Wolf Administration to Increase Indoor and Outdoor Events And Gatherings Maximum Capacity on May 17

The Herald’s Weekly

Virus Report

Reported on 5/11/21

#Cases / #Deaths / Rate*

Bedford: 3,151 - 135 - 281.9

Blair: 10,228 - 329 - 270.1

Cambria: 10,039 - 421 - 323.4

Centre: 15,123 - 220(n/c) - 135.5

Clearfield: 6,105 - 143 - 180.4

Fulton: 733 - 15(n/c) - 103.2

Huntingdon: 4,195 - 128(n/c) - 283.5

Somerset: 5,622 - 205 - 279.1

*Rate is number of deaths per 100,000 population. It is used to compare county death rates.

Reported on 5/04/21

#Cases / #Deaths / Rate

Bedford: 3,095 - 134 - 279.8

Blair: 10,058 - 324 - 265.9

Cambria: 9,904 - 418 - 321.1

Centre: 14,956 - 220 - 135.5

Clearfield: 6,001 - 139 - 175.4

Fulton: 724 - 15(n/c) - 103.2

Huntingdon: 4,132 - 128(n/c) - 283.5

Somerset: 5,554 - 201 - 273.7

Pennsylvania

989,418 cases to date

Week of May 4:

975,044 total cases

–

26,607 deaths to date

Week of May 4:

26,276 total deaths

United States

32,727,685 cases to date

Week of May 4:

32,446,958 total cases

–

581,537 deaths to date

Week of May 4:

576,790 total deaths

Worldwide

159,054,527 cases to date

Week of May 4:

153,602,252 total cases

–

3,305,788 deaths to date

Week of May 4:

3,214,333 total deaths

OCCUPANCY LIMITS

The Wolf Administration announced May 11 that event and gathering maximum occupancy limits will be increased to 50 percent for indoor events and gatherings and 75 percent for outdoor events and gatherings, effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 17.

Currently, maximum occupancy is 25 percent for indoor events and gatherings and 50 percent for outdoor events and gatherings, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

“As more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with the commonwealth’s reopening efforts,” said Governor Wolf. “We recognize the significant strain businesses have faced during COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Throughout the last year and half, we have seen businesses continue to put the safety of their patrons first and I believe they will continue to do so even with this capacity increase.”

This update will not prevent municipalities, school districts, restaurants and venues from continuing and implementing stricter mitigation efforts. Based on current CDC guidance, social distancing is strongly recommended for municipalities, school districts, restaurants, and venues.

An event or gathering is defined as a temporary grouping of individuals for defined purposes, that takes place over a limited time frame, such as hours or days. For example, events and gatherings include fairs, festivals, concerts or shows and groupings that occur within larger, more permanent businesses, such as shows or performances within amusements parks, individual showings of movies on a single screen/auditorium within a multiplex, business meetings or conferences, or each party or reception within a multiroom venue.

Face coverings are still to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home. In accordance with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians are not required to wear a mask during certain activities. The current order requiring Pennsylvanians to wear masks will be lifted when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

“As we continue implementing our reopening plan as quickly as possible, the safety of Pennsylvanians remains at the forefront of our decision making,” said Gov. Wolf. “During the pandemic, all Pennsylvanians have worked collaboratively to stop the spread of COVID-19. We must continue that same mindset during our reopening efforts. I urge each eligible Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated to help protect your neighbors and loved ones as we work to safely reopen our beloved commonwealth communities.”