Move to yellow phase is just the beginning

It’s unquestionably good news that Gov. Tom Wolf plans to relax restrictions next week in the counties still classified as red under his process for restoring business activity amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s a first step toward reopening, but on June 5, we’ll still be a long way from life as we once knew it.

The governor announced last week that the counties in our region will move from red to yellow by June 5. These were among Pennsylvania’s hardest-hit areas.

After weeks of sometimes heated debate about when this would happen, we can finally move on the next phase.

But before the change begins, it’s important that people understand what it does and does not mean.

So much of the discussion lately has revolved around when to “reopen” counties for business. Exactly what that means varies depending on who is saying it, but it’s clear that many are looking for a return to the world we had before restrictions started taking effect in mid-March.

Let there be no confusion: A move to yellow does not constitute a reopening. It’s a first step toward reopening, but come June 5 we’ll still be a long way from life as we once knew it.

The big news is that retailers and other businesses deemed nonessential will be allowed to reopen, as will child care facilities.

But stringent rules remain. Though the governor’s stay-athome order will be lifted, gatherings of more than 25 people will be prohibited. Theaters, casinos, gyms and salons still are not allowed to reopen. Restaurants and bars may only do business via takeout and delivery. And social distancing rules remain in effect for businesses that are open. The state still encourages businesses to have employees work from home when feasible.

And even when we reach green status under the governor’s plan, there will still be restrictions. Restaurants, salons, gyms, entertainment venues and the like will have to operate with reduced capacity.

The point is that while we can all welcome moves in the direction of normalcy, we’re in it for the long haul with COVID-19. Until a vaccine can be administered and/or effective therapies developed, things are not going to be exactly the way they were.

Most importantly, Pennsylvania’s residents must do all they can to continue engaging in safe practices regardless of changes in state rules and regulations. That means wearing a face mask when going out in public, avoiding crowds and keeping one’s distance from others.

We need to make a slow, steady and safe move toward normalcy. It’s undeniably frustrating, but we’d rather deal with a difficult but manageable situation now than be faced with a spike in cases that leads to another crisis and a return to the strictest rules.

Remember too that the public’s willingness to go out matters as much as any edicts that come from Harrisburg or Washington. If people see evidence that the virus is starting to spread again, many of them won’t patronize businesses or go to work in places that seem dangerous.

The other side of that coin is avoiding overconfidence. With case numbers moving in the right direction in many areas and many places starting to reopen, it seems many people believe there’s no longer anything to worry about. Many of them, no doubt, never took it seriously in the first place.

During the Memorial Day weekend, as U.S. coronavirus deaths continued to climb and approached the 100,000 mark, we saw images of people at pools, beaches, bars, etc., behaving as if there were no pandemic at all. They were in close proximity to one another, and they weren’t wearing masks.

We believe such situations were the exception rather than the rule, but there’s no doubt that lots of people are starting to let down their guard to some extent. We urge readers to remain vigilant.

It’s absolutely understandable that people want to get out after more than two months of mostly staying at home. And that’s fine. We just ask that folks follow some simple rules to ensure that they and those around them stay safe. Don’t assume the pandemic is over.