Coronavirus measures continue in Pennsylvania; Gov. Wolf urges residents to avoid malls and other public places

Advancing the dramatic measures aimed at stopping the spread of the pandemic coronavirus, Gov. Tom Wolf is asking Pennsylvanians to avoid malls, movie theaters, gyms and other gathering places.

He’s also asking religious leaders to use “discretion” in holding services, according to a message on his Twitter account this morning.

Health officials say “social distancing” along with hand-washing and other commonsense hygiene are the best bet of stopping the advance of the virus, which causes a respiratory illness called COVID-19 and is especially dangerous to the elderly and to people with underlying health conditions.

As of this morning, Pennsylvania had reported 22 cases of the illness in eight counties, including one in Northampton County. That patient is being treated at St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Anderson Campus.

Later today, Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild will host a call with Pennsylvania officials and representatives of education, labor, business, emergency services and elderly care agencies. The purpose will be to create a collective set of guidelines and recommendations that are uniform across Wild’s district.

The purpose of the call is to create a collective set of guidelines and recommendations that are uniform across Wild’s 7th District, based on input from health, emergency management, and elected officials. Immediately following, Wild will host a press call providing a summary of the conversation.

The Centers for Disease Control says 43 states have reported more than 1,200 cases and 36 patients have died. The illness, first identified late last year in China, has hit every continent but Antarctica, infecting more than 100,000 people and killing more than 4,000.

The response in the U.S. has led thousands of colleges, including all in the Lehigh Valley, to close their campuses and switch to online learning. Public schools across the country have also closed -- some for a day or two so buildings can be cleaned, as happened in Valley districts this week, and others for the rest of the school year.

President Donald Trump put a 30-day hold on flights from much of Europe, and major sports leagues -- the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball -- have suspended their seasons.

Wolf on Thursday ordered a 14-day closure of entertainment venues, schools and gyms in Montgomery County, the hardest-hit area of Pennsylvania with 13 cases.

All public events in the Pennsylvania Capitol complex and governor’s residence have been canceled until further notice. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture cancelled all public events scheduled for the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg and banned private meetings exceeding 250 people.

In the Valley, cancelled events include the Bethlehem St. Patrick’s parade and the Lehigh Valley Auto Show. Many businesses, including payroll giant ADP in Allentown, have suggested employees work from home.

The Catholic Diocese of Allentown and all other dioceses in Pennsylvania lifted the obligation to attend Mass until further notice.

Wegmans, Costco and other retailers announced buying limits on water, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and other products as people prepare for what is likely to be a long-term disruption of routine.

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