, put restrictions on some activities, and advise residents to stay home as much as possible.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Monday that there were 3,379 people in hospitals with COVID-19, a rise of 2,100 since the end of September, and 775 of the patients were in intensive care. The statewide COVID-19 test positivity rate for last week was 11.1 percent. Over the past two days, there have been 11,837 new cases.
As of Monday afternoon, there were 42 COVID-19 patients hospitalized across Bucks County with nine in intensive care and three on ventilators.
Advertisements
“As the secretary of health, I have issued a series of advisories and orders intended to help stop the spread during this critical time, to protect our hospitals, our health care workers and the lives of our fellow Pennsylvanians,” Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levin said. “Our collective responsibility continues to be to protect our communities, our health care workers and our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians from COVID-19. That has not changed.”
Levine issued a stay-at-home advisory for residents across the state. Though Levine cautioned that the advisory is not a “shutdown order,” she stated that officials are strongly urging residents to remain in their homes over the holiday.
Advertisements
Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration will begin requiring public schools in counties with high levels of transmission for at least two weeks to “commit to safety measures to ensure the safety and well-being of students and educators.”
Below are the requirements:
- Schools are mandated to comply with updated protocols if a COVID-19 case is identified in the school building.
- By 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, chief school administrators and the governing body president/chair must sign an attestation form stating they have either transitioned to fully remote learning or are complying with the orders if they are conducting any in-person instruction while in the “substantial” range of transmission.
- Those schools that do not sign or comply with an attestation are required to provide only fully remote learning and suspend all extracurricular activities as long as the county remains in the substantial transmission level.
If they do not commit, schools will be required to move to full remote learning.
Advertisements
State officials are also reiterating orders for businesses to step up cleaning and social distancing requirements, mandatory telework requirements unless impossible, and advising them to offer online ordering and/or curbside pickup.
“Furthermore, to help with enforcement of existing masking orders in businesses, the administration is introducing liability protection for all businesses that maintain in person operations and are open to the public. Businesses will receive immunity from civil liability only as related to the secretary’s masking order given that individuals and entities are engaged in essential emergency services activities and disaster services activities when enforcing the order,” state officials said.
Advertisements
Thanksgiving Eve, which is Wednesday, is normally one of the largest drinking days of the calendar year, but if 2020 has shown America anything, its that this year is like no other.
Levine announced a new order that will prohibit on-premise alcohol sales and consumption in bars, restaurants, and breweries from 5 p.m. on Wednesday through 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving. Though alcohol sales and consumption will be prohibited, establishments will still be able to serve food via indoor dining, outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery.
Advertisements
The state also will be “strengthening” restrictions on gatherings.
State officials have advised against gatherings at homes where those attending do not live together as a way to curb COVID-19. Gatherings of friends, family, and co-workers at homes has led to a large number of COVID-19 outbreaks in Bucks County and across the state.
Advertisements
Last week, the state implemented some new restrictions on travel and amped up the mask order.
Wolf administration officials said state law enforcement and other agencies with enforcement abilities will be stepping up enforcement of the mitigation measures. The agencies will be citing violators, issuing fines, and possibly engaging in regulatory actions for repeat offenders. Guidelines on enforcement are also being sent to local and county agencies.
“As Pennsylvanians, we have a responsibility to one another, to do what we can to protect each other and preserve the life we all love in this commonwealth,” Wolf said. “For those who refuse to do their part to protect their neighbors and communities and refuse to accept that their actions have consequences that cause pain and suffering for others, we will be stepping up enforcement of all of the public health orders Dr. Levine and I have put in place.”
Advertisements
“We are in a very dangerous situation, and we need to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19 right now because if we give in to the virus, we will lose many more Pennsylvanians. And that is unacceptable.”
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
