State continues phased reopening

With more than 80 percent of the state in some phase of reopening, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday that 16 additional counties will take another step forward and move to green effective 12:01 a.m., June 5.

Counties include: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clinton, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland.

The first 18 counties moved to green on Friday, including: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango and Warren.

Eight counties moved to yellow on Friday, including: Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and

Schuylkill.

Counties that remain in red and are expected to move to yellow by June 5 include: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.

With more than half the state poised to be in the

green phase on June 5, the governor this week provided an updated order for counties moving to green to give businesses and residents a clearer picture of what is permitted in that phase of reopening. The order includes these highlights:

• Large gatherings of more than 250 prohibited.

• Restaurants and bars open at 50 percent occupancy.

• Personal care services (including hair salons and

barbershops) open at 50 percnt occupancy and by appointment only.

• Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities, and personal care services (such as gyms and spas) open at 50 percent occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged.

• All entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and shopping malls) open at 50 percent occupancy.

• Construction activity may return to full capacity

with continued implementation of protocols.

• Visitation to prisons and hospitals may resume subject to the discretion of the facility. Visitors who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene. Given the critical importance of limiting COVID-19 exposure in nursing homes, personal care home and long-term care facilities, visitation restrictions will initially remain in place.