Coronavirus updates: Gov. Wolf reveals which Pa. counties will move to 'yellow' phase May 8

Two dozen counties in rural northern Pennsylvania will see some relief from the strictest orders for residents to stay at home and businesses to close as part of a strategy to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday shared a map that showed which counties are ready to move from "red" to "yellow" in his three-phase reopening plan. Those counties are all in the northwest and north-central regions of Pennsylvania, which have seen far fewer virus infections and deaths than the rest of the state.

The changes are to take effect Friday, May 8. Stay-at-home orders will be lifted and retail shops can start to reopen, though other restrictions will remain in place.

Those counties are Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango and Warren.

“Over the past two months, Pennsylvanians in every corner of our commonwealth have acted collectively to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Wolf said in a news release. “We have seen our new case numbers stabilize statewide and while we still have areas where outbreaks are occurring, we also have many areas that have few or no new cases.”

The only county in that group to be left off the list was Columbia, which is still struggling with a relatively high number of infections.

Wolf's administration also could release details Friday about its strategy for mass testing — although his health secretary has said it would be "aspirational" because many testing materials remain in short supply — and its contact tracing plan to contain the virus's spread.

Wolf has said that shutdown measures he ordered starting in March have succeeded in heading off the potential that hospitals would be overwhelmed with patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

An analysis by The Associated Press shows that only 27 of the state's 67 counties reported too many new virus cases over the past two weeks to qualify for a gradual easing of restrictions under Wolf's shutdown plan. But Wolf has grouped the state's counties into six geographic regions, and health officials are also looking at regional case counts as they decide which counties can qualify for an easing of pandemic restrictions. The analysis shows that three of the six regions still have too many cases to qualify.

Health officials also say the incidence of new cases isn't the only metric they're looking at.

“Our goal since this pandemic was first identified in Pennsylvania has been to save lives while ensuring that the public health system does not become overwhelmed with people suffering from COVID-19,” Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said in a news release. “Our contact tracing and testing plans will ensure that as we begin to resume our daily activities, we can do so safely and without fear.”

Expanded virus testing, sufficient hospital capacity and the ability to quickly identify and contain flareups through what's known as contact tracing must also be in place.

The state Department of Health will also use a new modeling tool by Carnegie Mellon University to help officials decide when a region is ready to reopen.

The coronavirus has infected more than 45,000 Pennsylvania residents and killed nearly 2,300, according to the latest Health Department statistics, while the state's efforts to contain the virus have caused economic devastation, throwing nearly 1.7 million Pennsylvania residents out of work since mid-March.

The step-by-step relaxation of state shutdown orders means some counties or regions move from a "red" designation to a "yellow" designation.

Beginning May 1, golf courses, marinas, guided fishing trips and privately owned campgrounds were able to open, but note that campgrounds in state parks must remain closed through May 14.

More:Coronavirus updates: Golf courses, marinas allowed to open in Pennsylvania starting Friday

Here's a refresher about what exactly each color-coded phase from Governor Tom Wolf's plan entails: 

Red phase

The red phase, which the entire state is under, has the sole purpose of minimizing the spread of COVID-19 through strict social distancing, non-life-sustaining business, school closures and building safety protocols.

Work and congregate setting restrictions:

• Life-sustaining businesses open
• Congregate care and prison restrictions in place
• Schools (in-person instruction) and most child care facilities closed

Social restrictions:

• Stay-at-home orders in place
• Large gatherings prohibited
• Restaurants and bars limited to carryout and delivery only
• Only travel for life-sustaining purposes encouraged

Additional guidelines:

• Reiterate and reinforce safety guidance for businesses, workers, individuals, facilities, update if necessary
• Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary

Yellow phase

Counties or entire regions of counties will move into the yellow phase to ease some restrictions on work and social interactions. All businesses must follow CDC and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning. Public health indicators will be monitored, and orders and restrictions will be adjusted as necessary.

Levine said at Thursday’s news conference that family visits are allowed in the yellow phase, but people are encouraged to wear masks whenever they are around people who don’t live in their house.

Work and congregate setting restrictions:

• Telework must continue where feasible
• Businesses with in-person operations must follow business and building safety orders
• Child care opens with worker and building safety orders
• Congregate care and prison restrictions in place
• Schools remain closed for in-person instruction

Social restrictions:

• Stay-at-home restrictions lifted in favor of aggressive mitigation
• Gatherings of more than 25 prohibited
• In-person retail allowed, but curbside and delivery preferable
• Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities (gyms, spas) and all entertainment (casinos, theaters) remain closed
• Restaurants and bars limited to carryout and delivery only

Green phase

The last phase eases most restrictions by lifting the stay-at-home and business closure orders. This phase will aid in a return to a “new normal,” but it will be equally important to monitor public health indicators and adjust orders and restrictions as necessary.

Work and congregate setting restrictions:

• All businesses must follow CDC and Pa. Department of Health guidelines
• Social restrictions:
• Aggressive mitigation orders lifted
• All individuals must follow CDC and Pa. Department of Health guidelines.

Michael Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania.