A person crosses the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Monday, March 23, 2020. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is issuing a stay-at-home order to the nation's sixth most-populated city to keep its 1.6 million people from leaving home, except to get food, seek medical attention, exercise outdoors, go to a job classified as essential or other errands that involve personal and public safety.
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
A person crosses the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Monday, March 23, 2020. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is issuing a stay-at-home order to the nation's sixth most-populated city to keep its 1.6 million people from leaving home, except to get food, seek medical attention, exercise outdoors, go to a job classified as essential or other errands that involve personal and public safety.
(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvanians are under a stay-at-home order through April 30 as the state tries to avoid a tipping point in the number of coronavirus cases.
After unveiling the initial order for the seven hardest-hit counties on March 23, Governor Tom Wolf said his goal was to slow the virus’s spread, and to keep the state’s health systems from being overwhelmed by patients.
“I want to act decisively, but I do not want to overreact,” Wolf said, explaining why the order only applied to counties that had seen the most cases.
As cases continued to increase, the governor progressively added more counties to the stay-at-home list, and applied the order statewide on April 1.
The order is what it sounds like: people should not leave their homes — unless absolutely necessary.
The governor’s office has released a list of “allowable activities” that includes buying food and crucial supplies, seeking medical care, taking care of a family member, and exercising outside as long as a person maintains 6 feet of social distance.
People can also go to work or volunteer if they’re providing an essential service.
Here’s the full list of allowable activities and travel, as specified by the governor’s office:
Lisa Wardle / WITF
Like many grocery stores across the country, Wegmans in Mechanicsburg, Pa., is asking customers to limit purchases on certain items.
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.
People experiencing homelessness are not subject to the order.
Students who would be displaced or homeless as a result of campus closures are also exempt from the policy and can remain in campus housing.
The following operations are exempt:
While shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders in other states have come with penalties for those who don’t comply, Wolf’s office said law enforcement in Pennsylvania will only ensure people are aware of the order.
Wolf said the issue lies less in enforcement than in businesses and individuals recognizing their shared responsibility in protecting at-risk people from the virus.
“You need to ask yourself, do I really need to make this trip? Or am I going to put someone else’s life in jeopardy by making this trip? Am I going to be saving a life by staying home?” Wolf said.
He added he understands that staying home can feel difficult.
“A few weeks ago, Frances and I had our second grandchild and we both desperately want to hold him,” he said. “But for his safety and the safety of the rest of our family we are distancing ourselves. And I’m asking all of us to do the same thing.”
Yes, as long as you follow social distancing guidelines and stay at least 6 feet away from other people. Find more information on how to stay safe while fishing in this FAQ from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Emma Lee / WHYY
Tony Yoon fishes at Meadow Lake in FDR Park.
Yes, assuming that your workplace is considered life-sustaining and remains open. Officials encourage everyone who can work from home to do so.
Maybe. You are allowed to drive to the grocery store or for any of the other allowable activities listed above. The governor’s office says residents will not be required to have official letters proving the purpose of travel, and that police are being told to focus on businesses’ compliance with the order instead of individual activities.
Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Ryan Tarkowski told PennLive that voluntary compliance is preferred, but “troopers maintain discretion to warn or issue citations and the decision is specific to the facts and circumstances of a particular encounter.”
Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.
