Ready, set, go: Centre County will move to the ‘green phase’ Friday. Here’s what that means for you
Editor’s note: The Centre County commissioners announced Sunday that they’ve reconsidered their decision to delay moving to the “green phase.” After a unanimous board vote on Tuesday, Centre County will now move into the green phase on Friday.
Gov. Tom Wolf confirmed Friday night via Twitter that Centre County will move June 5 to the “green phase,” the least-restrictive phase of Pennsylvania’s reopening plan that allows for restaurants, bars, gyms and salons to open at a reduced capacity.
Wolf’s announcement came hours after he said he wanted to move Centre County to the green phase a week ahead of time, on May 29. But two county commissioners requested the county stay in yellow to help prevent a potential “super-spreader event” at primary Election Day on June 2.
Regardless, the green phase is an important step for the county in its gradual return to “normalcy” — and there are plenty of changes ahead for both residents and businesses. Here’s a closer look at what you should know ahead of the June 5 move:
What changes in the green phase?
Put simply: A lot.
Personal care services, health and wellness facilities, indoor recreation and bars can finally reopen their doors under the green phase — but only at a reduced capacity and, in some cases, by appointment only.
In other words, you can finally get that manicure or haircut. But salons and barbers will be by appointment only, and occupancy will be reduced by 50%. You can also dine-in at restaurants or work out in gyms — but occupancy will also be capped at 50%.
As in the yellow phase, child care can open as long as it complies with the state’s guidance and construction may resume. And all entertainment — such as casinos, movie theaters and shopping malls — can open at 50% occupancy.
For businesses that already opened in the yellow phase and are currently operating under a reduced capacity, they can now operate as high as a 75% capacity under the green phase.
Under the green phase, you won’t have to worry whether a specific business is allowed to be open. In almost every case, it is. And this will be as close to “normal” that Centre County residents have had since first going under the stay-at-home order March 28.
What doesn’t change in the green phase?
Green does not mean a return to normal, although Wolf called it a step “near normalcy.”
Concerts, festivals and large sporting events are still restricted — as are other “large recreational gatherings.” Workers who can telecommute are urged to continue doing so. Nursing home visitation remains restricted. And you must still wear masks in public and continue to practice social distancing.
When it comes to prisons and hospitals, it’s up to the each facility to determine its respective policies.
All businesses must still follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health. And specific guidelines will be released this coming week, according to Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.
“I must emphasize that moving into the green phase will still require precautions to keep our communities and our families safe,” Wolf added during a Friday press conference. “COVID-19 continues to be a threat to our health and welfare.”
Wait ... why is Centre County waiting an extra week?
The governor’s office initially planned to announce that Centre County — which has 143 total COVID-19 cases as of Saturday — would move to green May 29. But two of Centre County’s three commissioners, Mike Pipe and Mark Higgins, requested the move be delayed.
Both worried that opening the county up then would lead to potential a rise in asymptomatic infections ahead of the June 2 primary election, making Election Day a possible super-spreader event.
By waiting to move to green until after the primary, both commissioners believed there was a greater chance Centre County would be able to stay in the green phase — since some counties might be forced to move from green back to yellow, if their cases increase.
“There is a valid concern that by moving into green on May 29, it could actually move us back in the yellow and potentially the red in a quicker time frame because we have a vulnerable event where we could have numerous people exposed to COVID-19,” Pipe said. “That was my primary concern about moving it from May 29 until June 5.”
Fellow commissioner Steven Dershem and state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, both slammed the decision to delay the move.
“I can only surmise they don’t trust people,” Corman said Friday, referring to Pipe and Higgins. “They don’t trust the citizens of Centre County to go out in public again and adhere to CDC standards and keep the community safe.”
Wolf acknowledged Friday he was prepared to move Centre County to green but deferred to the commissioners. Corman said he did not blame Wolf for heeding the pair’s request, but he strongly disagreed with the pair’s thinking — and could not persuade them to change their minds Friday.
Where do other counties stand in the state’s reopening plan?
Forty-nine counties are currently in the yellow phase of Wolf’s three-phase reopening plan, while 18 remain in red. That accounts for all of the commonwealth’s 67 counties.
Seventeen of those counties in yellow will move to green on May 29, and none have a population greater than 90,000. Those counties include Bradford, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango and Warren.
Eight of the red counties will move to yellow on May 29: Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Schuylkill. And the remaining red counties are expected to move to yellow on June 5: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
As of Saturday, only one yellow county will move to green June 5: Centre County.
Other counties moving to green June 5 are expected to be announced May 29.
This story was originally published May 23, 2020 at 3:54 PM.
