Gov. Wolf issues Stay at Home order for Dauphin County to limit the spread of COVID-19 

HARRISBURG, PA (March 30, 2020) - Commissioners Jeff Haste, Mike Pries and George P. Hartwick, III today are alerting residents to the Stay at Home order that was issued by Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration. The order takes effect at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020, and will continue through April 30, 2020. All Pennsylvania schools and non-life-sustaining businesses will remain closed until further notice.  

Currently, the state is reporting a total of 4,087 COVID-19 cases across 59 counties, including Dauphin, where there are 36 positive cases.   

“As the number of cases continues to increase in Central Pennsylvania, it’s critically important that we follow these protective measures,” said Haste. “To minimize the spread of COVID-19, we’ve already closed our facilities to the public and modified county operations, canceled all county-related events, closed senior centers and suspended in-person visitation at the prison.”  

According to the state, individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following allowable individual activities and allowable essential travel:  

·         Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home  

·         Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences  

·         Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing  

·         To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business  

·         To care for a family member or pet in another household  

·         Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities  

·         Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons  

·         Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services  

·         Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction  

·         Travel required by law enforcement or court order  

·         Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth  

·         Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel.  

The following operations are exempt by the order:  

·         Life-sustaining business activities  

·         Health care or medical services providers  

·         Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks  

·         Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process; group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders  

·         News media  

·         Law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel, firefighters  

·         The federal government  

·         Religious institutions  

Individuals experiencing homelessness are not subject to this order but are strongly urged to find shelter and government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals.  

International students, foster youth, and any other students who would otherwise experience displacement or homelessness as a result of campus closures are exempt and may remain in campus housing.  

At this time, law enforcement will be focused on ensuring that residents are aware of the order and informing the public of social distancing practices rather than enforcement. To report a noncompliant business, contact your local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency number or the nearest Pennsylvania State Police station. Please do not call 911 or the Department of Community and Economic Development to file reports. Law enforcement officers should refer to Business Closure Order Enforcement Guidance available online.  

“We’re working closely with our state and federal partners to ensure local first responders and providers have what they need to respond to COVID-19,” said Pries. “The best advice we can give is, stay home if you can.” 

The commissioners urge residents to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by doing the following:  

·         Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.  

·         Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.  

·         Clean surfaces frequently.  

·         Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.  

“Mitigating the spread of this deadly virus will take us all working together,” said Hartwick. “We can all do our part by following the Governor’s order, staying at home and staying safe.”  

To see the Stay at Home order, go to https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.23.20-TWW-COVID-19-Stay-at-Home-Order.pdf  

The county has developed an online resource at www.DauphinCounty.org/coronavirus to keep residents updated on COVID-19, health and safety tips and the county’s response to the pandemic.   

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Pennsylvanians should visit: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/.  

For the latest information on COVID-19 in the United States, visit www.cdc.gov.