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Documenting Pennsylvania's path to recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

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Pennsylvania coronavirus coverage
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Pennsylvania government responses
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Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans
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Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains a general timeline of noteworthy state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic since April 2020. It also includes details on three specific types of state responses to the pandemic:

Additionally, the article includes:


Response news updates

The following section provides a timeline of Pennsylvania's reopening activity beginning in April 2020. The entries, which come from our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter, are sorted by month in reverse chronological order. The date shown is the day that we wrote about them in the newsletter. They appear exactly as they appeared in the newsletter.

June 2021

  • June 28: Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam is lifting the statewide mask requirement for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals on June 28.
  • June 11:
    • The General Assembly voted to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) coronavirus emergency declaration June 10. HR106 passed 30-20 in the state Senate June 10. The state House voted 121-81 to approve the Senate version later in the day. The change is effective immediately. Wolf already endedall remaining mitigation measures May 31 except the requirement for unvaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors. HR106 does not affect the health secretary’s authority to require masks.
    • Voters passed two ballot measures on May 18 to limit a governor’s emergency powers. Pennsylvania governors can now only issue 21-day state of emergency orders. After 21 days, the General Assembly can extend or end emergency orders through a majority vote. Previously, the legislature needed a two-thirds majority to overturn an emergency order.
  • June 1: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced all mitigation measures except the mask mandate ended May 31 at 12:01 a.m. Wolf said the mask mandate will end when 70% of residents age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Localities will still be able to implement stricter measures.

May 2021

  • May 28: On May 27, Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam announced the state would lift its statewide mask requirement for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals on June 28. She said the requirement could be lifted sooner if at least 70% of Pennsylvania residents become fully vaccinated.
  • May 24: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) extended the state’s coronavirus emergency order 90 days on May 20. Voters passed two ballot measures on May 18 to limit the governor’s emergency powers, but the constitutional amendments will not take effect until the election is certified. Certification is not expected until June 7. When the amendments take effect, the governor will only be able to issue 21-day state of emergency orders. After 21 days, the General Assembly will be able to extend or end emergency orders through a majority vote. When the amendments are certified, the legislature will vote to extend or end Wolf’s coronavirus emergency order.
  • May 17:
    • Indoor limits for events and gatherings (like fairs, festivals, and concerts) are expanding to 50% occupancy starting May 17. Outdoor occupancy limits for events and gatherings are also expanding to 75%.
    • Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam announced fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks in most indoor public settings, effective immediately. Beam also said the mask order will be fully lifted once 70% of residents over 18 are fully vaccinated.
  • May 12: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced indoor limits for events and gatherings (like fairs, festivals, and concerts) will expand to 50% occupancy starting May 17. Outdoor occupancy limits for events and gatherings will expand to 75%.
  • May 5: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced all mitigation measures except the mask mandate (including capacity restrictions for businesses) will end May 31 at 12:01 a.m. Wolf said the mask mandate will end when 70% of residents age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Localities will still be able to implement stricter measures.

April 2021

  • April 13: All residents 16 and older are eligiblefor vaccination starting April 13. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) made the announcement on April 12.
  • April 12: All residents in Phase 1C are eligiblefor vaccination starting April 12. Previously, all residents in Phase 1B were eligible.
  • April 5: On April 5, Pennsylvania enteredPhase 1B of vaccinations. This next phase of eligibility includes first responders and manufacturing, education, and public transit workers.
  • April 1: Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam announced law enforcement officers, firefighters, grocery store workers, and food and agriculture workers were eligible for vaccination on March 31. All residents in Phase 1B (page 18) will be eligible April 5. All residents in Phase 1C (page 18) will be eligible April 12. Starting April 19, everyone 16 and older will be eligible for vaccination.

March 2021

  • March 16: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announcedlooser business and event restrictions starting April 4. Restaurants can resume bar service, alcohol service will be allowed without the purchase of food, and the 12 a.m. curfew for removing alcoholic drinks from tables will end. Restaurants that complete the self-certification process can expand to 75% capacity. All other restaurants are limited to 50% capacity. Other businesses like personal care service providers, gyms, and entertainment facilities (like theaters and malls) can also expand to 75% capacity. All indoor event venues (like sports centers and concert halls) can expand to 25% capacity, regardless of venue size. Outdoor event areas can expand to 50% capacity, regardless of venue size. Individuals still have to social distance and wear masks.
  • March 4: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced the state will begin using Johnson & Johnson vaccines to start vaccinating school staff separately from the ongoing Phase 1A. Most vaccination sites for school staff are expected to open between March 10-13.
  • March 1:
    • Gov. Tom Wolf (D) lifted the state’s travel restrictions. Previously, all travelers from out-of-state needed a negative coronavirus test from the last 72 hours before they arrived. If travelers could not present a test, they were required to self-quarantine for 14 days. The executive order establishing the requirement did not detail enforcement mechanisms.
    • Wolf also expanded capacity limits for indoor and outdoor event venues as long as social distancing is enforced. Outdoor venues can expand from 15% to 20% capacity. Indoor venues can expand from 10% to 15% capacity.

February 2021

  • February 22: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) extended the state’s coronavirus emergency order for 90 days through May 20.

January 2021

  • January 21: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced the state will award $600 grants to childcare workers. Licensed childcare providers have to apply for funds on behalf of their employees through local Early Learning Resource Centers. Employees are eligible recipients if their gross income is less than $70,000 annually and they work at least 20 hours per week.
  • January 11: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced changes to the state’s vaccine distribution plan based on recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The changes included adding people aged 75 and older to Phase 1B (the next phase) of the plan and creating Phase 1C, which will include people between the ages of 65 and 74 and individuals with high-risk conditions (like COPD, cancer, and some heart conditions).
  • January 4: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) allowed the state’s additional time-limited mitigation measures to expire Jan. 4. Current restrictions on individuals and businesses are the same as they were on Dec. 11, before the time-limited order was implemented. For a list of current restrictions, click here.

December 2020

  • December 14: Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) statewide mitigation measures took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 12. Indoor dining is prohibited, indoor fitness and entertainment operations have to close, indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people or fewer, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people or fewer. Outdoor dining and fitness activities are still allowed. Places of worship are exempt from the gathering limit. The new restrictions are scheduled to last until 8 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2021.
  • December 1: On Nov. 30, Health Secretary Rachel Levine announced people as young as 13 years old can now use the state’s exposure notification app with parental permission.

November 2020

  • November 30: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) extended the state’s coronavirus emergency order for 90 days. On Nov. 25 only (for that one day), restaurants, bars, and all retail foodservice businesses were required to stop serving alcohol after 5 p.m. Wolf also lowered the maximum occupancy for indoor event spaces to 500 people and occupancy for outdoor event spaces to 2,500. Telework is mandatory whenever possible. Chief public school administrators will have to sign an acknowledgment stating their school is complying with updated state guidance or has transitioned to fully remote learning no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 30.
  • November 18: Health Secretary Rachel Levine announced new mitigation measures, including travel restrictions and expanded mask requirements. Starting Nov. 18, masks are required indoors (including gyms and public transportation) whenever people from separate households are in the same space, even if social distancing can be kept. Face coverings are required in all outdoor spaces unless social distancing for non-household members can be maintained at all times. Effective Nov. 20, all travelers from out-of-state will be required to show a negative coronavirus test from the last 72 hours before they arrive. If they cannot present a test, they will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

October 2020

  • October 6: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced gatherings of up to 7,500 people in large outdoor venues or 3,750 in indoor venues will be permitted starting Oct. 9.

September 2020

  • September 23: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced the release of a new coronavirus exposure alert app that notifies users if they have been in contact with other users who later test positive for the virus.
  • September 17: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and Health Secretary Rachel Levine signed an order allowing restaurants to expand their maximum capacity to 50% starting Sept. 21.
  • September 8: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced restaurants will be able to increase indoor capacity to 50% starting Sept. 21. Owners who want to expand capacity will have to fill out a self-certification form stating their compliance with state guidelines. Restaurants will also have to stop alcohol sales by 10 p.m. starting Sept. 21.
  • September 1: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) renewed the state’s disaster declaration for another 90 days.

August 2020

  • August 24: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced the state is applying for President Donald Trump’s (R) partial extension of unemployment benefits. If the request is approved, individuals receiving at least $100 of weekly unemployment from the state who are unemployed because of the coronavirus will be eligible to receive an additional $300 per week from the federal government. The payments will be retroactive to Aug. 1.
  • August 19: The Department of Education announced the statewide public mask requirement for everyone over the age of two applies to all public and private schools. Students can remove their face coverings when they are eating and drinking (at least six feet apart), in situations when wearing a face covering might be unsafe, and during socially distanced face covering breaks lasting no more than 10 minutes.
  • August 7: On Aug. 6, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) recommended schools postpone sports until next year. His office released a statement later that day saying the Department of Health and Department of Education recommends schools postpone youth sports for all age levels until Jan. 1 at the earliest.

July 2020

  • July 24: The state added Missouri and Wyoming to its 14-day self-quarantine travel advisory list. Travelers from 20 states are now advised to self-quarantine when visiting or returning to Pennsylvania.
  • July 16: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced new statewide restrictions to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Effective June 16, bars and restaurants are no longer allowed to offer bar service, and alcoholic beverages are only available for take out or for sale with a dine-in meal at a table or booth. Occupancy limits in bars and restaurants are decreasing from 50% to 25%. The order also requires nightclubs to close, limits indoor gatherings to 25 people, and directs gyms to prioritize outdoor fitness activities (indoor operations are still allowed). The gathering limit restriction does not apply to religious institutions. Wolf’s administration also released a plan for reopening public schools. The guidance requires districts and charter schools to develop reopening plans for approval by the school’s governing body. Each plan must be posted on the school's website before in-person operations resume.
  • July 7: Lebanon, the final county that remained in the yellow phase of reopening, entered green on July 3. The green phase allows most businesses and functions to reopen under state restrictions, including salons, barbershops, spas, casinos, theaters, malls, and gyms. It also allows gatherings of up to 250 people. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced self-quarantine recommendations for travelers coming from 15 states.
  • July 2:
    • The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the state legislature does not have the power to overturn Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) emergency declaration or shutdown orders via legislative resolution. The Senate Republican Caucus had sued Wolf for refusing to act on a legislative resolution directing him to end Pennsylvania’s emergency declaration and lift all business shutdown orders issued in response to the coronavirus. In the suit, attorneys for the GOP Caucus argued the legislature could pass a concurrent resolution compelling the governor to terminate a state of disaster emergency. Wolf said all resolutions have to be presented to him to approve or veto and the legislative resolution did not carry legal force without his signature.
    • Secretary of Health Rachel Levine signed an expanded order requiring residents to wear masks in all public places. Previously, masks were only required in businesses.

June 2020

  • June 19: Eight more counties moved into the green phase of the state’s reopening plan. Gov. Tom Wolf (R) announced twelve more yellow-phase counties will enter the green phase on June 26, leaving Lebanon as the only county in yellow. In May, Lebanon’s county commissioners voted to reopen against state orders. Wolf said a recent uptick in the county’s cases disqualified it from opening with the rest of the state. The green phase allows most businesses and functions to reopen under state restrictions, including salons, barbershops, spas, casinos, theaters, malls, and gyms. It also allows gatherings of up to 250 people.
  • June 12: Twelve more counties moved into the green phase of the state’s reopening plan. Gov. Tom Wolf (R) announced eight more yellow-phase counties would enter the green phase on June 19. The green phase allows most businesses and functions to reopen under state restrictions, including salons, barbershops, spas, casinos, theaters, malls, and gyms. It also allows gatherings of up to 250 people.
  • June 11: The Senate Republican Caucus filed a lawsuit against Gov. Tom Wolf. Yesterday, we reported that Wolf refused to act on a legislative resolution directing him to end Pennsylvania’s emergency declaration and lift all business shutdown orders issued in response to the coronavirus. In response, Republicans filed the suit, arguing the legislature could pass a concurrent resolution compelling the governor to terminate a state of disaster emergency. Wolf said all resolutions have to be presented to him to approve or veto and the legislative resolution does not carry legal force without his signature.
  • June 10: The state legislature passed a resolution directing Gov. Tom Wolf to end Pennsylvania’s emergency declaration and lift all business shutdown orders issued in response to the coronavirus. It passed the state Senate 31-19 and the and the House 121-81, with 12 house democrats supporting the measure. Wolf said he will not lift the orders or approve the resolution. The state also released guidance for outdoor recreation businesses and high school and summer sports.
  • June 5: The state’s stay-at-home order expired on June 4 at 11:59 p.m., making Pennsylvania the 36th state to lift a stay-at-home order. The 10 remaining red-phase counties entered the yellow phase and 16 yellow-phase counties moved into the green phase. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced 12 more counties will enter the green phase of reopening on June 12.
  • June 4: The state’s stay-at-home order will expire on June 4 at 11:59 p.m., which will make Pennsylvania the 36th state to lift a stay-at-home order. On June 3, Wolf said the 10 remaining red-phase counties will enter the yellow-phase on June 5.

May 2020

  • May 28: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced additional guidance for counties in the yellow and green phases of reopening. Wolf said that professional sports activities will be able to resume in green-phase counties, while restaurants in yellow-phase counties will be able to open for outdoor dining beginning June 5. Eighteen counties are scheduled to enter the green phase on May 29. State park beaches and pools will begin a phased reopening on June 6.
  • May 26: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced that eight more counties would move into the yellow phase of reopening and 17 counties would enter the green phase starting May 29. Wolf also said the remaining 10 red-phase counties were expected to move to yellow by June 5. During the yellow phase, theaters and gyms remain closed, but some types of businesses, such as retail, can begin to reopen with restrictions. Bars and restaurants are limited to carry-out and delivery. The green phase will allow most businesses and functions to reopen under state restrictions, including salons, barbershops, spas, casinos, theaters, malls, and gyms. Gathering limits will also be lifted in the green phase, but the state will continue to restrict large entertainment gatherings and visits to nursing homes and prisons. The Wolf administration also released guidelines for youth summer camps.
  • May 22: Twelve counties entered the yellow phase of reopening on May 22. During the yellow phase, theaters and gyms remain closed, but some types of businesses, such as retail, can begin to reopen with restrictions. Bars and restaurants are limited to carry-out and delivery. Gov. Tom Wolf said he expects to release a list of additional counties on May 22 that will be able to move into the yellow phase. Wolf is also expected to announce the first counties that will be able to move from yellow to the green phase, which allows most businesses to open under state restrictions and lifts gathering limits.
  • May 20: Gov. Tom Wolf announced guidelines allowing for limited in-person real estate business to be conducted statewide, including in red-phase counties. He also vetoed three bills passed by the Republican-controlled legislature that would have allowed counties to develop their own virus mitigation and reopening plans and allow more industries to open statewide. Salons, barbershops, and non-essential manufacturing were among the businesses that would have been reopened.
  • May 15: On May 15, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that 12 additional counties would be ready to move into the yellow phase of reopening by May 22: Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Wayne, and York. During the yellow phase, theaters and gyms remain closed, but some types of businesses, such as retail, can begin to reopen with restrictions. Bars and restaurants are limited to carry-out and delivery.
  • May 8: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced that 13 counties will move from the red phase into the yellow phase of the state’s reopening plan on Friday, May 15. Those counties will remain under a stay-at-home order until then. Twenty-four counties in the northern part of the state entered the yellow phase Friday, May 8. During the yellow phase, theaters and gyms remain closed, but some types of businesses, such as retail, can begin to reopen with restrictions. Bars and restaurants are limited to carry-out and delivery. Wolf extended the stay-at-home order for counties in the red phase through June 4.
  • May 7: On May 6, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a lawsuit over Governor Tom Wolf's (D) March 19 order restricting the operations of non-essential businesses in the state. As a result, the state supreme court's ruling, which upheld the order, was allowed to stand. On March 24, plaintiffs (several Pennsylvania businesses) petitioned the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to vacate Wolf's order, alleging it violated their constitutional rights to free speech, assembly, and judicial review. The plaintiffs also argued the order deprived them of their property without due process or just compensation. On April 13, the state supreme court rejected the plaintiffs' claims.

April 2020

  • April 27: Gov. Tom Wolf's (D) office released a three-phase plan taking a regional approach to reopening. Criteria for reopening include "having fewer than 50 new confirmed cases per 100,000 population reported to the department in the previous 14 days," adequate testing capacity for symptomatic individuals and target populations, contact tracing capacity, and adequate safeguards in high-risk settings. Pennsylvania is under divided government.


Vaccine distribution

This section contains a table of quick facts on the state’s vaccine distribution plan and a timeline of noteworthy events, including updates on vaccine availability for new groups of individuals, changes to state distribution plans, and much more. If you know of a noteworthy story we are missing, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health released a distribution plan on October 29, 2020.

Quick facts

Pennsylvania state vaccination plan quick information
What governing entities are responsible for vaccine allocation and distribution?[1] Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce
Where can I find a quick breakdown of phases in my state? N/A[2]
Where can I find the distribution plan? COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan: Pennsylvania
When was the plan first released to the public? December 11, 2020
When was the plan most recently updated? January 19, 2020
Where can I find answers to frequently asked questions? COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find data related to the coronavirus vaccine in my state? Vaccine Dashboard
Where is the state health department's homepage? Pennsylvania Department of Health
Where can I find additional information about the state's vaccine distribution? The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan in Pennsylvania - AARP

Timeline

  • April 13, 2021: Pennsylvania residents 16 and older became eligible for vaccination. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) made the announcement on April 12.[3]
  • April 12, 2021: Pennsylvania residents in Phase 1C became eligible for vaccination. Previously, all residents in Phase 1B were eligible.[4]
  • April 5, 2021: Pennsylvania entered Phase 1B of vaccinations. The phase of eligibility included first responders and manufacturing, education, and public transit workers.[5]
  • March 31, 2021: Pennsylvania Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam announced law enforcement officers, firefighters, grocery store workers, and food and agriculture workers were eligible for vaccination on March 31. All residents in Phase 1B (page 18) were scheduled to become eligible April 5. All residents in Phase 1C (page 18) were scheduled to become eligible April 12. Starting April 19, everyone 16 and older was scheduled to become eligible for vaccination.[6]
  • March 3, 2021: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced the state would begin using Johnson & Johnson vaccines to start vaccinating school staff separately from the ongoing Phase 1A. Most vaccination sites for school staff are expected to open between March 10-13.[7]
  • January 19, 2021: Pennsylvania expanded vaccine availability to individuals age 65 and older and people with high-risk medical conditions.[8]
  • January 8, 2021: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced changes to the state’s vaccine distribution plan based on recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The changes included adding people aged 75 and older to Phase 1B of the plan and creating Phase 1C, which was scheduled to include people between the ages of 65 and 74 and individuals with high-risk conditions (like COPD, cancer, and some heart conditions).[9]

School reopenings and closures

See also: School responses in Pennsylvania to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Schools in Pennsylvania were closed to in-person instruction on March 16, 2020, and remained closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. To notify us of when schools were allowed to reopen statewide, email us. The timeline below lists statewide responses we tracked.

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Pennsylvania .[10][11]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported a majority of schools were using virtual or hybrid learning in Pennsylvania .[12][13]
  • August 19, 2020: The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced the statewide public mask requirement for everyone over the age of two applied to all public and private schools. Students could remove their face coverings when they were eating and drinking (at least six feet apart), in situations when wearing a face covering might be unsafe, and during socially distanced face covering breaks lasting no more than 10 minutes.[14]
  • August 10, 2020: The Pennsylvania Department of Education released guidelines for when schools could reopen to in-person instruction based on health statistics in the county.[15]
  • July 16, 2020: The Pennsylvania Department of Education released updated guidance for reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year.[16]


  • April 9, 2020: Gov. Tom Wolf (D) closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Prior to the announcement, schools had been closed indefinitely from March 16.[17]
  • March 30, 2020: Wolf announced that the statewide school closure would last indefinitely. It was previously scheduled to end on April 8.[18]
  • March 23, 2020: Wolf announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end March 30, was extended through April 8.[19]
  • March 13, 2020: Wolf closed all K-12 schools in the state for two weeks effective March 16.[20]

Statewide travel restrictions

See also: Travel restrictions issued by states in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021


Does Pennsylvania have restrictions on travel? No. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) ended the state's travel restrictions on March 1, 2021.[21]

More information can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Timeline

  • March 1, 2021: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced he was ending the state's quarantine requirement for out-of-state and returning residents.[22]
  • November 17, 2020: Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine issued an order requiring out-of-state travelers and returning residents to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival unless they can show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of entering the state. The quarantine requirement does not apply to people coming to Pennsylvania for work or medical purposes. The order was scheduled to take effect on November 20.[23]
  • September 13, 2020: Pennsylvania removed California and Texas from its travel advisory and added Illinois.[24]
  • July 24, 2020: Wyoming and Missouri were added to the state's advisory list, bringing the total number of states on the list to 20.[25]
  • July 15, 2020: Delaware was removed from the state's quarantine list, bringing the total number of states on the list to 18.[26]
  • July 12, 2020: The Pennsylvania Department of Health added Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma to its quarantine list. Visitors from those states are recommended to self-quarantine for 14 days upon entering Pennsylvania.[27]
  • July 2, 2020: The Pennsylvania Department of Health recommended that residents who travel to 15 states with rising COVID-19 cases quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Pennsylvania. The states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.[28][29]
  • April 13, 2020: The Pennsylvania Department of Health recommended that out-of-state travelers, especially those from areas with high rates of infection or community spread, self-quarantine for 14 days.[30]


Statewide mask requirements

See also: State-level mask requirements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

On July 1, 2020, Health Secretary Rachel Levine signed an executive order requiring individuals to wear face coverings in public.

On May 13, 2021, Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam announced fully vaccinated individuals no longer needed to wear masks in most indoor public settings.

Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam lifted the statewide mask requirement for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals on June 28, 2021.[31]


Noteworthy lawsuits

See also: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

Friends of Danny DeVito v. Wolf: On May 6, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to intervene in a lawsuit over a Pennsylvania order curtailing the operations of non-essential businesses, allowing the state supreme court's ruling, which upheld the order, to stand.[32]

On March 24, 2020, the plaintiffs (a number of Pennsylvania businesses) petitioned the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to vacate Governor Tom Wolf's (D) March 19 order restricting the operations of non-essential businesses in the state. The plaintiffs alleged that the order violated their constitutional rights to free speech, assembly, and judicial review. The plaintiffs also argued that the order violated their rights by depriving them of their property without due process or just compensation.[33]

On April 13, 2020, the state supreme court rejected the plaintiffs' claims, allowing Wolf's order to stand. On April 27, 2020, the plaintiffs appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of the United States, seeking a stay of enforcement of the order pending disposition of the case. On May 6, 2020, the high court denied the plaintiffs' application without comment.[34][35]

Wolf v. Scarnati: On July 1, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled against legislative Republicans in favor of Gov. Tom Wolf (D), upholding his ability to maintain COVID-19 shutdown orders. The lawsuit stemmed from Wolf’s March 6, 2020, emergency disaster proclamation, which he renewed on June 3, 2020. On June 9, 2020, the Pennsylvania General Assembly adopted a concurrent resolution, HR836, seeking to terminate the disaster emergency, which was not presented to the governor for approval or veto. The governor did not comply. Three Republican state senators filed a complaint in the Commonwealth Court, asking the court to command Wolf to comply with their resolution by "issuing an executive order or proclamation ending the state of disaster emergency." Wolf asked the state supreme court to exercise extraordinary jurisdiction, thus removing the case to the high court. The state supreme court held that HR836 was a legal nullity because the Pennsylvania Constitution required that concurrent resolutions relating to emergency declarations be presented to the governor for approval or veto. As the General Assembly did not do so, the court refused to order Wolf to end the shutdown, stating, "The Pennsylvania Constitution does not empower the legislature to act unilaterally to suspend a law, and the Governor’s purported suspension of law did not violate the non-delegation doctrine." Justice David N. Wecht wrote the court's opinion, which Justices Max Baer, Debra Todd, and Christine Donohue joined. Justice Kevin M. Dougherty filed a separate opinion, concurring and dissenting in part.[36]

Parker v. Wolf: On September 3, 2020, two Pennsylvania couples filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Gov. Tom Wolf (D), challenging Wolf's COVID-19 contact tracing program and mask mandate. In their complaint, the plaintiffs objected to "Wolf’s unilateral exercise of power," arguing that he "has assumed the power to lord over the lives of Pennsylvanians like a king, mandating restrictions that deprive citizens, including plaintiffs, of their fundamental liberties." The plaintiffs alleged that Wolf's actions violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of association; Fourth Amendment freedom from unlawful search and seizure; and Fourteenth Amendment guarantees of due process, equal protection, and privacy. They also contended that the governor's actions violated the Guarantee Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which requires the federal government to guarantee that the states maintain a republican form of government. Wolf's office had not commented publicly on the lawsuit as of September 8, 2020.[37]

County of Butler v. Wolf: On September 14, 2020, Judge William Shaw Stickman, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, struck down some of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s (D) COVID-19 orders. The suit, which was brought on behalf of various Pennsylvania counties, businesses, and elected officials, challenged Wolf’s restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings, the continued closure of "non-life-sustaining" businesses, and prolonged stay-at-home orders. Writing that the "liberties protected by the Constitution are not fair-weather freedoms," Stickman, an appointee of President Donald Trump (R), ruled that the "Constitution cannot accept the concept of a 'new normal' where the basic liberties of the people can be subordinated to open-ended emergency mitigation measures." In his order, Stickman found "(1) that the congregate gathering limits … violate the right of assembly enshrined in the First Amendment; (2) that the stay-at-home and business closure components of defendants' orders violate the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment; and (3) that the business closure components of defendants' orders violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment." Stickman limited remedy to the plaintiff individuals and businesses, dismissing the counties for lacking standing to sue. Reacting to the order, Thomas E. Breth, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said, "You can't tell 13 million Pennsylvanians that they have to stay home. That's not America. It never was. That order was horrible." Lyndsay Kensinger, Wolf’s press secretary, indicated that Wolf would seek to stay the decision while seeking an appeal, adding that the "ruling does not impact any of the other mitigation orders currently in place including … mandatory telework, mandatory mask order, worker safety order, and the building safety order."[38][39][40]

On September 22, 2020, Stickman declined to stay his initial order, ruling that a stay would be unwarranted given his finding that Wolf had not met the "burden of establishing even the minimal showing of success on the merits" upon appeal. Stickman said that Wolf’s participation in "large public protests across the Commonwealth" during the summer, and the voluntary suspension of certain stay-at-home and business closure orders, undermined Wolf’s argument that his administration and the people of Pennsylvania would result in irreparable harm absent a stay. In response to this, and alluding to the pending appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Wolf said, "We’re working in the meantime to present schools and others with guidance to say ok, in our best estimation from the health point of view, you got to be careful if you get together."[41][42]

A.M. v. Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc.: On October 1, 2020, Judge Susan Baxter, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, dismissed a claim by four student athletes who were refused entry to a golf tournament administered by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). The plaintiffs alleged that, eight days before the tournament, the PIAA "arbitrarily and capriciously reduced the number of qualifiers." The students argued that "the reduction of numbers has no quantifiable relationship on the spread of Covid-19 as it relates to outdoor activities such as golf." They asked the court to order the PIAA to allow them to participate in the tournament. Baxter denied that request, writing in her opinion, "It is not the court's job to decide the better course, but to ensure the one taken was not arbitrary and capricious, or for a wrongful purpose. Although the decision was a painful one for the plaintiffs, it was done with a rational basis and passes muster under the law."[43][44]

Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

The table below lists officials or candidates who have been diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus. The most recent announcements appear first.

Name Office Date Status
Stacy Garrity Candidate, Pennsylvania Treasurer October 5, 2020 Garrity's campaign announced she had tested positive for coronavirus.[45]
Melissa Shusterman Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 157 October 3, 2020 Shusterman announced that she would self-quarantine after state Rep. Paul Schemel tested positive for coronavirus.[46]
Manuel Guzman Candidate, Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 127 October 26, 2020 On October 29, 2020, Guzman announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.[47]
Glenn Thompson (Pennsylvania) U.S. Representative, Pennsylvania October 22, 2021 Thompson's office announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[48]
Paul Schemel Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 90 October 1, 2020 Schemel announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[49]
James Gregory (Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 80 October 1, 2020 Gregory announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[50]
Kerry Benninghoff Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 171 November 29, 2021 Benninghoff announced on November 29, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was fully vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[51]
Mark Gillen Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 128 November 29, 2021 Gillen announced on November 29, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19.[52]
Doug Mastriano Pennsylvania State Senate District 33 November 25, 2020 Mastriano tested positive for coronavirus.[53]
Doyle Heffley Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 122 November 23, 2020 Heffley announced on Facebook that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[54]
Jordan Harris Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 186 November 18, 2020 Harris announced he had tested positive for coronavirus.[55]
Scott Perry U.S. House Pennsylvania District 10 November 16, 2021 Perry announced on November 16, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19.[56]
Jake Corman Pennsylvania State Senate District 34 November 10, 2021 Corman announced on November 10, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was fully vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[57]
Andrew Lewis (Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 105 May 20, 2020 On May 27, 2020, Lewis revealed that he had tested positive for coronavirus on May 20.[58]
Brian Smith (Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 66 March 29, 2021 Smith announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[59]
Mike Kelly (Pennsylvania) U.S. House Pennsylvania District 16 March 27, 2020 Kelly announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[60]
David N. Wecht Pennsylvania Supreme Court March 17, 2020 Wecht announced a self-quarantine after one of his children tested positive for coronavirus.[61]
Anthony Williams (Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania State Senate District 8 July 14, 2020 Williams announced that he tested positive for coronavirus.[62]
Summer Lee Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 34 January 5, 2021 Lee announced on Twitter that she had tested positive for coronavirus.[63]
Robert Tomlinson Pennsylvania State Senate District 6 January 21, 2021 Tomlinson announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[64]
Aaron Kaufer Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 120 January 17, 2021 Kaufer announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[65]
Patty Kim Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 103 January 15, 2021 Kim announced that she had tested positive for coronavirus.[66]
Matthew Bradford Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 90 January 14, 2021 Bradford announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[67]
Tarah Toohil Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 116 February 10, 2021 Toohil announced that she had tested positive for coronavirus.[68]
Mark Squilla Philadelphia City Council District 1 December 9, 2020 Squilla announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[69]
Tom Wolf Governor of Pennsylvania December 9, 2020 Wolf announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[70]
Mike Reese (Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 59 December 7, 2020 Reese announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[71]
Matt Cartwright U.S. House Pennsylvania District 8 December 19, 2021

March 18, 2020

Cartwright announced on December 19, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19.[72]

Cartwright announced he was entering a self-quarantine after learning he had been in contact with a family friend who tested positive for coronavirus.[73]

Matt Cartwright U.S. House Pennsylvania District 8 December 19, 2021

March 18, 2020

Cartwright announced on December 19, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19.[74]

Cartwright announced he was entering a self-quarantine after learning he had been in contact with a family friend who tested positive for coronavirus.[75]

Joseph Hohenstein Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 177 December 13, 2021 Hohenstein announced on December 13, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19.[76]
John Yudichak Pennsylvania State Senate District 14 December 10, 2020 Yudichak announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[77]
Barry J. Jozwiak Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 5 December 10, 2020 Jozwiak announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[78]
John Galloway (Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 140 August 3, 2020 Galloway announced he and his office would self-quarantine after he came into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.[79]
Michael Doyle (Pennsylvania Congress) U.S. House Pennsylvania District 18 August 25, 2021 Doyle announced he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[80]
Dan Meuser U.S. House Pennsylvania District 9 August 22, 2020 Meuser announced that he tested positive for coronavirus.[81]
Bryan Cutler Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 100 April 15, 2021 On April 15, Cutler's office announced he tested positive for COVID-19.[82]


Paths to recovery by state

To read about other states’ responses and recoveries, click one of the links below:

Other state government responses

To view previous coverage areas, including changes to 2020 election dates and policies, initial stay-at-home orders, coronavirus-related legislation, and much more, click a state in the map below.

https://ballotpedia.org/Government_responses_to_and_political_effects_of_the_coronavirus_pandemic,_2020_(STATE)

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

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named section7
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NA
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PA413
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PA412
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PA45
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PA331
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PA33
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PA119
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PA18
  10. ↑ Burbio rated Pennsylvania's in-person index at 80.6. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  11. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  12. ↑ Burbio rated Pennsylvania's in-person index between 20-40. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  13. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  14. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, "Answers to FAQs: Universal Face Coverings Order," accessed August 20, 2020
  15. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, "Determining Instructional Models During the COVID-19 Pandemic," August 10, 2020
  16. ↑ Patch, "PA Issues Updated School Reopening Guidance," July 16, 2020
  17. ↑ Governor of Pennsylvania, "Governor Wolf Extends School Closure for Remainder of Academic Year," April 9, 2020
  18. ↑ WGAL, "Gov. Tom Wolf extends Pennsylvania school closures indefinitely; Stay-at-home order extended, expanded," March 30, 2020
  19. ↑ Times Observer, "Gov. extends school closures in PA," March 23, 2020
  20. ↑ 6ABC, "All K-12 schools in Pennsylvania shut down for 2 weeks amid coronavirus outbreak," March 13, 2020
  21. ↑ Governor Tom Wolf, "Gov. Wolf Revises Mitigation Order on Gatherings and Lifts Out-of-State Travel Restrictions," March 1, 2021
  22. ↑ Governor Tom Wolf, "Gov. Wolf Revises Mitigation Order on Gatherings and Lifts Out-of-State Travel Restrictions," March 1, 2021
  23. ↑ CBS News, "Pennsylvania health secretary: Out-of-state travelers must test negative for COVID-19, or quarantine," November 17, 2020
  24. ↑ York Daily Record, "Pa. travel: California and Texas removed from state's COVID-19 quarantine list, 17 states remain," September 13, 2020
  25. ↑ ABC 6, "Pennsylvania adds Missouri, Wyoming to 14-day quarantine travel advisory list," accessed July 26, 2020
  26. ↑ ABC 27, "Delaware removed from Pennsylvania travel quarantine list," July 15, 2020
  27. ↑ ABC 27, "4 more states added to Pennsylvania travel quarantine list," July 12, 2020
  28. ↑ Yahoo News, "PA Sets Travel Quarantine: Stay Home After Trips To 15 States," July 2, 2020
  29. ↑ PA Media, "Wolf Administration Urges Pennsylvanians to Avoid Large Gatherings, Wear Masks Over Holiday Weekend," July 2, 2020
  30. ↑ Department of Health, "COVID-19 Information for Travelers," accessed May 11, 2020
  31. ↑ WPVI, "Pennsylvania sets firm date to lift mask mandate, even if vaccination goal isn't hit," May 27, 2021
  32. ↑ CBS News, "Supreme Court declines to lift Pennsylvania's stay-at-home order," May 7, 2020
  33. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, "Friends of Danny DeVito v. Wolf: Application to Stay the Enforcement of Governor Wolf's Executive Order Dated March 19, 2020, Pending the Filing and Disposition by the United States Supreme Court of Petitioners' Petition for Writ of Certiorari," April 27, 2020
  34. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, "Order in Pending Case," May 6, 2020
  35. ↑ Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, "Friends of Danny DeVito v. Wolf: Opinion," April 13, 2020
  36. ↑ Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, "Wolf v. Scarnati: Opinion," July 1, 2020
  37. ↑ United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, "Parker v. Wolf: Complaint," September 3, 2020
  38. ↑ United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, "County of Butler v. Wolf: Opinion," September 14, 2020
  39. ↑ United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, "County of Butler v. Wolf: Complaint," accessed September 15, 2020
  40. ↑ Pittsburgh's Action News 4, "Judge: Pennsylvania's pandemic restrictions unconstitutional," September 14, 2020
  41. ↑ United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, "County of Butler v. Wolf: Memorandum Order," September 22, 2020
  42. ↑ PennLive, "Federal judge denies Gov. Tom Wolf’s request for stay on pandemic restrictions ruling," September 22, 2020
  43. ↑ United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, "A.M. v. Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc.: Memorandum Opinion," October 1, 2020
  44. ↑ United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, "A.M. v. Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc.: Exhibit B," October 1, 2020
  45. ↑ Post Gazette, "State treasurer candidate Stacy Garrity tests positive for COVID-19," October 14, 2020
  46. ↑ Daily Local News', "Rep. Shusterman in quarantine after House member tests positive," October 3, 2020
  47. ↑ Reading Eagle, "Pennsylvania House candidate Manny Guzman tests positive for coronavirus," October 29, 2020
  48. ↑ CNN, "US Rep. Glenn Thompson tests positive for Covid-19 and is being treated at Walter Reed hospital," October 22, 2021
  49. ↑ ABC 27', "State Rep. Paul Schemel tests positive for coronavirus; congressional contact tracing underway," September October 1, 2020
  50. ↑ Bedford Gazette', "Gregory quarantining with coronavirus," November 21, 2020
  51. ↑ Fox 43, "Pa. House Majority Leader diagnosed with breakthrough case of COVID-19," November 29, 2021
  52. ↑ Reading Eagle, "Pa. Rep. Mark Gillen tests positive for COVID," November 29, 2021
  53. ↑ Associated Press, "Source: Pa. lawmaker gets a positive test at Trump meeting," November 29, 2020
  54. ↑ Politics PA', "State Rep. Doyle Heffley Tests Positive for COVID-19," November 24, 2020
  55. ↑ Politics PA, "State Rep. Jordan Harris Tests Positive for COVID-19," November 18
  56. ↑ Penn Live, "U.S. Rep. Scott Perry tests positive for COVID-19," November 16, 2021
  57. ↑ Delaware Daily Voice, "Fully Vaccinated PA Senator, Who Might Run For Governor, Tests Positive For COVID-19," November 10, 2021
  58. ↑ New York Times, "A G.O.P. Lawmaker Had the Virus. Nobody Told Democrats Exposed to Him.," May 28, 2020
  59. ↑ The Punxsutawney Spirit, "State Rep. Smith tests positive for COVID-19," March 29, 2021
  60. ↑ Office of Mike Kelly, "Representative Kelly Tests Positive for COVID-19," March 27, 2020
  61. ↑ Fox 43, "Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht in self-quarantine for coronavirus," March 17, 2020
  62. ↑ 27 News, "Pennsylvania state senator tests positive for Covid-19," July 14, 2020
  63. ↑ TribLive, "State Rep. Summer Lee tests positive for covid-19," January 5, 2021
  64. ↑ PennLive, "Pa.’s most veteran state senator tests positive for COVID-19," January 21, 2021
  65. ↑ The Citizens' Voice, "State Rep. Kaufer tests positive for COVID-19," January 17, 2021
  66. ↑ Pa. Rep. Patty Kim tests positive for COVID-19," January 15, 2021
  67. ↑ Penn Live, "Another Pa. House Democrat announces he tested positive for COVID-19," January 15, 2021
  68. ↑ WNEP, "Rep. Toohil tests positive for COVID-19," February 10, 2021
  69. ↑ WHYY, "Squilla becomes first Philly councilmember to test positive for COVID-19," December 10, 2020
  70. ↑ The Hill', "Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfe tests positive for COVID-19," December 9, 2020
  71. ↑ Politics PA', "State Rep. Mike Reese Tests Positive for COVID-19," December 7, 2020
  72. ↑ WNEP, "Rep. Matt Cartwright tests positive for COVID-19," December 19, 2021
  73. ↑ CNN, "More lawmakers self-quarantine after members of Congress are diagnosed with coronavirus," March 19, 2020
  74. ↑ WNEP, "Rep. Matt Cartwright tests positive for COVID-19," December 19, 2021
  75. ↑ CNN, "More lawmakers self-quarantine after members of Congress are diagnosed with coronavirus," March 19, 2020
  76. ↑ Pennsylvania Capital-Star, "State Rep. Joe Hohenstein and staffer test positive for COVID-19," December 13, 2021
  77. ↑ ABC 27, "State Senator John Yudichak test positive for COVID-19," December 10, 2020
  78. ↑ WGAL, "Pennsylvania state Rep. Barry Jozwiak tests positive for COVID-19," December 10, 2020
  79. ↑ Fox 43, "State Rep. John Galloway is in self-quarantine after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19," August 3, 2020
  80. ↑ 2 CBS Pittsburgh, "Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Doyle Says He Has Tested Positive For COVID-19," August 25, 2021
  81. ↑ CNN, "Pennsylvania congressman tests positive for Covid-19, won't vote on USPS funding," August 22, 2020
  82. ↑ Politics PA, "Cutler Tests Positive for COVID-19," April 15, 2021
v • e
Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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