Responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
Responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
Last updated 10:30 a.m., October 9, 2020
COVID-19 is a new virus that causes respiratory illness in people and can spread from person-to-person.
All Pennsylvanians have an important role to play in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives. Here are resources to help individuals, families, and businesses do their part.
Keep checking back. This guide will be kept up to date as resources and information change. You can find up-to-date information about cases in Pennsylvania at on.pa.gov/coronavirus.
If somebody has taken drugs and becomes unresponsive, call 911 immediately. These resources are intended for preventive measures only.
Popular Resources
Prevention, Symptoms, and Testing
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include: fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.
Human coronaviruses spread:
- Through the air by coughing or sneezing.
- Through close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it.
- Occasionally, fecal contamination.
Here’s how you can protect yourself and others:
- Wear a cloth face mask when you go out in public.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Limit physical contact with others not in your household.
- Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones, remotes, and other frequently touched items.
- Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do not use your hands.
- If you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.
Before getting tested, you should ask the following questions:
- Is this an emergency?
- If you feel sick and believe you have an emergency, call your doctor and seek medical care. If you do not have a provider call your local health department or 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
- Who should get tested?
Top priorities for testing include:
-
- Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms
- Close contacts of confirmed cases who are asymptomatic
- Asymptomatic individuals who:
- Live in congregate care facilities
- Are health care workers who have frequent interactions with the public
- Work in congregate care facilities
- Provide care to an elderly person or person with a disability in the home
- Work in emergency services
- Work in child protective and adult protective services
- Work in a correctional facility
- Provide compassionate care and hospice services
- Are being discharged from a hospital to a lower level of care
- What will a test cost?
- Check with your insurance company. Often, a patient authorization phone number is listed on the back of your health insurance card. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act and CARES Act do not require an insurance company to pay for a test unless you have symptoms or a known or recent exposure to COVID-19 and it has been determined to be medically necessary for you by an attending healthcare provider.
- Where can I get a test?
- Call your health care provider
- Find a publicly accessible testing site
COVID-19 Dashboard
Check out the Pennsylvania COVID-19 Dashboard to see up-to-date data on case counts and demographics, hospital preparedness, and testing.
Reopening Pennsylvania
As of July 3, all counties are in the green phase of reopening. What does that mean?
| Green Phase |
|---|
| Work & Congregate Setting Restrictions |
|
| Social Restrictions |
|
Throughout the reopening process, we will have guidance in place to support best public health practices. This guidance will reinforce and build on existing worker and building safety orders. It will adapt to the changing nature of the pandemic, as well as lessons learned from communities that return to work strategically.
The green phase eases most restrictions with the continued suspension of the stay at home and business closure orders to allow the economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health.While this phase will facilitate a return to a “new normal,” it will be equally important to continue to monitor public health indicators and adjust orders and restrictions as necessary to ensure the spread of disease remains at a minimum. See the full plan for reopening Pennsylvania.
- All businesses must follow CDC and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning
- Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary
See frequently asked questions about the latest COVID-19 restrictions, announced on July 15.
Local Guidelines
The Wolf Administration supports local officials who choose to maintain additional restrictions. The following counties are under additional local guidelines:
Mask Up, PA
In Pennsylvania, masks must be worn whenever anyone leaves home.
Members of the public should wear homemade cloth or fabric masks and save surgical masks and N95 respirators for health care workers and first responders.
Want to know more? See the frequently asked questions on the Department of Health website for more information on masking in Pennsylvania.
Masks & Businesses
In Pennsylvania businesses, everyone must wear a mask. That includes workers and customers.
Looking for additional masking signage to display in your business? Here is a “No Mask, No Service” poster that is available for download.
Employers are required to provide masks to workers. To help with the sourcing of face masks and other PPE, here is a list of PPE manufacturers and suppliers in Pennsylvania.
Mask FAQs for Businesses
Go here for a comprehensive list of business FAQs on masks. Here are a few of the most common questions:
Must my employees and customers continue to wear masks in the Green Phase of reopening?
Yes. As per the governor’s Green Phase order: Require all customers to wear masks while on premises, and deny entry to individuals not wearing masks, unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, in which case the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of such goods; however, individuals who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition (including children under the age of 2 years per CDC guidance) may enter the premises and are not required to provide documentation of such medical condition.
Regarding employees,: Provide masks for employees to wear during their time at the business, and make it a mandatory requirement to wear masks while on the work site, except to the extent an employee is using break time to eat or drink, in accordance with the guidance from the Department of Health and the CDC. Employers may approve masks obtained or made by employees in accordance with Department of Health guidance.
If a customer refuses to wear a mask, must they be turned away/refused service?
Yes, except that if a business provides medication, medical supplies, or food, that business must offer another means for the customer to purchase goods if the customer is unable to wear a mask. Those means could include home delivery or contactless curbside pick-up.
Individuals who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition (including children under the age of 2 years per CDC guidance) may enter the premises and are not required to provide documentation of such medical condition.
If a customer is belligerent or aggressive, there is no expectation that an employee should force a customer to comply or put themselves in a dangerous situation.
How do businesses avoid confrontation with customers who do not wear a mask?
Businesses should consider how they would deal with a customer who may attempt to enter the business without a shirt or shoes, and may wish to react similarly. Businesses should consider giving customers resources on how to make their own mask or provide a mask.
What Is Social Distancing?
Social distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others.
Social distancing also includes minimizing contact with people by avoiding public transportation when possible, limiting nonessential travel, working from home, and skipping social gatherings.
All Pennsylvanians should practice social distancing — not just those who are seriously ill or at high risk.
Social distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.
For Individuals
Travel
If you have traveled, or plan to travel, to an area where there are high amounts of COVID-19 cases, it is recommended that you stay at home for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania. If you travel to the these states, it is recommended that you quarantine for 14 days upon return.
Questions about travel and quarantine? Read the travel recommendations frequently asked questions.
Unemployment Compensation
If you are employed in Pennsylvania and are unable to work because of COVID-19, you may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation (UC) or Workers’ Compensation (WC) benefits.
The following changes to unemployment have been made to help Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- The waiting week is suspended. Previously, claimants were not eligible for benefits during their first week of unemployment (the “waiting week”). This has been suspended; eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed.
- Work search and work registration requirements are temporarily waived. Claimants are not required to prove they have applied or searched for a new job to maintain their benefits. Claimants are also not required to register with PACareerLink.gov.
- People who exhaust their regular Unemployment Compensation and federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation can now qualify for 13 additional weeks of payments through the state’s Unemployment Compensation Extended Benefits program.
In addition to regular state Unemployment Compensation benefits, which provide roughly half of an individual’s full-time weekly income up to $572 per week, the federal CARES Act expanded UC benefits through several new programs:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) expands benefits to gig-economy workers, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals who are otherwise ineligible for unemployment.
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) provides an additional 13 weeks of UC benefits to individuals who exhaust their regular 26 weeks of benefits, for a total of 39 weeks of coverage.
Other Financial Help
Credit Cards
If you have seen a reduction in pay due to COVID-19 and are struggling to make your credit card or loan payments, contact your lender right away. Regulatory agencies have encouraged financial institutions to work with customers impacted by the coronavirus. For guidance, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or contact a credit counselor near you.
Mortgage or Rent
If you can’t cover your mortgage payment or rent, contact your lender or landlord immediately. Do not wait until you’re behind on payments.
Some lenders may work out an agreement with you to waive late fees, set up a repayment plan or offer loan forbearance.
- Mortgage information: visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or find a housing counselor near you.
- Rental assistance: visit the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Utilities
On March 6, 2020, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chairman signed an emergency order prohibiting terminations by utilities that are under the PUC’s jurisdiction, including:
- Electric
- Natural Gas
- Water
- Wastewater
- Telecommunication
- Steam
This memorandum is in place for as long as Governor Tom Wolf’s Proclamation of Disaster is in effect.
If you are struggling to pay your utility bills, contact your service provider for possible emergency assistance programs.
Food Assistance
Pennsylvanians out of work and without pay, or with significantly reduced hours as a result of COVID-19, are eligible to receive state and federally sourced foods from Pennsylvania’s food banks and pantries. Find a pantry near you, then give them a call to make arrangements.
There are many other food assistance resources available. Find a comprehensive list on the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website.
Mental Health Resources
It’s normal to feel stress around COVID-19. Use the Mental Health Resources guide to find help and information available to Pennsylvanians.
The CDC suggests these tips to help you cope:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to the news — including on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
- Take care of your body:
- Take deep breaths, stretch, and/or meditate
- Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals
- Exercise regularly
- Get plenty of sleep
- Avoid alcohol and drugs
- Make time to unwind with activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about how you’re feeling.
Get Help
Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not an indication of weakness. Here are just a few mental health resources available to Pennsylvanians:
- Crisis Text Line: Text ‘PA’ to 741741 for help 24/7.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you care about is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call the Lifeline at 800-273-8255. [Español: 888-628-9454.]
- PA’s new support helpline: Our new support helpline, run by the Department of Human Services, is here to help. Call 855-284-2494 to speak with someone today.
- Prevent Suicide PA: Learn the warning signs of suicide and how you can help, plus get other resources.
- Disaster Distress Helpline: Experiencing emotional distress due to COVID-19? Call 1-800-985-5990 or text ‘TalkWithUs’ to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Get Help Now for substance use disorder: Recovery is not canceled. Reach out for support from the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs by calling 1-800-662-4357, or use the online chat function.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Are you a veteran in crisis or concerned about one? Connect with caring, qualified responders, many of whom are veterans themselves, by calling 1-800-273-8255 and pressing 1, or chat online.
Find a comprehensive list of COVID-19 mental health information and resources through Mental Health America.
More Resources
Resources for Businesses
Businesses play a critical role in protecting your workers, customers, suppliers, and the general public.
All businesses with in-person operations should follow building and business safety guidelines issued by the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidelines may change over time, so be sure to check back for updates. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations still apply.
COVID-19 Guidance for all Businesses
All businesses are required to review and comply with the COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses. This guide includes the basics our businesses and workers need to safely get back to work. As you reopen, you will need to follow all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Please print, sign, and post the COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses sign (updated 6/26/20) near all public entrances and in worker common areas. Signs should be easy to spot. Two sizes are available for download — use whichever size that works best for your printer.
Legal-sized paper (8.5×14 inches and only uses one piece of paper)
Letter-sized paper (8.5×11 inches and uses two pieces of paper)
Enforcement
State and local authorities are enforcing business and building safety orders for COVID-19. This includes:
- Local officials and law enforcement
- PA State Police
- PA Department of Health
- PA Department of Agriculture
- PA Department of Labor and Industry
- PA Liquor Control Board
These groups are authorized to enforce business closure orders and safety orders to the full extent of the law.
Reporting Health & Safety Violations
There are several options for reporting possible workplace health and safety violations related to COVID-19.
- Contact your local health department or a law enforcement agency.
- Use the PA Department of Health’s webform to submit a complaint.
- If in violation of OSHA guidance, file a complaint at OSHA.gov.
COVID-19 Guidance for Specific Industries
The following industry-specific COVID-19 guidance is currently available:
Determining Event Occupancy
Starting on Friday, Oct. 9 amended orders will allow for venue occupancy limits to play a bigger role in determining the number of people permitted both inside and outside of events or gatherings. An event or gathering is defined as a temporary grouping of individuals for defined purposes that takes place over a limited timeframe, such as hours or days, including fairs, festivals, concerts, or shows and groupings that occur within larger, more permanent businesses, such as shows or performances within amusement parks, individual showings of movies, business meetings or conferences, or each party or reception within a multi-room venue.
Conversely, groups of people who share a space within a building in the ordinary course of operations, such as in an office building, classroom, production floor or similar regularly occurring operation of a business or organization, are not events or gatherings.
All businesses are required to conduct their operations remotely through individual teleworking of their employees in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which they do business unless that is not possible. In those instances, employees may conduct in-person business operations, provided that the businesses fully comply with the business safety order, the worker safety order, and the masking order.
The orders amend two sections of the July 15 mitigation orders and include a maximum occupancy calculator for both indoor and outdoor events. Based on a venue’s established occupancy limit as defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code, venues apply the appropriate percent of occupancy to determine how many attendees are permitted to attend an event or gathering.
Restaurant Self-Certification
Self-certification is an optional program by which you can reassure your employees and customers that you are adhering to all appropriate guidance. Self-certification does NOT impose additional obligations or result in additional inspections; rather, business operators who self-certify have taken the additional step of confirming their dedication to protecting their employees and customers from COVID-19, and thus may increase their occupancy to 50 percent.
It’s free to join the program and enrollment is voluntary. Participating restaurants will receive:
- A listing on the searchable public Open & Certified PA Business Directory
- Permission to increase indoor dining from 25% to 50% occupancy
- Free Open & Certified Pennsylvania signs for your physical location, website, and social media channels
- Timely updates, reminders, and alerts for new business guidance and resources
The self-certification form is now available. To complete the form, you must:
- Read the full requirements (also available in Spanish) for self-certification included in the form
- Agree to comply with all requirements
- Provide your maximum indoor occupancy based on the fire code
- Confirm your information is correct
Owners should keep a copy of the self-certification confirmation they will receive by e-mail. For questions about the Open and Certified Pennsylvania program, read the Frequently Asked Questions or email covidselfcert@pa.gov.
Resources and Loans
To help navigate through the potential financial impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Pennsylvania businesses, the state and federal government are offering loans to help offset the revenue lost.
Check the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development website for the most up-to-date information on resources and loans for businesses.
