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Gov. Tom Wolf to give guidance to counties, businesses reopening in ‘yellow’ phase of coronavirus restrictions

The entire state is in the red status until Friday.

  • Steve Marroni/PennLive
In May, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a program to train residents unemployed by the pandemic to help with the state’s contact tracing needs. There has also been no public movement since then.

 Commonwealth Media Services

In May, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a program to train residents unemployed by the pandemic to help with the state’s contact tracing needs. There has also been no public movement since then.

With our coronavirus coverage, our goal is to equip you with the information you need. Rather than chase every update, we’ll try to keep things in context and focus on helping you make decisions. See all of our stories here.

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(Harrisburg) —  Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to release new guidance Monday for businesses in counties moving into the yellow status as they begin the process of reopening after coronavirus shutdowns.

There are 24 counties in the northwest and north-central portions of the state that can move to the new status in the three-step, color-coded program on Friday.

Below is a map of the current reopening status of Pennsylvania counties. Please click here if you cannot see that map.

While the entire state is in the red status until Friday, which includes the closure of the physical locations of businesses not considered to be life-sustaining and has residents on stay-at-home orders, yellow allows for the easing of some of these restrictions.

Bob Wheeler, manager of Juniata Golf Club, serves a customer. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Emma Lee / WHYY

Bob Wheeler, manager of Juniata Golf Club, serves a customer.

In the yellow phases:

  • Telework must continue for businesses when possible.
  • Businesses with in-person operations must follow business and building safety orders.
  • Child-care services may reopen following worker and building safety orders.
  • Congregate care and prison restrictions will remain in place.
  • Schools will remain closed for in-person instruction.
  • Stay-at-home orders are lifted.
  • Gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited.
  • In-person retail is permitted, but curbside and delivery services are preferred.
  • Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities, like gyms, spas, hair and nail salons, and entertainment venues like casinos and theaters will remain closed.
  • Restaurants and bars will still be limited to carry-out and delivery services.

Counties remaining in the red phase will be considered for reopening in the next several weeks as the state continues to closely monitor the spread of the coronavirus and consult with health experts and county-level officials.

After the yellow phase comes green, which allows all businesses to reopen, but they must follow CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines.

The full reopening plan is available here.

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