Wolf lifts stay-at-home order, renews disaster declaration

The stay-at-home order that has governed life in Pennsylvania since early March will expire at day’s end Thursday as the entire state moves into the yellow and green reopening phases, Gov. Tom Wolf said.

But Wolf said he will renew the 90-day disaster declaration that was set to expire along with the stay-at-home order.

The announcements followed one earlier Wednesday that schools will be permitted to resume face-to-face instruction and activities on July 1.

The stay-at-home and disaster orders were issued following the state’s first two presumptive covid-19 diagnoses on March 6.

As of Wednesday, state officials said 73,405 residents have tested positive for the virus that has killed 5,742 people in Pennsylvania.

The disaster declaration provides Wolf with broad powers to increase support to state agencies involved in the response to the virus and recovery efforts.

“Pennsylvanians have done a tremendous job flattening the curve and case numbers continue to decrease,” Wolf said.

But he cautioned residents that they will be expected to adhere to social distancing and public health recommendations set down in the guidelines for gradual reopening in the yellow and green phases.

“As phased reopening continues and all 67 counties are either in the yellow or green phase by Friday, we will no longer have a stay-at-home order in effect,” Wolf said. “I remind Pennsylvanians that yellow means caution and even in the green phase everyone needs to take precautions to keep themselves and their communities healthy.”