In one week, Franklin County will be moving to the ‘green’ phase of reopening
Franklin County has finally been given the green light for reopening by Gov. Tom Wolf, according to a news release from the governor’s office Friday.
Franklin, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike and Schuylkill counties are moving from “yellow” to “green” under the state’s phased reopening system on June 19.
The COVID-19 county dashboard on the Department of Health website also listed Franklin County as “turning green on 6/19/20.”
The new designation allows gyms, barbers and theaters to reopen. Bars and restaurants may allow indoor dining, at half their normal capacity.
Gatherings of up to 250 people are permitted in green zones.
State lawmakers, split largely along party lines, voted this week in the Republican-majority Legislature for a resolution to end the Democratic governor’s shutdown, and Senate Republicans promptly filed an action in Commonwealth Court seeking to compel Wolf to follow it. That matter is pending. On Friday, the court ordered the parties to file briefs over the coming two weeks.
By next Friday, 54 of 67 counties will have been designated green. Remaining in the more restrictive yellow phase are Philadelphia and southeastern counties, where the coronavirus has had the worst impact; parts of the Poconos region, Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania; and Erie, Lebanon and Lancaster counties.
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A dozen more counties joined the green designation on Friday, after Wolf announced their status change a week ago. They are Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Northumberland, Union, Wayne, Wyoming and York.
As of Friday, Pennsylvania has reported 6,162 total virus deaths, and almost 78,000 people have been infected.
Green Phase: What are the rules?
This phase is considered the “new normal.” Although most restrictions on business operations and social guidelines are lifted, safety guidelines implemented by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health must be followed.
Workplace and congregate setting restrictions
— Continued telework strongly encouraged
— Businesses with in-person operations must follow updated business and building safety requirements
— All businesses operating at 50% occupancy in the yellow phase may increase to 75% occupancy
— Child care may open complying with guidance
— Congregate care restrictions in place
— Prison and hospital restrictions determined by individual facilities
— Schools subject to CDC and commonwealth guidance
Social restrictions
— Large recreational gatherings remain restricted. Any gathering greater than 250 individuals is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, a concert, festival, fair, conference, sporting event, movie showing, or theater performance
— Masks required when entering a business
— Restaurants and bars open at 50% occupancy
— Personal care services such as hair salons and barbershops open at 50% occupancy and by appointment only
— Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities, and personal care services such as gyms and spas open at 50% occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged
— Casinos, theaters, and shopping malls open at 50% occupancy
— Construction activity may return to full capacity with continued implementation of protocols