Pennsylvania - COVID-19 Covered

ECONOMIC RESPONSE

Essential Service Designations:

Governor Wolf announced that the Office of State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) will be awarding $50 million worth of grant funding to fire, rescue, and EMS across the commonwealth to offset expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. (October 8)
Governor Wolf announced that 23 awardees will receive $10 million in grant funding through the COVID-19 Vaccines, Treatments and Therapies (CV-VTT) program to support the rapid advancement of vaccines, treatments and therapies by qualified biotechnology entities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (August 27)
Governor Wolf announced the availability of $50 million in grant funding to help employers provide hazard pay to employees in life-sustaining occupations during the COVID-19 pandemic. (July 16)
Following his order for all non-life sustaining businesses to close, Governor Wolf issued a comprehensive list dictating which businesses may continue physical operations. (March 21)

Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:

Governor Wolf signed a bill that provides a temporary freeze on cost-of-living salary adjustments for certain public officials, including the governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer, auditor general, attorney general, commissioners of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, heads of departments, judges, and members of the General Assembly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (October 16)
Governor Wolf directed the Department of Labor & Industry to submit an application for President Trump’s temporary Lost Wages Assistance grant funds to provide an additional $300 per week in supplemental payments to some Pennsylvanians receiving unemployment benefits. (August 21)
Governor Wolf announced the recipients of $50 million in grants to help employers provide hazard pay to employees in life-sustaining industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. (August 17)
The Pennsylvania Department of Health updated dental health care guidance for dental clinics reopening. (June 3)
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order that outlined protections for employees dealing with in-person customers. The order required that businesses provide masks to employees, stagger work start and stop times, provide sufficient space for employees to have breaks and meals 6 feet from each other, and, if possible, conduct meetings and trainings virtually. (April 15)

Economic Stimulus & Relief:

Governor Wolf unveiled his “Back to Work PA” plan. (February 22)
Governor Wolf announced the opportunity for one-time, $600 grants for child care workers across Pennsylvania. (January 20)
Governor Wolf announced that nearly $20 million would be available to assist Pennsylvanians currently experiencing homelessness. (November 5)
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency updated the COVID Relief Mortgage & Rental Assistance Grant Program to help more renters and homeowners remain in their homes. Effective October 17, landlords and mortgagees had the option to reach agreements with renters and homeowners for repayment of rent and mortgage payments above the program’s $750 monthly cap. (October 13)
Governor Wolf allocated more than $117 million in CARES Act funding to child care providers across Pennsylvania. (August 28)

Business Support & Resources:

Governor Wolf announced that the hospitality industry would soon be able to apply for immediate relief through the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program, a new grant program to support local businesses in the hospitality industry that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (March 2)
Governor Wolf announced that $145 million in funding would be distributed to all 67 Pennsylvania counties through the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program to help support the commonwealth’s hospitality industry. (February 10)
Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 109, which allocated $145 million to help support businesses suffering as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (February 5)
Governor Wolf initiated a transfer of $145 million in funds from the Workers’ Compensation Security Fund at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to be used for grants for businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (December 23)
Governor Wolf announced four new low-interest loan approvals through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority that would provide for business expansion and job creation in Elk, Lancaster, and Northumberland counties. (November 4)
Governor Wolf announced a plan to waive liquor license fees to provide financial relief to restaurants and bars, which have faced significant financial impacts during the COVID-19 public health crisis. (October 22)
Governor Wolf announced that an additional $96 million in state grants was approved for 5,373 Pennsylvania small businesses that were impacted by the business closure order. (October 5)
Governor Wolf announced the approval of $20 million in grant funding through the COVID-19 Cultural & Museum Preservation Grant Program for organizations and museums to offset lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (September 15)
Governor Wolf announced that $96 million in state grants was awarded to 4,933 Pennsylvania small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent business closure order. (August 10)
Governor Wolf dedicated approximately $10.5 million to Career & Technical Education Centers to assist in implementing public health and safety plans and help resume operations. (August 6)

SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS

Reopening:

All businesses, events, and venues were permitted to return to 100 percent capacity starting May 31 at 12:01AM. (May 30)
The current order requiring masks for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals will remain in place until June 28 or when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians 18 years of age and older are fully vaccinated, whichever comes first. (May 30)
Governor Wolf announced that 70 percent of Pennsylvania’s 18 and older population have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination. (May 26)
Governor Wolf signed a renewal of the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. (May 20)
The Wolf administration announced that event and gathering maximum occupancy limits would be increased to 50 percent for indoor events and 75 percent for outdoor events effective May 17. (May 11)
Governor Wolf and the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force announced that effective April 13, all Pennsylvania adults would be eligible to schedule an appointment for the COVID -19 vaccine. (April 12)
Effective April 19, all residents 16 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (March 31)
Effective April 4, restaurants may resume bar service; alcohol service will be allowed without the purchase of food; the curfew for removing alcoholic drinks from tables will be lifted; and indoor dining capacity will be raised to 75 percent for those restaurants that are currently self-certified and those that undergo the self-certification process. (March 15)
Governor Wolf and members of the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force announced another bi-partisan effort to complete COVID-19 Phase 1A vaccinations first, set up mass vaccination clinics with regionally supplied plans to inform allocations, and vaccinate frontline workers. (March 12)
Governor Wolf signed a bill into law that would allow the Pennsylvania National Guard, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to develop plans for the establishment and operation of regional sites for community distribution and administration of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies, and vaccines. (March 3)
The following COVID-19 restrictions have been revised: indoor events would be permitted with 15 percent of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size; outdoor events would be permitted with 20 percent of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size; and out-of-state travel restrictions would be eliminated. (March 1)
Governor Wolf signed a renewal of the 90-day Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. (February 19)
Governor Wolf and Secretary of Health Levine announced the fourth version of the COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan. (January 8)
Governor Wolf announced additional COVID-19 restrictions, including the prohibition of all in-person indoor dining, and the ban on indoor gatherings of more than 10 people. (December 11)
The Department of Health changed the travel quarantine guidance to 10 days on December 5. (December 7)
The Department of Health provided an updated travel order requiring anyone over the age of 11 who visited from another state to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or place themselves in a travel quarantine for 14 days upon entering Pennsylvania. (November 30)
The Department of Health changed its travel guidance, requiring anyone who visits from another state to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to entering the commonwealth. (November 23)
Governor Wolf announced the launch of the COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app, COVID Alert PA, to help fight the spread of the virus. (September 22)
Governor Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine signed new orders enabling restaurants to increase indoor occupancy to 50 percent beginning September 21. (September 17)

SCHOOL PLANNING

K-12:

Governor Wolf announced that Pennsylvania is expected to receive $4.9 billion in federal relief funds to help Pre-K to 12 schools return students to classroom learning and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it most. (March 29)
Governor Wolf and the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force announced the state would use the Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for PreK-12 teachers and other school staff. (March 3)
Governor Wolf announced he would dedicate $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to K-12 school districts and charter schools affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to support food programs, technological improvements and other education services. (January 15)
The Wolf administration announced it would require Pre-K to 12 public schools in counties that had been in the substantial transmission level for at least two consecutive weeks to commit to safety measures to ensure the safety and well-being of students and educators. If they choose not to, they would be required to move to fully remote learning without all extra-curricular activities. (November 23)
Governor Wolf vetoed House Bill 2787, which would have mandated that school activities be under the sole jurisdiction of local school districts. (September 21)
Governor Wolf dedicated $15 million for schools to secure broadband, mobile hot spots, and other platforms that increase equitable access to remote learning. (September 10)
Governor Wolf dedicated approximately $17 million to help 220 local education agencies to improve educational services for approximately 180,000 students at schools designated for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. (August 25)

State Higher Education:

A list of Pennsylvania universities and colleges planning to reopen in the fall can be found here.
Governor Wolf will dedicate approximately $28 million to postsecondary institutions and adult basic education providers to assist in implementing public health and safety plans that can help them resume operations in the fall. (August 3)
Pennsylvania’s 14 state universities are planning to reopen in the fall, but the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors is giving individual presidents authority to work on details for their campuses. (June 10)