HARRISBURG (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - With the number of COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, Governor Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine announced that a Stay-At-Home order goes into effect in Allegheny County, and several others, beginning Monday night at 8 p.m.
A stay-in-place order was issued for the City of Philadelphia over the weekend.
Counties under the stay-at-home order include:
AlleghenyBucksChesterDelewareMonroeMontgomeryPhiladelphia
During the announcement, made via live stream video Monday afternoon, Governor Wolf was asked about the difference between this order and the previous order given and whether or not there will be a curfew enacted.
"No, there's no curfew," wolf said. "The difference is, if you live in these counties that I enumerated, there is no change. If you live in those counties, we're saying you have done things to keep you in your home, closed businesses, asked restaurants to do nothing more than take-out. Now we're saying, to the extent possible, stay at home. Keep distancing yourselves. That's what's going to give us the time, buy us the time we need to allow our health care system to build the capacity they need to be able to all of us when and if we get this disease."
When asked about the enforcement of the order for businesses to close, Wolf said very few businesses are not complying with the previous order to close and there have been no discussions to this point about warnings and fines, "The enforcement issue is not really the key. The issue is making sure that all of us - businesses, individuals - recognize the shared responsibility that we have in making sure this works."
During the order, people can continue to go to work if they are working at a life-sustaining business or have received a waiver.
Also people can go out for food, emergencies, exercise and volunteering.
In a series of tweets, Governor Wolf said, "Our roads will stay open, and so will our grocery stores and pharmacies. My office will be issuing additional guidance on allowable activities, as well as information for people who have no permanent home.
I'm also extending school closures and other statewide #COVID19 mitigation efforts for ALL counties for 2 more weeks. These measures may seem extreme. However, we are in desperate times and need to make drastic changes in order to save lives. #COVID19"
Today I'm issuing a Stay at Home order for Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe, & Montgomery counties. Starting at 8pm, residents must stay home unless someone's life depends on leaving.Philadelphia Co. is already under a Stay at Home order, passed by @PhiladelphiaGov. pic.twitter.com/plwrh1VLvi
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) March 23, 2020___Listen to KDKA Radio on the RADIO.COM AppTell your smart speaker to "play News Radio 10 20 KDKA"Receive email updates from KDKA RadioFollow KDKA Radio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
