Geography and population complicate Pennsylvania’s reopening
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
Some regions of Pennsylvania are tantalizingly close to escaping some pandemic restrictions. Other parts could have a long way to go before residents and businesses begin getting back to normal. An analysis by The Associated Press shows how Pennsylvania’s sprawling geography and highly variable population density are playing a huge role in determining when to allow a gradual reopening. Gov. Tom Wolf has said rural northern Pennsylvania is likely to begin moving out from under his shutdown orders on May 8. It’s a different story in densely populated eastern Pennsylvania, where new virus infections are happening at a much higher rate.