State, county, city widen efforts
Officials make moves to mitigate COVID-19
Officials of both church and state are calling on the region to take drastic measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Tom Wolf on Sunday announced that all restaurants and bars in Allegheny County were to close their dine-in facilities at 12:01 a.m. Monday. That announcement came as the county confirmed four cases of the illness.
Just hours before, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto announced that the city would limit all public gatherings to 50 people.
And the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Sunday night that all daily and Sunday Masses would be canceled “until further notice.”
Data from other countries suggests that taking “strong and immediate” action early can slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that triggers the COVID-19 illness, keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed and lower the death rate, Allegheny County’s health director, Debra Bogen, said in a video statement.
“Looking at other communities and our own data, southwest Pennsylvania is about two-tothree weeks away from overwhelming our hospitals,” Dr. Bogen said.
The cancellation of Masses affects approximately 628,000 Catholics, by the church’s count, spread across Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties
“Although in many ways it saddens me to make this decision, given the best advice from health experts on federal, state and local levels, I feel it is a necessary one at this time,” Bishop David Zubick said. “I’m counting on the understanding and cooperation of all in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as we pray for each other.”
The church will announce directives on sacraments like baptism, weddings and Communion on Monday, according to the release.
“Ensuring the health and safety of Pennsylvanians is the highest priority as the state grapples with a growing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, and as the virus continues to spread, it is in the best interest of the public to encourage social distancing by closing restaurants and bars temporarily,” Mr. Wolf said.
“I understand that this is disruptive to businesses as well as patrons who just want to enjoy themselves, but in the best interest of individuals and families in the mitigation counties, we must take this step.”
Mr. Peduto’s executive order limiting all public gatherings in Pittsburgh to 50 people goes into effect at 9 a.m. Late last week, the order originally banned gatherings of 250 people, but it was since changed following guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Today, the CDC recommended the cancellation of in-person events of 50 or more people,” Mr. Peduto tweeted on Sunday. “The city of Pittsburgh will adhere [its] advice.”
That executive order will remain in effect until amended or rescinded.
The changes occurred after Allegheny County on Sunday announced a total of four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county.
In addition to Monday’s closure of businesses in Allegheny County, the first two weeks of statewide school shutdowns imposed by Mr. Wolf begin.
During the shutdown, Pittsburgh Public Schools will be providing “grab and go” breakfast and lunch for students who rely on them. The meals will be available at all 54 schools from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.
Just a day after the county announced its first two cases of
COVID-19 on Saturday, the city’s Paid Sick Leave Act went into effect — though the pandemic had nothing to do with that. The ordinance, which was passed by city council in 2015, was challenged in the courts until the state Supreme Court upheld it in July.
“When my council colleagues passed the legislation I proposed in 2015, we never could have thought that we would be facing a pandemic in 2020,” Councilman Corey O’Connor, a cosponsor of the bill, tweeted Sunday.
At workplaces that employ 15 or more people, employees will earn one hour of paid sick time for every 35 hours worked, with up to 40 hours of paid sick time. Sick time at smaller workplaces experience the same accrual rate, but is capped at 24 hours, and for the first year that time is unpaid.
The act guarantees every employee working in the city access to earned sick time and, eventually, paid sick leave, regardless of full- or part-time status.
But city officials will not yet enforce the potential $100 fine against employers who violate the ordinance as part of a one-year “trial” period.
There were “no changes” underway at the mayor’s Office of Equity, which administers the ordinance, in anticipation of a possible influx of complaints regarding paid sick leave due to the outbreak, mayoral spokesman Tim McNulty said Sunday before the governor announced the restrictions on restaurants and bars.
The closure of dine-in facilities also affects Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties in Eastern Pennsylvania.
“Social distancing is essential as more Pennsylvanians are testing positive for COVID-19,” state Health Secretary Rachel Levine said in a statement. “By taking these steps now, we can protect public health and slow the spread of this virus.”