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Debate in Pennsylvania over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Pennsylvania in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over reopening plans in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over reopening plans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening plans in Pennsylvania.

  • U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R) (U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey): On April 23, 2020, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R) released a reopening plan for Pennsylvania. Sen. Toomey said his plan was not meant to replace the governor's but to improve it.

    "The plans put forth by Senator Toomey and Governor Wolf have important similarities, but there are several ways to improve upon the Governor’s plan to restart PA, including:

    • Timing: Two-thirds of the state already meet specific data-based criteria and could begin safely resuming some economic activity immediately.
    • Flexibility: Provide for county-by-county consideration of anomalous data points that result from testing delays or localized outbreaks in nursing homes.
    • Hospital Procedures: Allow hospitals, independent physician offices and outpatient surgical centers in certain parts of the commonwealth to immediately resume performing medically-necessary procedures if CMS guidelines are met.
    • Testing: Expand testing capacity and improve testing for at-risk health care workers, including those in long-term care facilities like nursing homes." - "The #PAStartsUpSafely Framework," April 23, 2020.

  • Pennsylvania House Republican Leadership (Reps. Turzai, Cutler, Saylor, Benninghoff, Oberlander, Toepel, Reese, and Masser) (House Republican Caucus): On April 22, 2020, state House Republican leadership released a statement responding to Gov. Tom Wolf's (D) reopening plan, which was released the same day.

    "Our members have heard from thousands of Pennsylvanians frustrated by a lack of transparency in the decision-making by the Wolf Administration throughout this pandemic. We are pleased that tonight, Gov. Wolf pulled back the curtain and provided direct and measurable guidelines his administration will follow to allow Pennsylvanians to safely return to work and provide for their families." - "House Republicans Ready to Work with Wolf on Recovery Plan," April 23, 2020.

  • Office of Gov. Tom Wolf (D) (Pennsylvania Governor): On April 22, 2020, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) released a reopening plan for Pennsylvania. "The administration will categorize reopening into three phases: red, yellow, green. Phases will be assigned based on conditions in a county, counties or region," stated the office's press release.

    "The red phase, which currently applies to the whole state, has the sole purpose of minimizing the spread of COVID-19 through strict social distancing, non-life sustaining business and school closures, and building safety protocols. … As regions or counties move into the yellow phase, some restrictions on work and social interaction will ease while others, such as closures of schools, gyms, and other indoor recreation centers, as well as limitations around large gatherings, remain in place. The purpose of this phase is to begin to power back up the economy while keeping a close eye on the public health data to ensure the spread of disease remains contained to the greatest extent possible. … The green phase eases most restrictions by lifting the stay-at-home and business closure orders to allow the economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health. While this phase will facilitate a return to a “new normal,” it will be equally important to continue to monitor public health indicators and adjust orders and restrictions as necessary to ensure the spread of disease remains at a minimum. … To determine when a region is ready to reopen and return to work, the state will evaluate the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases per capita, relying upon existing regional health districts used by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. A regional assessment will measure the COVID-19 cases to determine if the target goals of an average of less than 50 cases per 100,000 individuals over the course of 14 days is met. The administration will work closely with county and local governments to enable the communities to reopen and transition back to work." - "Gov. Wolf: Reopening Targeted for May 8 in North-Central, Northwest," April 22, 2020.

  • York Dispatch Editorial Board (York Dispatch): "For the last time, politicians who cavalierly put their constituents at risk by ignoring COVID-19 public health guidelines — from the president to governors of states with rising coronavirus cases like Florida and Texas to the politically blindered representatives of Lebanon County — are the ones who must be ignored." - "Pandemic can't be ignored away," June 22, 2020.


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Pennsylvania.

  • Gov. Tom Wolf (D) (CBS Philly): On April 17, 2020, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced a plan to guide the state's reopening and said his administration would take "a regional, sector-based approach."

    "There is no magic wand to wave to get us back to where we want to be. Unfortunately, we cannot flip a switch and reopen the commonwealth. There’s not going to be one big day. We need to be smart and make data-driven decisions." - "Coronavirus Pennsylvania: Gov. Tom Wolf Unveils ‘Regional Approach’ To Reopening Commonwealth; ‘We Cannot Flip A Switch’," April 17, 2020.

  • Rep. Mike Jones (R) (The Washington Post): "This devastation is the predictable result of our approach to containing the coronavirus. Of course, a deadly pandemic requires extraordinary measures, and it would be unsafe and irresponsible to expect to continue life as normal. Public health officials bring valuable scientific expertise to an unprecedented challenge. But these public health officials are advisers, not policymakers. It is the job of elected officials to consider their advice seriously and then weigh it against competing concerns, including economic ones." - "Why I joined the reopening protests," April 21, 2020.

  • Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R) (Fox News): "I have serious concerns about what's happening with our basic constitutional rights. Additionally, I have serious concerns of what governors all across the country, both Republican and Democrat, are doing as it deals with making executive decisions and implementing these executive decisions that violate peoples' freedom of movement and rights that they have, their God-given rights." - "Protesters, lawmakers to demonstrate in Pennsylvania capital against stay-at-home order: 'Not sustainable'," April 20, 2020.

  • U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D) (CBS Philly): "Well, first and foremost, they have to be, their work I should say, has to be informed by public health expertise and guidance by those who know a lot about the public health crisis, the virus, how you slow down the virus and how you stop the spread of the virus. And then, of course, how do you begin to open up the economy in a way that’s safe? Because there’s no reason to lunge forward recklessly if you’re going to put more people at risk. One of the worst things for job creation, job retention and the economy, would be to have a spike in the numbers of coronavirus cases. We want to make sure that whether it’s Pennsylvania, or any other state in our region, that this is done in accordance with public health guidance and public health expertise." - "Coronavirus Pennsylvania: ‘No Reason To Lunge Forward Recklessly’ In Reopening Economy, Sen. Bob Casey Says," April 19, 2020.

  • Gov. Tom Wolf (D) (The Morning Call): "I know every Pennsylvanian is eager to get back to work — I am included in that. We are working as hard as we can to make sure we reopen as quickly as possible. What we don’t want to do is reopen and then be hit by this virus in a way that overwhelms our health care system. Let’s continue to make this good progress and keep people safe, and when the time is right, we will reopen and liberate every single Pennsylvanian." - "The backlash begins in Pennsylvania, with anti-shutdown rally Monday in Harrisburg," April 19, 2020.

  • Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley (CBS Philly): "I think we should open only when its safe. If we start behaving as we did before, this virus will surge again. So I know, for those of you who’ve been cooped up inside for weeks now, it’s difficult to stay inside. Your household members may be getting on your nerves, you really wanna get out and do things, but please, the best thing for you to do, best for you, best for your family, best for Philadelphia overall, is to stay inside." - "Coronavirus Latest: Pennsylvania Officials Say It’s Still Too Early To Ease Stay-At-Home Restrictions," April 15, 2020.

  • Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R) (Rep. Daryl Metcalfe): "The COVID-19 virus, the social distancing response and the natural reaction of our citizens to minimize their exposure has created economic problems for our state and nation. Your [Gov. Tom Wolf] unconstitutional dictates and overreach into our lives and the marketplace has caused immeasurable harm and hardship for far more Pennsylvanians than the virus! … Your demeaning attempt to classify jobs as ‘essential’ or ‘non-life-sustaining,’ once again revealed a lack of concern and respect for the citizens you were elected to serve. All jobs are life-sustaining for the individual who works so he or she can put food on their table and keep a roof over their head. … Our citizens should be encouraged, not ordered, to practice social distancing and other good health practices to avoid exposure and spreading of the virus. The citizens of Pennsylvania must be able to get back to work to survive!" - "Metcalfe Calls on Governor to Rescind and Replace COVID-19 Shutdown Orders with Hope of Economic Freedom," April 2, 2020.


Debate over protests in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over protests during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on protests in Pennsylvania.


Debate over school closures in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Pennsylvania.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over essential and non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over essential and non-essential businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on essential and non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania.

  • Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R) (Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman): On April 16, 2020, the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania State Legislature passed Senate Bill 613 (SB 613), which would require the governor’s plan on essential and non-essential businesses to be based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidelines. Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) said the bill was designed to allow “businesses that are able to operate safely under the new guidelines … to re-open as long as they comply with mitigation strategies.” In the Senate, Republicans and one Democrat supported SB 613. In the House, 107 of 109 present Republicans and zero Democrats supported SB 613. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) vetoed the legislation.

    "We need a path forward that continues to protect the lives of vulnerable Pennsylvanians without sacrificing the livelihoods of more than a million workers. We need to create a process that is fair and transparent, that truly protects the health of state residents and mitigates the spread of this virus." - "Senate Approves Measures to Create a Better Process for COVID-19 Mitigation," April 15, 2020.

  • Rep. Mike Zabel (D) (Twitter): State Rep. Mike Zabel (D-163) voted against SB 613.

    "There is a balance to be struck between public health and the economy - everyone agrees on that. But make no mistake, if we don’t continue to aggressively protect ourselves from the spread of COVID-19, there will be deeper, more damaging ramifications for our economy. A surge in infections and an overwhelmed healthcare system would devastate the economy worse than it already has been. There is no shortcut to this pandemic. In any crisis, and especially this one, beware the peddling of lucrative promises. It feels good for politicians to say “It’s time to go back.” That’s why some say it. It’s hard to tell the truth. In this case, that false hope is especially dangerous. ... One thing is absolutely certain about this “grand reopening”: it would expose more people to the virus. A lot more. It would result in more positive cases, and therefore, more deaths." - "Rep. Mike Zabel," April 14, 2020.

  • Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R) (Meadville Tribune): State Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-40) introduced House Bill 2388, which was designed to grant a waiver from Gov. Tom Wolf’s non-essential business closure order for vehicle dealer activities that can adhere to the CDC-defined social distancing practices and other mitigation measures.

    "I know one of our primary functions as a government is to keep our citizens safe from harm. There has to be a balance between the preservation of public health and absolute economic devastation. Our surrounding states have found a way to keep these sales moving with zero human interaction, and I think we can do that here too. We can do this smartly for our businesses and we can do this safely for our consumers." - "House committee looks to relax ban on car sales in Pennsylvania," April 14, 2020.

  • House Speaker Mike Turzai (R) (Latrobe Bulletin): House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-28) introduced House Bill 2400, which was designed to grant a waiver from Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) non-essential business closure order for public and private construction activities that can adhere to the CDC-defined social distancing practices and other mitigation measures.

    "Pennsylvania is the only state to shut down all active public and private construction sites, while issuing some selective waivers on an ad hoc basis. There is no consistency. While governors in New Jersey, California, Illinois and New York have issued shelter in place orders, they have all included exemptions for construction personnel and construction activities. … In addition, these stop work orders are devastating the households of thousands of Pennsylvania families when they could be earning a paycheck." - "Turzai crafts legislation to allow construction projects proceed," March 30, 2020.

  • Matt Brouillette, CEO of the Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs (The Center Square): "The truth is that it is possible to safely begin re-opening our economy and restoring livelihoods while continuing to protect the most vulnerable. We now know who we need to assist and safeguard. Yet, instead of focusing on protecting those at high risk, Gov. Wolf has imposed one-size-fits-all restrictions statewide without considering whether a county has even been highly impacted by this virus." - "Pennsylvania protesters rally against coronavirus quarantines," April 20, 2020.

  • Marc Stier, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (CBS Philly): "The governor’s business closure orders have actually been successful. That’s the reason we have seen the rate of increase of COVID infections drop from 34% a day, when he made that order on March 23, to about 7% a day. That’s a huge achievement." - "Coronavirus Latest: Pennsylvania House Approves Bill To Reopen Businesses If They Follow CDC Guidelines On Social Distancing," April 14, 2020.

  • House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R) (PennLive.com): "Look, for a lot of those small mom-and-pop shops, it is their livelihood. And if they can do it safely and get slowly back to normal, I think we should give those individuals that responsibility who, one, choose to do so, and two, can safely do so." - "Health experts caution Pa. lawmakers against easing COVID-19 rules too fast," April 14, 2020.

  • Secretary of Health Rachel Levine (Philadelphia Inquirer): "Encouraging increased social movement of Pennsylvanians at this time by reopening a significant amount of businesses would be reckless and irresponsible. … While the governor and I are as eager as anyone to begin getting people back to work, doing so prematurely will only increase the spread of the virus, further lengthening associated economic challenges, while also placing more lives at risk. … The decision to shutter non-life sustaining businesses that support families across this commonwealth was a painful one, but before we can save livelihoods we must save lives." - "With Pa. mired in coronavirus crisis, state lawmakers bicker about business shutdown but find no agreement," April 8, 2020.


Debate over paid sick leave in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over paid sick leave during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on paid sick leave in Pennsylvania.


Debate over election policy in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Pennsylvania.


Debate over prisons and inmates in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over prisons and inmates and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on prisons and inmates in Pennsylvania.

  • Gov. Tom Wolf (D) (PennLive.com): Gov. Tom Wolf (D) ordered the Department of Corrections to release inmates who were identified as non-violent or at high-risk of coronavirus complications and eligible for release within 9 to 12 months.

    "We can reduce our non-violent prison population and leave fewer inmates at risk for contracting COVID-19 while maintaining public safety with this program. We must reduce our inmate population to be able to manage this virus. Without this temporary program, we are risking the health, and potentially lives, of employees and inmates. We can safely release individuals to the community to reduce their vulnerability and allow the department to successfully manage COVID-19." - "Gov. Wolf issues order to free up to 1,800 non-violent, at-risk Pa. prison inmates over coronavirus fears," April 10, 2020.

  • House Speaker Mike Turzai (R) (Speaker of the PA House): House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-28) responded to Gov. Tom Wolf's (D) decision to release inmates who were identified as non-violent or at high-risk of coronavirus complications and eligible for release within 9 to 12 months. Turzai said the decision was "an inappropriate overreach of executive authority that does not serve the public interest."

    "This decision to let out prisoners — especially while Pennsylvania citizens are adhering to a stay-at-home order — is irresponsible. … Unlawfully releasing these prisoners sends the wrong message to law-abiding Pennsylvanians who are counting on government to restore normalcy in a safe and responsible manner." - "Turzai Says Inmate Release is Inappropriate Overreach of Executive Authority," April 10, 2020.

  • Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D) (The Philadelphia Inquirer): "Jails and prisons are landlocked cruise ships, with people in extremely close quarters and supplies such as soap and sanitation products drying up. Safely and swiftly depopulating corrections facilities is a matter of life or death for all of us." - "‘We must survive’: Wolf orders Philly and suburbs to stay at home to slow coronavirus; all of New Jersey and Delaware under same orders," March 23, 2020.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, journalists, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Pennsylvania.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over parks and outdoors in Pennsylvania

See also: Debate over parks and outdoors during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on parks and outdoors in Pennsylvania.


Responses to the coronavirus in Pennsylvania

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Pennsylvania)
Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Pennsylvania.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

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Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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