Department of Agriculture Outlines Order of Restaurant Enforcement Actions, Urges Compliance

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today outlined the order of enforcement actions that would be taken against restaurants offering dine-in services to patrons in violation of Governor Tom Wolf’s March 19 business closure Executive Order to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the commonwealth.

“It’s important that Pennsylvania’s restaurants don’t stray from the course now, we’ve come too far, sacrificed too much to change our path,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Restaurants are encouraged to continue only offering their services for carry-out or delivery. I, along with all of Pennsylvania, am grateful for your dedication to maintaining these life-saving measures.”

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Safety will enforce this order for retail food facilities under the department’s jurisdiction that are re-opening and offering dine-in services. In Governor Wolf’s plan to reopen Pennsylvania, restaurants in counties in both the red and yellow phases are prohibited from offering dine-in service and are limited to take-out and delivery options only.

Food safety inspectors will follow up on reports of restaurants offering dine-in service in violation of the order. Once confirmed, the following actions will be taken by the department:

• Warning letter from the Departments of Agriculture and Health;
• Follow up inspection;
• If still in violation of the order at follow up inspection, adjudication to suspend the businesses retail food license;
• If the business continues to operate after license is revoked, citations will be filed with the magisterial district judge;
• The department may pursue civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day of violation.

The department will work with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and collaboratively across other agencies – such as with the Pennsylvania State Police, and Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board – to report and follow up on violations.

“We know that people dining together in a restaurant puts many people at risk of exposure, including patrons and employees,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “It is essential that restaurants comply with guidance and continue with carry-out and delivery options at this time. Social distancing is a primary tool to fight this virus, and we must stay the course.”

Restaurants under the department’s jurisdiction that are inspected as a result of such complaints will have public reports with details of violations filed in Pennsylvania’s restaurant inspection database, publicly accessibly via the department’s website or the free EatSafePA mobile app for both Apple and Android devices.

Reports related to food safety concerns or restaurants offering dine-in services can be made online through the department’s Food Safety Complaint Form.

Pennsylvania restaurants and retail food establishments are required to comply with Secretary Levine’s worker safety order and adhere to guidance issued by the department for Retail Food/Manufacturing Processes for Sanitization and Diagnosed Employees.

For a complete list of guidance documents and information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to Health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 938 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 59,636

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 14, that there are 938 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 59,636. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

Today, the state is reporting 4,218 total deaths, an increase from the 3,943 total deaths reported yesterday. There were 44 new deaths reported overnight; the remaining 231 were reported as a result of a reconciliation of data over the past several weeks. This means the department added 275 total deaths to the data. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

Locally in Beaver County we are  at 512 positive cases there is an increase of 3 from yesterday. 2581 people have tested negative in the county there has been 4 additional deaths reported as the County at to 82.

In the 3 nursing homes that are reporting positive cases in the county are at 339 positive cases no increase from yesterday. Employee cases are at 25 and the death toll is up 4 at 75.

“As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our healthcare workers and our first responders. I am proud of the work that Pennsylvanians have done so far, but we cannot stop now, we must continue to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from COVID-19.”

There are 251,559 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Nearly 1% are aged 0-4;
• Nearly 1% are aged 5-12;
• Nearly 2% are aged 13-18;
• Nearly 6% are aged 19-24;
• Nearly 37% are aged 25-49;
• Nearly 26% are aged 50-64; and
• 28% are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 12,677 resident cases of COVID-19, and 1,922 cases among employees, for a total of 14,599 at 549 distinct facilities in 44 counties. Out of our total deaths, 2,896 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 4,217 of our total cases are in health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Millions more people likely sought US jobless aid last week
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is set to provide its latest update on the waves of layoffs that have caused tens of millions of workers to lose their jobs in a U.S. economy still paralyzed by business shutdowns. The Labor Department will likely announce that millions more people filed for unemployment benefits last week, after 33 million sought aid in the previous seven weeks as the coronavirus forced employers across the country to close. Though most nonessential businesses remain shut down, most states have begun to ease restrictions for some categories of retail establishments despite concerns that it may be too soon to do so without causing new infections.

Some counties undeterred by Wolf’s threat; others back down
By MARC LEVY and MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Several Pennsylvania counties say they are moving ahead with plans to defy the governor by lifting some pandemic restrictions. Others backed down Wednesday under Gov. Tom Wolf’s threat to withhold COVID-19 funding. Commissioners in many GOP-controlled counties where the Democratic governor has yet to ease any restrictions say they can manage the coronavirus threat and reopen safely. They say the prolonged shutdown threatens to destroy local economies, especially small businesses. Wolf says moving too fast risks jeopardizing the progress Pennsylvania has made against a virus that has sickened some 59,000 and killed nearly 4,000 statewide.

‘A pressure cooker’: Pa. governor aims to contain GOP revolt
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is struggling to fight against a Republican revolt over his stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. Egged on by state GOP lawmakers, counties have threatened to defy his orders while at least a few business owners have reopened their doors despite his warnings. The Democratic governor has had to decide how far to go in enforcing the orders. The chief instigator behind the Republican strategy, President Donald Trump, is set to visit the state on Thursday. Behind the rhetoric is a political fight over who will be blamed for the state’s economic devastation if it is not repaired by Election Day.