27 Warnings Issued To PA Businesses Violating Governor's Order

HARRISBURG, PA — On the first day of enforcement of Pennsylvania's order for all non-life-sustaining businesses to close, State Police issued 27 warnings for those not in compliance, authorities said.

Enforcement of the order, which was issued Thursday by Gov. Tom Wolf, began on Monday. Warnings are the first step in the enforcement. If businesses do not comply, there will be further enforcement, which could include citations, fines, or license suspensions, the governor has said.

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The order, which mandated all non-life-sustaining businesses close their physical locations for two weeks, is aimed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. A list of life-sustaining businesses is here. They include grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies.

Most businesses are complying, said Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. However, some are not.

“As expected, we found the overwhelming majority of people and businesses across the commonwealth are voluntarily complying with the order and doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Evanchick. “This process is two phased beginning with warnings to gain voluntary compliance, followed by enforcement as necessary.”

The State Police did not release the names of the offending businesses.

Other state agencies and local officials — including the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and municipal police departments — are assisting in enforcement.

Here are the violations by region:

Unlisted troops had no recorded violators on Monday

• Troop A (Indiana, Westmoreland, Somerset, Cambria counties): 4
• Troop B (Washington, Greene, Fayette, Allegheny counties): 2
• Troop D (Mercer, Lawrence, Beaver, Butler, Armstrong counties): 1
• Troop E (Erie, Crawford, Warren, Venango): 4
• Troop F (Potter, Cameron, Clinton, Tioga, Lycoming, Union, Montour, Synder, Northumberland): 2
• Troop G (Centre, Blair, Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata): 2
• Troop H (Franklin, Adams, Cumberland, Perry, Dauphin): 4
• Troop J (York, Lancaster, Chester): 1
• Troop K (Montgomery, Philadelphia, Delaware): 1
• Troop L (Schuylkill, Lebanon, Berks): 1
• Troop M (Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton): 3
• Troop N (Carbon, Columbia, Monroe): 1
• Troop R (Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, Lakawanna): 1

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