• Gov. Wolf urges nonessential businesses to close in some counties,
HARRISBURG — State health officials have announced six additional presumptive positive cases of the coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 47 cases, and the governor urged nonessential businesses in two more Philadelphia-area counties to shut down amid the outbreak.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Saturday that there were two cases in Allegheny County — the first reported there — as well as two new cases in adults from Montgomery County, one in an adult from Philadelphia and one in an adult from Chester County. All are either in isolation at home or are being treated at a hospital.
Gov. Tom Wolf also extended to Chester and Bucks counties a call for nonessential businesses to to close, echoing a voluntary call made earlier to Montgomery and Delaware counties. He said essential infrastructure such as pharmacies, grocery stores and gas stores will remain open, and officials said travel is not being restricted.
“If we can slow the spread of this virus ... we can keep an enormous number of Pennsylvanians from needing the kind of emergency treatment at the same time that’s going to overwhelm our health care system,” Mr. Wolf said. “Stay calm, stay home and stay safe.”
State officials on Saturday evening clarified that nonessential businesses include community and recreation centers; gyms, including yoga, barre and spin facilities; hair salons, nail salons and spas; casinos; concert venues; theaters; bars; sporting event venues and golf courses; and retail facilities, including shopping malls and except for pharmacy or other health care facilities within retail operations. Restaurants are urged only to remain open for carry-out and delivery orders.
In Philadelphia, though, city officials said people should feel free to continue to go to retail businesses and public parks while warning that this advice could change. Mayor Jim Kenney urged people to wash their hands and stay 3 feet from other people, but added “go out and have dinner and tip your wait staff, because they’re struggling right now.”
He later tweeted that he was “attempting to show support for local businesses and stop panic . ... We should all be mindful to limit gatherings, and of course, if you don’t feel well, stay home.”
Mr. Wolf said a special election scheduled Tuesday in Bucks County will be postponed, but there is no agreement yet on a new date.
Museums and casinos in the commonwealth joined the growing number of organizations announcing temporary closures due to the outbreak. Officials said Free Library locations in Philadelphia would be closed to the public, heeding a recommendation from the state, but staff members were told to report to work.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced a “phased closure” of wine and spirit stores in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
PECO announced that it was suspending utility service disconnections and waiving new late payment charges through at least May 1.
In hard-hit Montgomery County, court officials announced that all jury trials, civil and criminal, would be canceled through March 27 amid the coronavirus outbreak.
State and local museums announcing shutdowns amid a wave of closures aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission says all state-owned historic sites and museums — regardless of location — will be closed as of Sunday through the end of the month. The commission earlier this week closed the State Museum of Pennsylvania and the state archives in Harrisburg as well as sites in Montgomery and Delaware counties. Commission meetings are being limited to 10 people or fewer through the end of April.
In Philadelphia, officials announced that museums on the Ben Franklin Parkway — including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute, the Barnes Foundation and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University will close and postpone or cancel events for at least two weeks.
Rivers Casino Philadelphia said it would close at midnight Sunday for 14 days. The Valley Forge Casino in King Of Prussia earlier said it was closing in compliance the the governor’s directive to close public schools, entertainment venues and community centers in Montgomery County.
Harrah’s Philadelphia said it was closing Saturday “for the well-being of our team members and guests.” Parx Casino said it would close at 6 a.m. Sunday.
Most of the state’s 47 cases of positive tests are in eastern Pennsylvania. Hardest hit is Montgomery County, with 20 cases. Cases announced Friday included the first two children under 18.