Gov. Tom Wolf has outlined steps to allow for a return to normalcy after shutting down the state to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Wolf said Wednesday the northwestern and northcentral regions of Pennsylvania will be the first to see an easing of restrictions. Wolf also described three rolling phases to reopen the state: red, yellow and green.

Wolf hasn’t provided dates for every step but described a phased approach to relaxing restrictions in Pennsylvania.

The governor also said construction activity can resume May 1. He previously said the date would be May 8. Trade groups and some lawmakers have been clamoring for the resumption of construction work, which has come to a virtual halt statewide.

Wolf and Health Secretary Rachel Levine discussed the plans in a televised address Wednesday night.

You can watch online here.

April 22 COVID-19 Press Conference Join us as we provide an update on COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. Posted by Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Wolf said the state will use a defined standard in reopening areas. Counties can be reopened when there are fewer than 50 cases per 100,000 residents for 14 days, Wolf said.

“The virus is going to set the timetable, not us,” Wolf said.

More than 35,000 people statewide have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and more than 1,600 have died, according to the state Department of Health. Wolf and Levine have said social distancing measures have flattened the curve in Pennsylvania.

Red, yellow and green

Currently, Pennsylvania is in the red phase. Wolf doesn’t have full target dates for the beginning of each phase.

Wolf previously extended Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order, which had been set to expire April 30, until May 8. The governor has closed businesses that aren’t deemed life sustaining.

The goal will be to move some areas into the yellow phase by May 8. Stay-at-home restrictions would be replaced by “aggressive mitigation,” the Wolf administration said.

In the yellow phase, some business activity resumes but large social gatherings would still be barred. Any gatherings of more than 25 would be prohibited, so casinos and theaters would remain closed. Gyms and spas would also still be closed. Restaurants and bars would still be limited to delivery or carryout service.

In the yellow phase, the Wolf administration encourages working remotely when possible; businesses with in-person operations will be asked to follow safety protocols. Schools would remain closed but child care centers could reopen.

As conditions warrant, a region moves to the green phase, which lifts stay-at-home orders, Wolf said. But even in this phase, residents will be asked to follow federal guidelines, such as possibly wearing a mask in businesses. The state would also continue to monitor infections and could adjust orders as necessary.

The governor didn’t set a timetable for when Pennsylvania - or certain areas - can go green.

“The data is going to drive this,” Wolf said.

Wolf didn’t offer a full list of counties where restrictions could be eased but he mentioned Tioga and McKean counties as candidates for early reopening. Tioga County, home of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, has 15 cases and McKean has had 5, according to health department data.

Some other northern counties have fewer than 10 cases, including Cameron (1), Elk (2), Warren (2), Potter (4) and Forest (7).

In central Pennsylvania, Perry County looks to be a candidate for an easing of restrictions on May 8. The county, with a population of around 46,000, has had 20 confirmed cases, according to the health department.

The Wolf administration will use Department of Health metrics and a data tool developed by Carnegie Mellon University.

Wolf acknowledged some counties have few cases but said May 8 seems to be the soonest possible date to ease some restrictions. The governor said some counties have low cases because most activities are shut down and cases could rise when more people move around.

“We’re trying to be as safe as we can,” Wolf said.

Wolf acknowledged the frustration of residents uncertain about when they can return to work, go ahead with a June wedding or allow kids to play sports.

“I know some of you are weary,” Wolf said.

But he urged residents to remain strong to help suppress the virus so the state can return to some new normal sooner than later.

Under construction

The prospect of the revival of construction activity is undoubtedly pleasing to many businesses and lawmakers who have criticized the governor’s approach.

State Rep. Andrew Lewis, a Dauphin County Republican, welcomed the news on construction in a post on Facebook. Lewis had criticized the Wolf administration’s moves to halt construction.

“Still not soon enough, but they HEARD US in Harrisburg,” Lewis wrote.

State Rep. David Rowe, a Republican representing Snyder and Union counties, had denounced the shutdown of construction and hailed those who pressed the Wolf administration for relief.

“While I still believe the governor should allow all safe construction to resume immediately, this is a grassroots victory nonetheless,” Rowe said on Facebook.

House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, had criticized Wolf for his reluctance to open businesses. Turzai said in a statement the governor’s move on construction is good news for “the 260,000 hard-working men and women in Pennsylvania’s construction trades.”

“Gov. Wolf and I had a positive discussion today; he was open to the suggestion that construction activities could be done safely, allowing tradespersons to resume their important work – much of it seasonal," Turzai said in the statement. “Working with him on this issue showed we can move forward together on fighting COVID-19, while rebuilding the economy.”

Wolf has previously said he’s going to allow some business activity to resume next month, including construction and online auto sales.

Still, Republican state lawmakers, who control the General Assembly, have wanted to move faster than the Democratic governor. GOP House members are pushing legislation that would allow construction, car sales and retail businesses to begin sooner. More than 1.5 million in Pennsylvania have filed for unemployment since mid-March.

Wolf and Democratic lawmakers have said a wide opening too quickly could cost lives and do more economic damage in the long run. The governor and Democratic allies have said they don’t want to undo the progress the state has made in curbing the spread of the virus.

The governor has consistently said he would take measured steps in getting Pennsylvania back to work. After Wolf’s address Wednesday night, Turzai said construction workers "can see light now at the end this COVID-19 tunnel.”

Questions from coroners

Some coroners have questioned the state’s data on COVID-19 deaths. Levine said she’ll address those issues with coroners.

“I plan to reach out to the coroners to listen to their concerns,” Levine said.

The state recently began including “probable” deaths along with fatalities where patients had positive test results. As a result, the number of deaths related to COVID-19 has risen substantially in recent days, according to state figures. Levine has said this provides a more accurate picture of the pandemic.

Across Pennsylvania, 1,325 deaths involved patients with a positive test result, while 297 deaths are listed as “probable.”

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