Those affected weigh in on Gov. Wolf’s announcement.

With Pennsylvania’s COVID- 19- related cases and deaths hitting their highest points since the pandemic began, Gov. Tom Wolf has announced restrictions that will last through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Scrubbed are indoor dining at bars and restaurants, school sports and activities, and attending entertainment venues such as casinos, theaters and bowling alleys.

Reaction to the new restrictions was swift. Here are examples of what people are saying:

“As an ER physician who sees every single day how rapidly this pandemic is spreading and destroying the health of my patients, I wholeheartedly believe that Gov. Wolf’s actions will save countless lives.”

DR. MAX COOPER Pennsylvania co-lead of the Committee to Protect Medicare

“This order is devastating to the hospitality industry. Hundreds of businesses are teetering on the brink of financial disaster, and the livelihood of thousands of employees are on the line.” JOHN LONGSTREET

president & CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association

“It’s a good thing I didn’t put an order for more food this weekend because I’d probably just be sitting on it for the fourth or fifth time.”

BRENT KIGHTLINGER assistant manager of Redbeard’s on Sixth

“Pennsylvanians have endured the coronavirus pandemic for nearly a year and are fully capable of determining what activities they are comfortable engaging in. Gov. Wolf’s latest order demonstrates that he does not trust us to make our own decisions.” U.S. REP. MIKE KELLY R-Butler

“While acknowledging the serious nature of the ongoing COVID emergency, we again raise concern over the harm these actions will have on Pennsylvania’s small businesses and their employees. These steps will result in another wave of business failures and the loss of all the jobs that go with it.”

GORDON DENLINGER state director of the the National Federation of Independent Business in

Pennsylvania

“There’s no question that these measures will result in real challenges for restaurant owners, workers and families. That’s why it’s vital that Congress do its part to come together and pass a COVID-19 relief bill to help those impacted by this pandemic.”

U.S. SEN. BOB CASEY

D-Pa.

“As we’ve seen across the country and around the world, lockdowns cannot stop a virus — as Gov. Wolf contracted it himself — but they have devastating and widespread impacts on businesses, workers and children.”

MATT BROUILLETTE president and CEO of Commonwealth Partners

“Make no mistake, it is the disease itself, far more than regulations to protect our health, that is causing economic distress especially for working people, women, Black and brown people, and immigrants. So we should all welcome the governor’s actions and reject attempts to divide us by approaching necessary measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 as an ideological or partisan issue.”

MARC STIER Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center

“We get that the virus is contagious. We get that the number of confirmed cases and hospitalizations are increasing. What we don’t get is why our state government has asked the industry to sacrifice so much, but continue to sacrifice the industry.”

CHUCK MORAN executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association

“We saw it coming. We think it’s more important to protect our staff and our guests than to risk exposure.”

CORY HUGHES executive chef and coowner of Fig & Ash on the North Side

“We’re hoping this period of closure is as short as predicted and we can reopen on Jan. 4. This couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

STEVEN KNAPP president and CEO of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

“The health and safety of our team members, guests and the community is our top priority.”

JACK HORNER spokesman for Rivers Casino

“While the governor is taking some right steps, given how quickly and widely the virus is spreading in the state, we need a stronger response. The quickest way to lower cases dramatically is to close all nonessential businesses and ensure that people stay home. We are at a critical point, and the decisions made by our leaders today will determine how many lives we can save and help us get through the winter as safely as possible.”

EMMA HORST-MARTZ

PennPIRG

“Children need social interaction. Yes, children can get COVID-19. However, data shows they are at a lower risk of getting and transmitting it to adults, which has been acknowledged by peer-reviewed studies and leading medical experts across the country. I believe these latest restrictions completely ignore these issues, which are worse than the virus.” STATE REP. JASON

ORTITAY R-South Fayette

“A real challenge for us and everyone I know in the industry right now is that they already depressed sales significantly when they put in restrictions around Thanksgiving, to the point where it’s almost worse than the financial crisis in 2008. So it’s just disappointing that they didn’t even give us until Monday to at least get our weekend reservations out of the way.”

GLENN HAWLEY owner of Off the Hook in Cranberry and Napa Prime Chop House

in Wexford