Reports: All of PA now under stay-at-home order

The Altoona Mirror and other news sources are reporting that Gov. Tom Wolf on April 1, 2020, placed all of Pennsylvania under an order to stay at home.

The Mirror is reporting that Gov. Wolf expanded "the geographic footprint of the quarantine as state officials combat the coronavirus pandemic. In one stroke, Wolf added 34 counties to his stay-home edict, meaning that residents of all 67 of Pennsylvania’s counties must now stay home as much as possible to help slow the spread of COVID-19."

The Mirror is reporting that the order will last at least through April 30. Separately, schools and nonessential businesses are closed until further notice.

The Mirror's website is https://www.altoonamirror.com/

The Herald is working to confirm this report.

Update

As of noon on April 1, Pennsylvania was reporting 5,805 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Prior to the order, 33 counties of Pennsylvania's 67 counties were on a "stay at home" order, meaning that "all individuals in the counties subject to the policy must stay at home except for certain essential activities and work to provide life-sustaining business and government services," according to the official pa.gov website.

Allowable Activities and Travel

Allowable Individual Activities

• Individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following allowable individual activities and allowable essential travel.

• Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including, but not limited to, pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home.

• Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves or their family or household members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others, such as getting food and household consumer

products, pet food, and supplies necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences. This includes volunteer efforts to distribute meals and other life-sustaining services to those in need.

• Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing.

• To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business (see below for details about life-sustaining business activities).

• To care for a family member or pet in another household.

Allowable Essential Travel

• Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities (see below for details about life-sustaining business activities).

• Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable

persons.

• Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services.

• Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction.

• Travel required by law enforcement or court order.

• Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth.

Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel.

Exemptions

• Life-sustaining Business Activities

• Life-sustaining business activities are exempt from this policy.

On March 19, Gov. Wolf ordered the closure of the physical locations of businesses that are not critical to sustaining life in a pandemic.

Businesses can determine whether they are considered a life-sustaining business, and are therefore allowed to continue in-person, physical operations, by first referring to the Governor’s Order and the list of life-sustaining business which is available here. This list has been updated to conform with guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure issued by the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency advisory.

If the answer remains unclear, businesses may email the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for further assistance at the following email account: ra-dcedcs@pa.gov. Inquiries will be answered as promptly as possible.

Businesses that are ordered closed but believe they could help mitigate this crisis by providing a life-sustaining service may apply for a waiver to re-open.

This exemption is subject to continuance of, and compliance with, the social distancing and other mitigation measures to protect employees and the public, including virtual and telework operations (e.g. work from home) as the primary option when available.

State and Local Governments

Governments should use best judgment in exercising their authorities and issuing implementation

directives and guidance. All such decisions should appropriately balance public health and safety while ensuring the continued delivery of critical services and functions. Government employees and contractors should continue to operate under the direction of their supervisors.

Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

Individuals experiencing homelessness are not subject to this policy but are strongly urged to find shelter and government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals.

Displaced Students

International students, foster youth, and any other students who would otherwise experience displacement or homelessness as a result of campus closures are exempt from this policy and may remain in campus housing.