White House declares Pa. major disaster area due to coronavirus pandemic; businesses boarding up, some fearing ‘desperate people’

Significant DevelopmentsPresident Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Pennsylvania, opening up millions of dollars of federal assistance for the commonwealth’s response to the coronavirus. New Jersey was declared a major disaster area last week.Pennsylvania’s shutdown of schools and nonessential businesses has been extended indefinitely. Gov. Tom Wolf also says his stay-at-home order, now affecting 26 counties, would remain in place until at least April 30.New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says the state is getting 300 ventilators from the national emergency stockpile, but could need thousands more.The ACLU of Pennsylvania is petitioning the state Supreme Court to take steps to reduce jail populations.Track the latest data on the spread of the coronavirus in the Philadelphia region here.Coronavirus has Philly businesses boarding up windows as if a hurricane is coming

// Timestamp 03/31 5:00am

It started with bars, worried about potential vandalism and random break-ins. Then restaurants and state liquor stores began to cover up. Now, even an upscale cosmetics store and a home furnishings retailer are sporting the new look.

Some blocks of Center City appear as if the businesses are preparing for a hurricane. In a town already suffering through the retail apocalypse, it may not be a good look. But business owners feel it’s a necessity.

Large swaths of Philadelphia’s business districts are battening down the hatches, throwing up thick plywood to protect their plate glass windows and the contents of the enterprises within them. Some owners are fretting about “desperate people” during the coronavirus shutdown of the city.

Coronavirus has Philly businesses boarding up windows as if a hurricane is coming-- Sam Wood

Morning Roundup: White House approves Pa. disaster declaration request; Wolf extends stay-at-home order

// Timestamp 03/31 04:30am

Any return to normality in Pennsylvania was postponed indefinitely Monday, as Gov. Tom Wolf extended his orders to close all schools and nonessential businesses until further notice, with the numbers of coronavirus cases and related fatalities continuing to swell in the region and the nation.

New Jersey’s death toll reached 198, including that of an Army National Guardsman; Pennsylvania’s was 52. At least 35 people have died in the Philadelphia region, including the first fatality in Chester County.

And the virus claimed another victim: the venerable Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.

-- Anthony R. Wood, Justine McDaniel and Pranshu Verma

Today’s Inquirer Front Page

// Timestamp 03/31 04:00am

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