Governor Wolf's information page

Governor Wolf's Information Page

List of affected businesses

General Guidance

• Freedom of travel will remain, but all Pennsylvanians are asked to refrain from non-essential travel.
• The Wolf Administration strongly encourages the suspension of large gatherings, events, conferences of more than 10 people, and per White House guidelines, ask that individuals and groups cancel any gatherings planned over the next eight weeks.
• The Wolf Administration encourages religious leaders to exercise discretion in order to mitigate the spread of illness.

Businesses

• Governor Tom Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. March 19, 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19. Enforcement actions against businesses that do not close physical locations will begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, March 21.
• The governor also required restaurants and bars to stop all dine-in services. Enforcement for establishments with a liquor license began at 8 p.m. March 18, and enforcement for all other food establishments will begin at 8 p.m. March 19. Food establishments can offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service, including alcohol.

More information about the order can be found here.
To request a waiver to keep your location open, please submit this form. All decisions will be communicated by email and will balance public health, safety, and the security of our industry supply chains supporting life sustaining businesses.
A list of life-sustaining businesses can be found here.



Schools

• Governor Tom Wolf announced on March 13 that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16.

Care Facilities

• Restricted visitors in state centers to ensure health and safety for individuals with an intellectual disability.
• Restricted visitors in assisted living and personal care homes to minimize exposure to our seniors and individuals with disabilities.
• All child care centers licensed by the commonwealth close as of Tuesday, March 17 and will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the 14-day statewide closures. Philadelphia County families should check with their child care facilities to determine status of business operations.
• Adult day care centers, adult training facilities, Provocations facilities, LIFE centers and Senior Community Centers close beginning Tuesday, March 17, and will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the 14-day statewide closures.

Government Services

• Essential state, county, and municipal services will be open: police, fire, emergency medical services, sanitation, and essential services for vulnerable populations.
• A no-visitor policy for correctional facilities and nursing homes has been implemented and will be evaluated for other facilities.

What Is Social Distancing?

Social distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others.
Social distancing also includes minimizing contact with people by avoiding public transportation when possible, limiting nonessential travel, working from home, and skipping social gatherings.
All Pennsylvanians should practice social distancing — not just those who are seriously ill or at high risk.
Social distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.


FOR INDIVIDUALS
Unemployment Compensation

If you are employed in Pennsylvania and are unable to work because of COVID-19, you may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation (UC) or Workers’ Compensation (WC) benefits.
The following changes to UC have been made to help Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• The Waiting Week is suspended. Previously, claimants were not eligible for benefits during their first week of unemployment (the “waiting week”). This has been suspended; eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed.
• Work Search and Work Registration requirements are temporarily waived for all UC claimants. Claimants are not required to prove they have applied or searched for a new job to maintain their UC benefits. Claimants are also not required to register with PACareerLink.gov.

Find out more about UC and WC eligibility and how to apply.



Driver Services

All Driver License Centers and Photo License Centers in Pennsylvania will be closed for two weeks effective close of business on Monday, March 16.
Driver and vehicle online services are still available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.
More information on changes being implemented as part of PennDOT’s response to COVID-19.
Expiration DatesExpiration dates for driver licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations, and safety and emission inspections scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 will be extended until April 30, 2020.
Pennsylvania TurnpikeThe Pennsylvania Turnpike has temporarily suspended cash payments. Find out more about accepted forms of payment.
Rest Areas for Truck ParkingTo address safety concerns raised, PennDOT has identified 13 of its 30 rest areas in critical locations that will be available for truck parking starting March 19, 2020. See the list of locations.



Avoiding Scams

As the nation continues to respond to COVID-19, be wary of potential financial scams trying to take advantage of the situation.
Here are some frequent characteristics of scams:

• Sense of urgency and limited-time offers. Scammers will attempt to prompt you into immediate action and catch you off guard. No government agency will call you asking for payment or take punitive action against you if you don’t act quickly.
• Payment with wire transfer or gift cards. Once information is provided, the money is essentially gone and you cannot get it back.
• Secrecy and the need to not tell anyone. Never make a decision without consulting a credible and trustworthy source.
• Low or minimal risks with guaranteed high returns. Be cautious of any offer that guarantees a high rate of return with little or no risk or does not disclose risk.
• Unsolicited offers, including social media avenues. A new post on your Facebook wall, a tweet mentioning you, a direct message, an email, a text, a phone call, or any other unsolicited communication regarding an investment “opportunity” related to COVID-19.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, contact local law enforcement. Find out more about how to avoid financial scams.



Mental Health

The news around coronavirus can be anxiety-provoking. Fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty are all normal, but it is important to take care of your mental health.
Ways to take care of yourself include:

• Reading the news from reliable sources (like the Pennsylvania Department of Health) and taking breaks from the news.
• Recognizing the things you can control, like having good hygiene.
• Taking measures only if recommended by the CDC.
• Practicing self-care.

Help is available. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the crisis text line by texting PA to 741-741.



Substance Use Disorder

If COVID-19 has you feeling down, you are not alone.
The Get Help Now hotline is a confidential, 24/7, 365 treatment and information service for individuals and families looking for help with a drug or alcohol problem.
Call 1-800-662-HELP.



Food Assistance

If you are out of work without pay, you are eligible to receive food sourced from the state and federal government from a food bank or food pantry in Pennsylvania.
This includes service workers who are unable to get shifts or hourly wage employees of non-essential businesses that have voluntarily closed due to COVID-19 mitigation. Find out more about how to get emergency food assistance.



Public Assistance Programs

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is closing all county assistance offices (CAOs) statewide to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17 in coordination with Governor Wolf’s mitigation guidance regarding COVID-19.
In-person business will resume no sooner than Wednesday, April 1. Pennsylvanians are encouraged to use DHS’ online applications and resources to apply for benefits or submit paperwork as necessary.


FOR FAMILIES
Meals for Students

The Pennsylvania Department of Education received approval from the federal government to allow K-12 schools in Pennsylvania closed due to COVID-19 to serve meals offsite to students.
These meals will be available at no cost to low-income children and make it possible for kids to receive nutritious meals and snacks while schools are temporarily closed.
For more information, contact your local school.



Talking to Kids About COVID-19

Children may feel frightened, overwhelmed, or traumatized by what they’re seeing and hearing about the coronavirus.
Here’s how you can reduce their fears and help them feel safe:

• Offer reassurance. Let children know doctors and researchers are studying and learning as much as they can, as quickly as possible, to help keep people safe.
• Watch for signs of anxiety. Children may not be able to express their feelings, but they may show them (i.e. cranky, clingy, distracted, difficulty sleeping). Continue to reassure them and maintain normal routines.
• Monitor media consumption. Keep young children away from frightening images they may see on TV, social media, computers, etc. Talk to older children about what they’re hearing on the news and correct any misinformation or rumors you may hear.
• Give them control. This is a great time to remind children of what they can do to help — wash hands often, cough and sneeze into their elbow, and get enough sleep.

Find more information from the National Association of School Psychologists.



PSSA Testing and Keystone Exams

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has cancelled all PSSA testing and Keystone exams for the 2019-20 school year as a result of COVID-19. This includes the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA).



Reporting Abuse

All Pennsylvanians are asked to practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. That doesn’t mean it’s any less important to report child abuse.
Report suspected child abuse or neglect to ChildLine by calling 1-800-932-0313. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Mandated reporters can report electronically.



State Correctional Institutions

As part of the statewide COVID-19 mitigation effort, visits at all state correctional institutions are cancelled effective March 13 and for a period of 14 days.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections understands the impact that canceling visits could have on inmates and their families and friends.
Video visitation is a free service being offered to inmates and authorized visitors while visitation
is suspended at the facilities in response to COVID-19 precautions. Find out how to participate.


FOR BUSINESSES
Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses

Governor Wolf has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. March 19, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Enforcement actions against businesses that do not close physical locations will begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, March 21.

• See Governor Wolf’s order.
• See the Secretary of Health’s order.
• See a list of life-sustaining businesses.

To request a waiver to keep your location open, please submit this form. All decisions will be communicated by email and will balance public health, safety, and the security of our industry supply chains supporting life sustaining businesses.



Restaurants and Bars

All restaurants and bars have been ordered to close their dine-in facilities to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so, but eating and drinking inside restaurants and bars is temporarily prohibited.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced steps to enforce this order beginning on Wednesday, March 18 at 8:00 PM.
Businesses offering carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage should employ social distancing best practices and be aware of the Trump Administration’s guidance to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.



Failure to Comply and Enforcement

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in enforcement action that could include citations, fines, or license suspensions.
The governor has directed the following state agencies and local officials to enforce the closure orders to the full extent of the law:

• Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
• Department of Health
• Department of Agriculture
• Pennsylvania State Police

Local officials, using their resources to enforce closure orders within their jurisdictions
Private businesses, local organizations and other noncompliant entities that fail or refuse to comply with the governor’s orders that protect the lives and health of Pennsylvanians will forfeit their ability to receive any applicable disaster relief and/or may be subject to other appropriate administrative action. Such action may include termination of state loan or grant funding, including Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) grant funding and/or suspension or revocation of licensure for violation of the law.
Finally, in addition to any other criminal charges that might be applicable, the Department of Health is authorized to prosecute noncompliant entities for the failure to comply with health laws, including quarantine, isolation or other disease control measures. Violators are subject to fines or imprisonment.



Resources and Loans

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic DevelopmentThe Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development offers working capital loans that could be of assistance to businesses impacted by COVID-19. Resources and information can be found here as they become available.
U.S. Small Business AdministrationOn March 19, 2020, Governor Wolf announced the availability of low-interest loans for small businesses and eligible non-profits in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Loan applications can also be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Completed applications should be returned to the local DLOC or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.



Industry-specific Guidance

The Wolf Administration has released the following industry-specific COVID-19 mitigation guidance:

• Child Care Providers
• Food Supply
  • Essential Agricultural Businesses
  • Farms and On-Farm Deliveries
  • Farmers Markets and On-Farm Markets
  • Food Processors and Manufacturers (PDF)
  • Dairy Guidance (PDF)
• Behavioral Health Services
• Aging Services
• Telemedicine

FOR SCHOOLS

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is committed to providing school communities with ongoing guidance, resources, and information regarding COVID-19.
You can find up-to-date guidance and answers to common questions on the Department of Education website.