en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en sv en en en en en en en en en en en en en en it en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en de en en en en de en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en lv en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fi ca en es es en en zh cv en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en
The temporary restrictions, in effect for the last three weeks, suspended indoor dining at restaurants, and shut down entertainment facilities such as movie theaters, concert venues, casinos, and clubs, as well as gyms and fitness facilities.
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf will lift restrictions that temporarily halted indoor dining, shuttered gyms, casinos, and theaters, and suspended in-person sports and extracurricular activities at schools.
The short-term closures, which Wolf imposed in mid-December to slow soaring coronavirus cases and hospitalizations around the state, will expire as planned at 8 a.m. on Jan. 4, the governor said during a Wednesday news briefing. Other mitigation rules, including mandatory mask-wearing and gathering limits, will remain in effect.
“This does not mean we are out of the woods, not by any means,” said Wolf, who along with Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine pressed the need for residents to continue avoiding unnecessary travel and social gatherings.
“If we get complacent and let case numbers begin to go back up, the danger to our communities, to our families, and to our health-care systems will return with swift and deadly consequences,” Wolf added.
After declining through the summer, new cases of COVID-19 reached record highs in the days after Thanksgiving. Wolf and Levine on Wednesday said that the temporary restrictions have, for now, had the intended effect of reversing the alarming upward spike experienced early this month.
The state reported 8,984 new cases Wednesday, down from the peak of more than 12,000 seen in mid-December, but still well above the worst of the spring surge.
“The hope is that the flattening we see now will continue into January,” Wolf said.
Still, the Democratic governor stopped short of saying he wouldn’t impose temporary restrictions again in the future should there be a post-holiday surge in the virus’ spread.
In announcing the restrictions earlier this month, Wolf said the goal was to “keep our hospitals and health-care workers from becoming overwhelmed.” State data show that as of Wednesday, nearly a third of hospitals in the southwest and southeast parts of the state are anticipating staffing shortages. In the south-central region, 36.4% of hospitals expect to reach a “crisis” level within the next week.
Health-care workers at hospitals across the state started receiving vaccines Dec. 14, followed by staff and residents at nursing homes Monday. But the rollout is expected to take months, prioritizing the most vulnerable residents and front-line workers. Vaccines are not expected to reach the general public until the spring.
“This vaccination process will take some time, and it’s particularly dependent upon how much vaccine we receive each week from the federal government,” Levine said Monday. “It’s very important to avoid large gatherings and small gatherings as we approach New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We cannot let our guard down.”
House Republicans signaled Wednesday they will continue working on efforts to strip Wolf of some of his executive powers. They spent much of the latter half of 2020 attempting — unsuccessfully — to do so. GOP lawmakers in both chambers are also pursuing a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to unilaterally end a disaster declaration without the governor’s approval.
“Pennsylvanians should not have to live in fear of another unexpected and ill-advised shutdown,” Jason Gottesman, a spokesperson for Republicans who control the state House of Representatives, said in a statement. “When we return to session next week, the House Republican Caucus will begin work on an economic recovery plan for all Pennsylvanians that will help ensure these destructive shutdowns and restrictions never happen again.”
The temporary restrictions, in effect for the past three weeks, suspended indoor dining at restaurants and shut down entertainment facilities such as movie theaters, concert venues, casinos, and clubs, as well as gyms and fitness facilities.
The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association on Wednesday pushed for legislation that would provide grants to its members. The governor last week announced a plan, requiring legislative approval, to provide $145 million in funding to businesses that have been financially harmed by the pandemic. One leading Senate Republican told the Morning Call the proposal was worthy of consideration, while the House majority leader instead blamed Wolf’s mitigation efforts for the problems facing restaurants and small businesses.
Many industry groups had hoped Wolf and the GOP-led legislature would use $1.3 billion in flexible CARES Act funding to bail out ailing businesses and nonprofits. Instead, they used that money to prop up the state budget.
100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Become a member today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING...
We believe everyone in Pennsylvania should have access to trusted public-service and investigative journalism. That’s why we don’t have a paywall on our site, charge a subscription fee, or clutter our articles with ads that have nothing to do with our state.
Instead, we use the honor system.
Each of our stories costs hundreds if not thousands of dollars to produce. If you learned something today, do your part and join our effort to rebuild reliable, high-quality local journalism in Pennsylvania by making a tax-deductible contribution of any amount. We can’t do this work without you.
Support Spotlight PA »
I am a robot
Never Miss a Story
Sign up for PA Post and get a free daily email with top news from across PA, plus some fun, too.
You’re invited! Pennsylvania’s top election official answers your voting questions live
by Spotlight PA Staff
Photo Courtesy Chris Harter
Talk of a tax increase is driving a wedge between leaders of a growing Pa. township and its fire company
by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College
Tom Gralish / Philadelphia Inquirer
A complete guide and amendment tracker for proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s Constitution
by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA
Leise Hook / For Spotlight PA
Pa. law protects workers who are approved for medical marijuana — but once they use it, it’s a different story.
by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA
THE LATEST ON COVID-19
Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA
Pa. COVID updates: Your guide to finding resources on cases, vaccines, and tests
by Spotlight PA Staff
THOMAS HENGGE & STEVEN M. FALK / Philadelphia Inquirer
Pa. election 2022: Your complete guide to the candidates for governor
by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA, Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
More Stories from Spotlight PA
Wolf temporarily suspends Pa. indoor dining, school sports
by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA
Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf tests positive for the coronavirus, other officials in quarantine
by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia Inquirer
Pa. hospitals on the brink of a staffing crisis as COVID-19 surges
by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA
DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA
Are you a Pa. contact tracer, or have you been contacted by one? Tell us your story.
by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Ese Olumhense of Spotlight PA
Jamie Martines / Spotlight PA
Financially distressed Pa. towns faring better than expected, while others in pain
by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA
JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia Inquirer
Lockdowns aren’t the answer to Pa.'s surging coronavirus cases, health officials and experts say
by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA
JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer
Here’s who in Pa. will get a coronavirus vaccine first when one is approved
by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA
MATT SMITH / For Spotlight PA
Republicans seek to sideline Pa. mail ballots that voters were allowed to fix
by Angela Couloumbis and Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA
KRISTON JAE BETHEL / For The Philadelphia Inquirer
Gov. Wolf’s coronavirus business waiver program was inconsistent, unfair, auditor says
by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Why the ruling against Wolf’s COVID-19 restrictions faces long odds on appeal, explained
by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Paula Reed Ward of the Tribune-Review
Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
Special Projects & Investigations
This site is powered by Netlify
228 Walnut St., #11728
Could not load results. ${error.message}
Sign Up For Our Free Newsletters
Get every Spotlight PA story and
the best investigative journalism from across Pa.
PA Post (Daily): Top news every weekday morning, plus a daily puzzle.
The Investigator (Weekly): Best accountability journalism every Thursday, plus a weekly riddle.
PA Local (Weekly): A fresh look at the incredible people, places, and food of Pa. every Friday, plus events, guides, best-of, and more.