Erie County will move to the green phase of reopening at 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 26. Mask-wearing remains in place, and the public is urged to continue physical distancing and good personal hygiene practices.
According to Governor Tom Wolf, conditions in Erie County are improving, so with some restrictions still in place, the stay-at-home and business closure orders have been lifted so the county can begin to reopen safely.
What the green phase means:
- Continued telework is strongly encouraged where possible.
- Businesses that operated at 50% occupancy in the yellow phase may increase the maximum occupancy to 75% in the green phase.
- Restrictions at congregate care facilities, such as long-term care facilities and nursing homes, will remain in place at least 28 days after Erie County enters the green phase.
- Restaurants, bars, health and wellness facilities, and personal care services will be allowed to open at 50% capacity with reservations or appointments strongly encouraged.
- Barbershops and hair salons may open by appointment only.
- Personal care services should screen each customer before performing the care service by asking them if they have any of the following symptoms: shortness of breath, a sore throat, a cough, or loss of sight or smell. People who are not feeling well should cancel their appointment to avoid putting the personal care employees at risk.
- All entertainment venues, such as casinos, theaters and shopping malls, can open at 50% occupancy.
- Recreational and amateur sports are permitted to conduct in-person activities, including games and practices, as long as they adhere to the guidance released by the state.
- Events and large gatherings are limited to no more than 250 people at a time. An event or gathering, as defined by the state, is a temporary grouping of individuals for defined purposes that takes place over a limited timeframe, such as hours or days. Some examples include fairs, festivals, concerts or shows.
“We must remember that COVID-19 is still very present in Erie County,” County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper said. “Recently we have seen large spikes of cases in other counties and states that opened prematurely, and we certainly do not want to find ourselves in that situation. We have confidence that our businesses and residents will continue to follow guidelines and help us mitigate the spread of this disease. Overall, Erie County has done an excellent job in collectively managing the spread. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our community a safe, healthy, vibrant place to live.”
All questions related to COVID-19 symptoms and enforcement should be directed to Erie County Department of Health at 814-451-6700 or ecdhinfo@eriecountypa.gov.
For more information related to COVID-19 including fact sheets, business resources, family resources, videos, translations, guidance and more, visit eriecountypa.gov and the social media accounts for Erie County, Pa., and Erie County Department of Health.
