Gov. Tom Wolf said today the state is moving toward relaxing some restrictions on businesses by May 8.

Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order will extend until May 8, Wolf said in a news conference. The order had been slated to expire April 30.

But Wolf announced some steps to ease restrictions. He said he’s taking steps to allow limited construction activity and some online auto sales beginning on May 8. The vast majority of construction work has been put on hold under Wolf’s restrictions on businesses to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

“Today, we are taking small steps toward a degree of normalcy,” Wolf said.

The governor said the stay-at-home order will be lifted on May 8; he called it a target date. But Wolf said it may be done gradually. The order could be lifted in certain areas first where cases are lower.

“Life is going to be different on the other side of this,” Wolf said.

Today is also the first day that some state liquor stores will offer phone orders and curbside pickup. Wolf said the rollout of curbside service in the state stores could lead to the extension of similar services for other retailers.

With many businesses still closed in an effort to mitigate the coronavirus, a rally is taking place outside the Capitol to protest Wolf’s stay-at-home order.

You can watch the governor’s news conference here.

Monday marks the first full day that all customers and employees of essential businesses must wear masks while on the premises.

Starting May 9, the Wolf administration will allow public and private residential and non-residential construction to resume statewide. Construction crews will have to continue social distancing efforts.

In addition, construction companies will have to comply with new regulations which the Wolf administration said will be announced soon.

Wolf signed a bill that will allow for online notary services, a necessary step for car sales. Car dealers have urged the Wolf administration to allow auto sales, saying sales could largely be handled online and over the phone.

While Wolf is moving toward allowing online auto sales to take place, in-person sales at showrooms will remain prohibited.

Wolf said easing limits on retailers may be more challenging in urban areas than rural areas, because it could lead to higher traffic and congestion. But the governor said he is looking to move the state into a new phase in a measured way.

“We’re going to take the same measured approach in reopening as we did for closing,” Wolf said.

But Wolf said the stay-at-home order can’t be withdrawn just yet.

“Everybody wants to get through this phase as quickly as possible,” Wolf said.

The governor said even as the state looks to ease some restrictions on businesses, Wolf said it’s critically important for social distancing to continue.

“We cannot relax,” Wolf said.

Statewide, more than 33,000 people have contracted the virus and more than 1,200 have died.

A crowd gathers to protest Gov. Tom Wolf outside the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. The protesters are calling on the governor to lift orders that have shut down businesses across Pennsylvania. Wolf has ordered the closure of businesses to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Wolf said he hadn’t seen the protest outside the Capitol today.

“This is a democracy,” Wolf said. But he said he hopes those protesting would maintain social distancing to minimize the risk of contracting the virus.

“Please stay safe,” Wolf said.

Wolf and Pa. Health Secretary Rachel Levine provided an update on COVID-19 during the new conference. The state reported 948 new cases today, marking the first time in April there are under 1,000 new cases reported.

Levine said the health department is now able to provide a map showing the concentration of people who have tested positive for coronavirus cases in every ZIP code. The map went live today.

This story has been updated from an earlier version.

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