Thursday, March 28, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024

All ‘non-life-sustaining’ businesses in Pennsylvania to close at 8pm tonight or face sanctions

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Governor Tom Wolf today ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. tonight, Your Content has learned. Enforcement actions against businesses that do not close physical locations will begin at  12:01 a.m. Saturday,  March 21.

‘Earlier this week I mandated all restaurants and bars close their facilities and offer only dine out options. Unfortunately we have not seen full compliance. We have no time to lose. With every minute that passes, Pennsylvanians contract the coronavirus.’ Gov. Wolf said.

Gov. Wolf will work with all agencies to enforce mandatory closures. Restaurants and bars must cease all operation of they face sanctions.



Any business that remains open will face sanctions. Enforcement will begin as early as tomorrow, according to officials..

In extenuating circumstances, special exemptions will be granted to businesses that are supplying or servicing health care providers. 

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‘To protect the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians, we need to take more aggressive mitigation actions,’ said Gov. Wolf. ‘This virus is an invisible danger that could be present everywhere. We need to act with the strength we use against any other severe threat. And, we need to act now before the illness spreads more widely.” 

Any business that remains open will face enforcement actions beginning at  12:01 a.m. Saturday,  Mar. 21.


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The governor had previously encouraged non-life-sustaining businesses to close to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Restaurants and bars were already required to stop all dine-in services. Enforcement for establishments with a liquor license began at 8 p.m. March 18, and enforcement for all other food establishments will begin at 8 p.m. tonight. Food establishments can offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service, including alcohol.

Pursuant to the Emergency Management Services Code, the governor is granted extraordinary powers upon his declaration of a disaster emergency, such as COVID-19. Among these powers, the governor may control the ingress and egress into the disaster area, the movement of persons, and the occupancy of premises within the disaster area, which has been established to be the entire commonwealth for the COVID-19 disaster emergency. The secretary of health separately is authorized under the law to employ measures necessary for the prevention and suppression of disease. 

Any business that remains open will face immediate sanctions.

Separately, and taken together, the administration is exercising these powers to temporarily close all non-life-sustaining businesses and dine-in facilities at all restaurants and bars across the commonwealth. Persons must be removed from these premises to cope with the COVID-19 disaster emergency. 

Failure to Comply and Enforcement

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in enforcement action that could include citations, fines, or license suspensions.  
 
The governor has directed the following state agencies and local officials to enforce the closure orders to the full extent of the law:

  • Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
  • Department of Health
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Pennsylvania State Police
  • Local officials, using their resources to enforce closure orders within their jurisdictions 

Private businesses, local organizations and other noncompliant entities that fail or refuse to comply with the governor’s orders that protect the lives and health of Pennsylvanians will forfeit their ability to receive any applicable disaster relief and/or may be subject to other appropriate administrative action. Such action may include termination of state loan or grant funding, including Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) grant funding and/or suspension or revocation of licensure for violation of the law.  
 
Finally, in addition to any other criminal charges that might be applicable, the Department of Health is authorized to prosecute noncompliant entities for the failure to comply with health laws, including quarantine, isolation or other disease control measures. Violators are subject to fines or imprisonment.

Business Loans and Support

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) offers working capital loans that could be of assistance to businesses impacted by COVID-19. Resources and information will be posted to http://dced.pa.gov/resources as they become available. The U.S. Small Business Administration, in addition to local funding partners, may also be a source of assistance for affected businesses. 

The Wolf Administration today announced the availability of low-interest loans for small businesses and eligible non-profits in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).


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