HARRISBURG (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) – Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf is responding after the PA General Assembly voted to end the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration.
Wolf says the declaration is not ending and adds the move wouldn't help reopen any businesses.
Counties in the green zone can operate most businesses with places like restaurants open at 50 percent capacity indoors.
Restaurants in the yellow zone can operate outdoor dining.
During a news conference on Wednesday Wolf said the following would be affected by the end of the declaration.
"Our business owners, workers and families no longer need to live under state-imposed quarantines," House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler said on Tuesday.
If the declaration were to end, these protections would go away according to Wolf:
- Burdensome eligibility requirements for more than a million Unemployment Compensation claimants would immediately go back into effect, and employers across the commonwealth would no longer receive relief from charges.
- Certification requirements under the public-school code and child protective services law would end.
- A school meal eligibility waiver, which has allowed more than 300 meal sites to open for distribution of food to school-age children in need, would end.
- Telehealth and other health care services provided by out-of-state providers for Pennsylvanians would end.
- Utility assistance for thousands of families and individuals would end, leaving people without water or electricity.
- Hospitals and alternative care sites would no longer be able to add capacity or repurpose facilities (i.e., beds) without having to abide by the 60-day notice requirement.
- License renewal and training requirement suspensions for health care professionals, child care workers, direct care workers, direct support professionals, among other professional groups who provide life sustaining services to our children, seniors, and vulnerable residents would end, meaning all of these workers would need to choose between not returning to work until those credentials could be renewed or trainings completed and the option of returning to work with the understanding that they are practicing out of compliance with Pennsylvania law and regulation, very well opening themselves up to personal liability.
- PennDOT waivers for commercial motor vehicle weight limitations and permitting requirements for the transport and delivery of agricultural feed, food, and dairy products, fuel, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies to assist in supply chain challenges would end and motor carriers would be restricted in their ability to directly assist in supporting emergency relief efforts necessary to respond to the pandemic.
- Mortgage foreclosure and eviction moratoriums that offer protection to vulnerable Pennsylvanians at risk of losing their homes during the pandemic would end.
Wolf says he knows some people think the state has moved too slowly in reopening but he doesn’t want to see a rise in coronavirus cases, like those that have occurred in 19 other states.
In addition the Wolf administration says that the ability to activate the National Guard to help with nursing homes and other areas would no longer be available.
The issue is believed to be heading to state courts.
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