Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Outdoor dining returns next week
All counties currently in the red phase will be moving to yellow by June 5, including Chester and the heart of the coronavirus outbreak in southeastern Pennsylvania.
First, more counties will be moved May 29; then the final 10, which includes Chester County, will be June 5, Gov. Tom Wolf said Friday.
Wolf said the state has accomplished goals limiting the spread, but he said guidelines still need to be observed.
“The more precautions we take, the better the results will be in containing COVID-19,” the governor said. “The last two months have been trying, and I want to thank everyone whose lives have been turned upside down.”
Meanwhile, the Chester County Commissioners announced the launch of RestoreChesterCounty. org, a comprehensive online toolkit that offers guidelines specifically designed for Chester County’s 15,000 businesses and 525,000 residents as they move from the red phase to the yellow phase on June 5.
As of Friday, 12 more counties had moved into yellow. Wolf also is allowing 17 counties into the green phase on May 29, mostly the counties in the rural north that had gone yellow first.
In the counties where Wolf has lifted red restrictions, people are now permitted to gather in groups of up to 25, although larger crowds remain prohibited. A wide range of retailers, offices and industrial sites can resume operating while observing state and federal health guidelines intended to prevent viral transmission.
Wolf’s orders will allow some restaurants to resume serving guests in outdoor seating.
The yellow phase includes the following restrictions:
• Telework must continue where feasible.
• Businesses with in-person operations must follow business and building safety orders.
• Child care open, complying with guidance.
• Congregate care and prison restrictions in place.
• Schools remain closed for in-person instruction. Social restrictions • Stay-at-home order lifted for aggressive mitigation.
• Gatherings of more than 25 prohibited.
• In-person retail allowable, curbside and delivery preferable.
• Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities and personal care services (such as gyms, spas, hair salons, nail salons
and other entities that provide massage therapy), and all entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) remain closed.
• Restaurants and bars limited to carryout and delivery.
All businesses must follow CDC and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning.
Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary.
Health officials say they are working on specific guidelines for counties in the green phase. Nursing home funding The federal government on Friday began distributing $238 million in emergency aid to Pennsylvania nursing homes that have been hit especially hard by the virus.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it is making payments to 587 nursing homes. Each nursing home will get a fixed payment of $50,000, plus $2,500 per bed. The money can be used to pay staff, boost testing capacity, acquire protective equipment and for other expenses associated with the pandemic.
Nursing homes have seen declining patient populations and increased costs as they struggle to contain the virus. Long-term care residents account for about two-thirds of the statewide death toll of nearly 5,000, a higher proportion than in most other states.