Gov. Wolf says Pennsylvania economy will gradually start to reopen May 8

Pennsylvania will begin reopening its economy gradually on May 8, Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday.

“We are taking small steps toward regaining a degree of normalcy in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said.

As the start to what the governor called a “measured, common-sense” approach, Wolf announced a few initial steps toward lifting restrictions — including allowing online car sales, authorizing a limited reopening of liquor stores and resuming construction projects statewide.

At 176 of the state’s Fine Wines & Spirits stores, curbside pickup service began Monday via phone orders, though many customers reported getting nothing but busy signals. Wolf said Monday’s roll out of curbside service in the liquor stores could soon apply to other retailers.

Construction industry eager to get back to work

Construction projects put on hold because of the pandemic-spurred shutdown can resume beginning on May 8 — so long as they abide by strict safety rules, according to Wolf’s order.

“It’s a good sign from the Wolf administration in terms of the the coronavirus outbreak that the governor is putting out a date when construction can resume,” said David Daquelente, executive director of the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania, which represents about 36 union general contractors and 90 specialty contractors in commercial construction.

“Every business has been having to make difficult decisions. Some have been making large layoffs or furloughs, some have been able to keep folks on,” Daquelente said. “Most, if not all, have concerns and have been applying for and looking for the loans or grant programs that are available to them right now.”

Public and private work on residential as well as non-residential construction projects that resume next month must follow strict safety guidance that the Wolf administration plans to issue in coming days.

“It’s going to be good to get more clarity around the information and order,” Daquelente said.

Construction projects already deemed life-sustaining — like hospitals and essential health care facility expansions — may continue while adhering to social distancing, personnel limits and other guidance.

“I want to caution that we will not be resuming operations as they were in February,” Wolf said. “We’re going to continue to take precautions that limit our physical contact with others, and we will closely monitor this to see if it can be done safely.”

Online car sales will begin after Wolf signs into law a measure that allows for notaries public to notarize remotely.

The move will allow for limited sales and leasing using online applications.

Although dealerships have remained open for making repairs and selling auto parts, in-person sales will remain prohibited, Wolf said.

The stay-at-home order that went into effect for all 67 counties on April 1 will be extended to May 8.

“That’s a target date,” Wolf said, and the state will be opened region-by-region. “Stay-at-home is still the best way to stay safe. Social distancing is important.”

Pa. GOP, business chamber seek to reopen the state faster

House Speaker Mike Turzai joined fellow state Republicans and business advocacy groups in saying Wolf’s actions do not go far enough.

“We can fight the COVID-19 crisis and act to prevent the collapse of Pennsylvania’s economy,” Turzai said Monday afternoon in a statement. “People can work safely — and want to work safely — during the covid-19 crisis, and the governor knows it as his administration haphazardly granted waivers and today he signed Senate Bill 841, which will allow ‘e-notary’ provisions to enable various business and legal transactions to occur.”

Wolf said the state will use a data-driven approach to reopen sections of the state.

“While we appreciate the governor’s announcement today providing a path forward for some industries to begin operations — notably allowing for online auto sales — and with setting a target date to begin the regional re-opening of businesses, we believe we can already safely bring many of our construction workers back to work, using appropriate guidelines and safeguards, as dozens of other states have done now for weeks,” said Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

Charles Mitchell, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, a free market think tank in Harrisburg, criticized Wolf’s veto of Republican-backed legislation that would have set a path for opening all businesses, but was rebuked by state health leaders as reckless and irresponsible.

“In his veto statement, Gov. Wolf said we need a ‘staggered’ approach to reopening, but what is really staggering is that one in four Pennsylvanians are out of work due to his approach so far,” Mitchell said. “I applaud Pennsylvania lawmakers for pushing him to change course through the reasonable legislation they passed. I’m thankful that today he began to listen to the voices of workers who can return to their jobs safely and want to do so.”

House Democrats accused Republicans of “rejecting science and putting Pennsylvania workers at risk.”

Wolf spoke with reporters shortly after the state released its daily covid-19 numbers. The state also published a new interactive map that allows users to search for cases by county and ZIP code.

There were 948 new coronavirus cases statewide and 92 more deaths reported Monday by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The statewide death toll now stands at 1,204.

The 948 new cases are the smallest daily increase since April 1. A total of 33,232 cases have been recorded in the state since March 6.

It continues a trend of declining case counts that started last week when the daily cases logged were below 1,400.

There are 129,720 patients who have tested negative, according to the health department.

Of the patients who have tested positive, the age breakdown is as follows:

Less than 1% are aged 0-4

Nearly 1% are aged 5-12

1% are aged 13-18

6% are aged 19-24

39% are aged 25-49

28% are aged 50-64

24% are aged 65 or older