UPDATED: Stepped-Up Mitigation Measures For Three Weeks Amid COVID-19 Surge

UPDATED: 7:42 p.m., Thursday:

Pennsylvania will enact a new set of COVID-19 mitigation measures that will run statewide through the new year.

Gov. Tom Wolf, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, said during the virtual press conference late Thursday afternoon that the three weeks of mitigation measures are designed to reduce the number of pandemic cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

The mitigation measures, which begin Saturday at 12:01 a.m. and run until 8 a.m. on Monday, January 4, are not as strict as those in the spring, but they will still have impact on many businesses of all sizes.

The governor announced the following measures:

In-Person Dining and Alcohol Sales

• All in-person indoor dining at businesses in the retail food services industry, including, but not limited to, bars, restaurants, breweries, wineries, distilleries, social clubs, and private catered events is prohibited.   
• Outdoor dining, take-out food service, and take-out alcohol sales are permitted and may continue, subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law, or this or any other Order issued by the Sec. of Health or by the governor.  

Indoor Gatherings and Events

• Indoor gatherings and events of more than 10 persons are prohibited.  
• Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and other places of congregate worship are specifically excluded from the limitations set forth above during religious services, these institutions are strongly encouraged to find alternative methods for worship, as in person gatherings pose a significant risk to participants at this time. While this an incredibly difficult recommendation to make, particularly at this time of year, faith leaders must carefully weigh the health risks to their congregants given the immense amount of community spread of COVID-19.

Outdoor Gatherings and Events

• Outdoor gatherings and events of more than 50 persons are prohibited.   

Capacity Limits for Businesses

• All in-person businesses serving the public may only operate at up to 50% of the maximum capacity stated on the applicable certificate of occupancy, except as limited by existing orders to a smaller capacity limit. 

Gyms and Fitness Facilities

• Indoor operations at gyms and fitness facilities are prohibited. 
• Outdoor facilities and outdoor classes can continue, but all participants must wear face coverings in accordance with the Sec. of Health’s Updated Order Requiring Universal Face Coverings, including any subsequent amendments, and practice physical distancing requirements.   

Entertainment Industry

• All in-person businesses in the entertainment industry serving the public within a building or indoor defined area, including, but not limited to, theaters, concert venues, museums, movie theaters, arcades, casinos, bowling alleys, private clubs, and all other similar entertainment, recreational or social facilities, are prohibited from operation.   

In-Person Extracurricular School Activities

• Voluntary activities sponsored or approved by a school entity’s governing body or administration are suspended, but these extracurricular activities may be held virtually. This includes, but is not limited to, attendance at or participation in activities such musical ensembles, school plays, student council, clubs, and school dances.

K-12 School Sports and Youth Sports

• All sports at K-12 public schools, nonpublic schools, private schools and club, travel, recreational, intermural, and intramural sports are paused.

Professional and Collegiate Sports

• Professional or collegiate sports activities may continue in accordance with guidance from the CDC and the Department of Health.
• Spectators may not attend such sports activities in person.  

“With these measures in place, we hope to accomplish three goals: First, stop the devastating spread of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. Second, keep our hospitals and health care workers from becoming overwhelmed. And third, help Pennsylvanians get through the holiday season – and closer to a widely available vaccine – as safely as possible. This is a bridge to a better future in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said.

The new measures come as Pennsylvania reported 11,972 new COVID-19 cases and 248 deaths in a single day. Since the pandemic began, more than 12,000 Pennsylvanians and 750 Bucks Countians have died of COVID-19.

“Each of the last two days we have reported the highest number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. In the past week, we have reported close to 1,100 new deaths from COVID-19 across Pennsylvania. The virus continues to strain our health care systems and the dramatic rise in cases among all age groups, including among school-age children, is alarming,” state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said.

Unlike past mitigation measure announcements in the spring, the governor’s office provided links to data to support the steps being taken.

Wolf said the temporary measures, while painful, can make a difference in cases and deaths. He urged Pennsylvanians to come together over the next few weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to help stop hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

“I’m asking we work together to turn the tide of this surge so that our communities can safely bridge the gap between where we stand today and when a vaccine is widely available,” Wolf said.

The mitigation measures followed similar ones put in place a few weeks ago in Philadelphia. Bucks County officials have hesitated to implement restrictions, but they have urged residents to wear masks and physical distance.

One of the biggest impacts from the governor’s order will be on restaurants and bars. Many workers only remain employed if there is enough business, something the temporary end of indoor dining could do.

John Longstreet, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, told partner news organization Spotlight PA that “it’s a desperate situation.”

“Restaurants find it increasingly challenging to conduct outdoor dining as temperatures dip and realistically cannot survive on takeout, delivery, and carry out alone,” he said in a statement that urged officials and lawmakers to help.

With a lack of government aid, the situation for some restaurants and bars could lead to closures.

There’s no planned state aid for small businesses, and federal lawmakers have been unable to come to a deal for months.

House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, a Republican from Centre County, said in a statement that the state is in the midst of a serious COVID-19 surge and people need to take that seriously.

“I recognize we are facing a serious resurgence of COVID-19 and our health care systems are struggling to keep up with the increased demand; however, job-crushing, harmful government mandates are not the answer. Canceling Christmas is not the answer,” he said in a statement issued before Wolf’s announcement.

“The hope was that the things that I did put into place would be enough to take us through the Thanksgiving season,” Wolf said. “It didn’t work out as well as I hoped it would.”

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