Peter Jaskiewicz

Pennsylvania has placed new health restrictions for residents of the entire state. This comes after days of record-breaking COVID-19 cases, with reports of 7,126 new cases and 116 additional deaths as of Thursday, November 19.

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine announced new restrictions this past Tuesday. The restrictions include the following:

• Anyone entering the state of Pennsylvania, including Pennsylvania residents traveling home, must have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before arrival. If a test is not available, travelers must quarantine for 14 days or until a negative test is received.
• Masking is now required both outdoors and indoors unless a person is in their own home. It is required even when at an appropriate social distance.

Also, Dr. Levine stated state officials do not want residents to travel, including for the upcoming holiday weekends.

Philadelphia Park

Philadelphia alone has some new restrictions that will last until January 1^st at a minimum. These restrictions set by Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley include the following:

• No indoor dining at restaurants. Farley believes people gathering indoors and not wearing masks is too risky.
• Outdoor dining at restaurants with just four people (from the same household) at a table.
• No indoor gatherings or events, public or private.
• No outdoor gatherings with more than 10% occupancy, 10 people per thousand square feet, and no food at outdoor gatherings, so people can wear masks.
• No more than five people per 1,000 square feet in stores (including employees).
• No youth, community, or school sports. It is encouraged to not take the games to suburban counties.
• Gyms, museums, and libraries will close.
• Barbershops can stay open, but only employees and clients who are getting work done can be inside, so no one will be inside waiting.
• Religious institutions may be open with no more than 5% occupancy or five people per thousand square feet, and they are encouraged to have online services only.
• Colleges and high schools will not have in-person classes.
• Childcare, elementary, and middle schools can have in-person classes with COVID precautions.

Regardless of what you do outside, always remember to social distance and wear a mask. We all must do our part to slow the spread of the virus and keep everyone healthy.