On April 20th and again on April 27th, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf issued updated guidance for business operation during the ongoing COVID-19 emergency and amended the Commonwealth's business closure order to reflect that guidance. The Governor's most recent guidelines permit the following additional business activity:
- Online vehicle sales as of April 20, 2020.
- Curbside pick-up of pre-ordered alcohol purchases, effective April 20, 2020.
- Public and private non-residential construction activity, effective May 8, 2020.
- The sale of lawn and garden supplies by farm supply stores.
- Limited operation of golf courses and marinas, effective May 1, 2020.
- Physical operation of vending machine operators serving health care or emergency management facilities.
- Physical operation of law firms on a limited basis as necessary to render legal services that cannot practically be completed through the use of advanced communication technology, and which are being rendered to comply with a court directive or deadline, or to meet client needs that are critical to the client's health or safety, including, but not limited to, matters of healthcare, incompetence, incapacitation, end-of-life decision making, government benefits necessary to sustain life and access healthcare and income, or legal functions necessary for the operation of government at all levels.
- Operation of apprenticeship programs approved pursuant to the PA Apprenticeship and Training Act.
- Elective procedures performed in hospitals or ambulatory service facilities, if those facilities make the affirmative decision that such services can be provided without jeopardizing the safety of patients, staff, or the facility's ability to respond to the COVID-19 emergency; after reviewing guidance from the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Association of Pre-Operative Registered Nurses, and the American Hospital Association; and complying with all relevant medical reporting requirements.
All business operations must implement, or continue to undertake, mitigation measures as guided by the CDC. The Governor and Health Secretary also emphasized that the Governor's existing business closure order remains in effect except for these amendments, and the State's enforcement activity will continue against businesses whose physical operations continue to be prohibited by the emergency restrictions.
Originally published 29 April, 2020
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