So much for voluntary.
Clearly, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf was hoping citizens would heed his advice to shut down 'non-essential' operations.
That didn't happen.
Now Wolf is not longer asking. Or suggesting. Or urging.
Thursday night he ordered all 'non-life-sustaining' businesses to close their doors.
It's an unprecedented move that will largely bring commerce in the state to a halt.
Welcome to Shutdown City.
All of this is an attempt to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has now infected more than 130 state residents and killed one. Across the nation, the toll stands at more than 7,000 sickened and 97 dead.
Wolf's edict, which he announced about 6 p.m., builds off his previous suggestion concerning 'essential' and 'non-essential' businesses.
In short, gas stations, supermarkets and pharmacies remain on the 'life-sustaining' list.
So do restaurants, with the same restriction: No sit-down service, take-out or delivery only.
So what are some of the things that will close their doors?
Well you can find the full list here.
The list includes more than 150 types of business - including car dealers, dry cleaners, clothes stores. Also ordered shuttered are law firms, building contractors and many professional offices.
On thing still up in the air: Is work on the controversial Mariner East pipeline 'non-life-sustaining'? Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19 of West Whiteland, certainly thinks so. He want work shut down under Wolf's order. The company and industry disagree. For now work is continuing.
Retail will take a huge hit under Wolf's ban, with furniture stores, florists, office supply stores and lawn and garden stores all on the list to close.
And this time Wolf will have some bite to his bark.
The shutdown edict went into effect at 8 p.m. Thursday night and enforcement will being 10:01 a.m. Saturday.
Wolf will use a variety of state agencies to enforce the ban, and warns that bars and restaurants not complying could lose their license.
Comments