Here's What You Can Do During PA's 'Stay At Home' Order

UPDATE: This story was first published March 23, the governor's order has since been expanded to the entire state.

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday issued a "Stay At Home" order across seven counties in the state's ongoing effort to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19. The two-week order, which starts at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 23, restricts the activity for residents living in the Pennsylvania counties where there have been the most reported cases of the coronavirus.

Since the 2 p.m. announcement, Wolf has provided additional guidance as to what residents in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Monroe, Philadelphia and Allegheny counties are allowed to do during the order.

As of Monday, the state has 644 positive cases of COVID-19 and six deaths.

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Residents can leave their home only to perform any of the following individual activities and allowable essential travel:

• Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home
• Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
• Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing
• To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business
• To care for a family member or pet in another household
• Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities
• Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons
• Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services
• Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction
• Travel required by law enforcement or court order.
• Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth

The following operations are exempt:

• Life-sustaining business activities
• Health care or medical services providers
• Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks
• Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process; group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders.
• News media
• Law enforcement
• The federal government
• Religious institutions

The Stay at Home order will be in place for two weeks.

The governor's office said Monday that "at this time, law enforcement will be focused on ensuring that residents are aware of the order and informing the public of social distancing practices rather than enforcement."

Additional guidance on the Stay at Home order can be found here.

On Monday, Pennsylvania State Police and other state agencies will begin enforcement the non-essential businesses closure order that was announced last week.

To report a noncompliant business, contact your local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency number or the nearest Pennsylvania State Police station. Do not call 911.

>>>Full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania.