Sunday, July 27, 2025, 8:36AM | 
MENU
Advertisement
A sign of closure is seen inside Sweat Fitness in Center City, Philadelphia on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Gov. Tom Wolf called for the closure of all businesses that are not "life-sustaining," due to the spread of the coronavirus.
1
MORE

Red, yellow, green: What to expect in each of Pa.’s tiers for reopening

Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer

Red, yellow, green: What to expect in each of Pa.’s tiers for reopening

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday announced that 24 northwest and north-central Pennsylvania counties will be allowed to reopen in a limited fashion beginning May 8, the first step toward unwinding the stringent COVID-19 restrictions in place across the state.

These counties — Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, and Warren — will enter the “yellow” phase of Mr. Wolf’s tiered reopening.

Click to subscribe

Advertisement

Here’s what you can expect each step of the way:

This illustration shows the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Kyle Mullins
COVID-19 update: Pa. reports 62 more deaths, region sees 7 more

PHASE RED

This is the most stringent phase and has been in place for all Pennsylvania counties since a statewide stay-at-home order was issued April 1.

Workplace restrictions

  • Life sustaining businesses only
  • Congregate care and prison restrictions in place
  • Schools (for in-person instruction) and most child care facilities closed

Social restrictions

Advertisement
  • Stay at home orders in Place
  • Large gatherings prohibited
  • Restaurants and bars limited to carry-out and delivery only
  • Only travel for life-sustaining purposes encouraged

PHASE YELLOW

In this phase, state officials will ease some restrictions and allow more businesses to open, but customers can still expect mitigation efforts such as curbside pickup/delivery only and potential limitations on the number of people allowed in store. Closures of schools, gyms, and other indoor recreation centers, hair and nail salons, as well as limitations around large gatherings, remain in place.

Workplace restrictions

  • Telework must continue where feasible
  • Businesses with in-person operations must follow business and building safety orders
  • Child care open complying with guidance
  • Congregate care and prison restrictions in place
  • Schools remain closed for in-person instruction

Social restrictions

  • Stay at home order lifted for aggressive mitigation
  • Large gatherings of more than 25 prohibited
  • In-person retail allowable, curbside and delivery preferable
  • Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities and personal care services (such as gyms, spas, hair salons, nail salons and other entities that provide massage therapy), and all entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) remain closed
  • Restaurants and cars limited to carry-out and delivery only

PHASE GREEN

This phase removes all restrictions placed upon business operations and social guidelines, though safety guidelines implemented by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health must be followed. This phase is considered the “new normal.”

The new numbers offer the starkest picture yet of the damage inflicted on the state’s finances by the outbreak.
Charlotte Keith
Pa. tax revenues plummet $2.2 billion as top state official warns reopening won’t end economic pain

Workplace restrictions

  • All businesses must follow CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines

Social restrictions

  • Aggressive mitigation lifted
  • All individuals must follow CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.

First Published: May 1, 2020, 6:11 p.m.

RELATED
Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine.
Angela Couloumbis
Pa. will ease coronavirus restrictions in 24 northwest, north-central counties as reopening process begins
Brenda Carll, pictured in Oil City, Pa., and a retired public health nurse, fought for years against cuts to Pennsylvania's community health system by governors and legislators from both parties.
Aneri Pattani
How Pa. plans to keep track of COVID-19 after reopening to prevent another outbreak
Pontoon boats moored at cottages along the shore at Pymatuning Lake in Crawford County, Pa., on June 22, 2019. (Bob Batz Jr./Post-Gazette)
Mark Belko
Marinas, restrooms, other facilities reopening at some state parks
Grove City Outlets on Thursday, May 7, 2020, in Grove City.
Stephanie Ritenbaugh
As doors reopen in some counties, shopping is going to look a lot different
Lindsey Ramsey, a public policy regional coordinator for Trying Together, dances with students from One Small World Early Learning in 2019. Ms. Ramsey, of Arlington, and the others were attending a City Council meeting that declared Sept. 24
Kate Giammarise
Expect more cleaning, temperature-taking, and some masks when child care centers reopen
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
A huge Canadian flag carried by a crowd in Montreal in 1995, before a referendum on Quecec’s independence. Dennis Jett suggests Pennsylvania do the same in reverse.
1
opinion
Dennis Jett: Pennsylvania should become part of Canada
New cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) gets into position prior to a play during practice on the first day of Steelers Training Camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe Thursday, July 24, 2025.
2
sports
Steelers training camp observations: Jalen Ramsey-led defense comes out 'aggressive and angry'
Several houses are shown along N. Dallas Avenue near Penn Avenue in Point Breeze with “For Sale” signs in the front yard, Friday, March 21, 2025.
3
business
A cooling market and patient buyers are causing many Pittsburgh home sellers to cut their prices
4
news
Person dies after traffic stop in Westmoreland County
5
news
Flash flooding reported in Washington County
A sign of closure is seen inside Sweat Fitness in Center City, Philadelphia on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Gov. Tom Wolf called for the closure of all businesses that are not "life-sustaining," due to the spread of the coronavirus.  (Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story