What Centre County businesses, patrons need to know as Pa.’s COVID-19 shutdown enforcement begins
Enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that all non-life-sustaining businesses close their physical locations to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus begins at 8 a.m. Monday.
Wolf had initially announced last Monday a shutdown of “nonessential businesses,” but maintained businesses would not be forced to close. But as the number of cases has continued to climb in the commonwealth, Wolf tightened the list of businesses permitted to continue operating to “life-sustaining” on Thursday, and announced that those don’t comply could face citations, fines or license suspensions.
“To protect the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians, we need to take more aggressive mitigation actions,” Wolf said in his Thursday address. “This virus is an invisible danger that could be present everywhere. We need to act with the strength we use against any other severe threat. And, we need to act now before the illness spreads more widely.”
Here’s what businesses and patrons need to know about the shutdown enforcement:
What is considered a life-sustaining business?
Since Thursday, Wolf’s list of what businesses are considered “life-sustaining” has undergone several changes.
An update Saturday evening added sawmills, glass product manufacturing and lime and gypsum manufacturing businesses, among others.
Other life-sustaining businesses include grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, religious organizations and medical supply companies.
Under the governor’s order, retail food establishments must close dining rooms, but can still offer takeout, delivery and curbside pickup options.
All of Pennsylvania’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits liquor stores were ordered to close as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, but beer distributors remain open.
The governor’s list, updated at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, of what is and what isn’t considered life-sustaining can be found at https://www.scribd.com/document/452553026/UPDATED-5-45pm-March-21-2020-Industry-Operation-Guidance. Waiver requests for business that believe they should be considered “life-sustaining” can be found on the governor’s website.
Who is enforcing Pa.’s shutdown order?
The governor directed the state Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, state police and local officials to enforce the edict to the full extent of the law.
According to the state police, noncompliant businesses and organizations can face possible criminal penalties under the Administrative Code of 1929, 71 P.S. § 1409 and/or the Pennsylvania Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955, 35 P.S. § 521.20(a). Both are considered summary offenses and are punishable by fines and potentially jail time.
“We believe most Pennsylvanians want to act responsibly and do their part to help slow the spread of this deadly virus,” state police Commissioner Col. Robert Evanchick said in a statement Sunday. “Troopers and liquor control officers will make every effort to achieve voluntary compliance by educating business owners and using discretion when appropriate.
“But our message is clear: COVID-19 is a serious health and public safety risk that requires an extraordinary response from law enforcement and the public. I urge everyone to stay home, stay calm and stay safe.”
Locally, the Borough of State College Division of Health is prepared to “immediately suspend the retail food facility license of any food facility that fails to comply with this temporary emergency requirement,” health technician Brian O’Donnell wrote Sunday in a letter to food establishment owners and managers.
Additionally, O’Donnell wrote, businesses that fail to comply will be in jeopardy of losing any government-issued COVID-19 relief that may be offered in the future.
According to O’Donnell, the action is authorized under the Retail Food Facility Safety Act 3 Pa. C.S.A. § 5701 et seq., as as adopted by the Borough of State College Borough Code Chapter 9 Part B. (201) (207).
For restaurants that continue to offer delivery, takeout and curbside pickup, O’Donnell offered the following precautionary measures:
- Sending employees who exhibit signs of respiratory illness home
- Social distancing (maintaining a 6-foot barrier between people when interacting)
- Frequent hand-washing
Diligent cleaning and sanitizing of frequently touched surfaces
Coughing and sneezing into a tissue or your elbow
Disposing of soiled tissues promptly and washing hands immediately afterward
How can you support local businesses during the shutdown?
A few easy ways people can support local businesses during the shutdown include buying a gift card, ordering online for takeout or delivery, shopping online or over the phone, promoting businesses on social media and leaving online reviews, Downtown Bellefonte board President Ellen Mattis wrote in a letter.
The Centre Daily Times keeps an up-to-date list of local takeout and delivery options on its website. Downtown Bellefonte has a list of all its establishments with links to their social media sites on its website, while the Downtown State College Improvement District has a spreadsheet of available takeout and delivery options.
The Downtown Improvement District also has a list of merchants who are offering gift cards.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 5:44 PM.
