By KRISTIE LINDEN
State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, said Monday that Republican Senate leaders have called on Gov. Tom Wolf to stop name-calling and instead engage with local elected officials.
After Wolf’s press conference in which he called some politicians “cowardly” and threatened to withhold funding from communities, revoke operating licenses from local employers and deny insurance claims, Bartolotta shared a statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman.
“The Senate will move ahead this week with legislation that puts the power to open communities and employers into the hands of local decision-makers who know their area best,” the statement reads. “Our approach will allow counties — in consultation with local emergency and health officials — to make the best decisions for their communities. This includes allowing employers to reopen if they adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Pennsylvania Department of Health safety requirements.
“This legislation is not only the right approach, but is the best approach for the public health emergency with which we are dealing.”
Wolf had strong words Monday for politicians and business owners who choose to defy the state’s coronavirus restrictions as some counties move to the yellow phase of reopening while others remain in the most restrictive phase.
Wolf said funding to help counties in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic — which he likened to a war that some are deserting — will be used to support those that are following the orders meant to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Funding from the federal CARES Act that is designated for certain places and health care facilities will still go there, he said, but discretionary funds will go to areas that follow the state’s restrictions.
“We can’t afford to have people desert, and so the reward for desertion cannot be that you’re just like everybody else and you get the discretionary funding,” Wolf said. “Discretionary funding will go to those places that are doing everything they ought to do to keep their citizens safe.”
He called politicians who are urging business owners to flout restrictions “selfish and unsafe.” He told business owners that the actions are putting them at risk.
“These politicians put you at risk of losing your health department certification,” he said. “They put you business owners at risk of losing your liquor license. They put you at risk of losing your certificate of occupancy.”
He said the decision to open a business ahead of eased restrictions is “not only morally wrong, but it’s also really bad business.”
Business owners who go against restrictions also will jeopardize their liability coverage. State Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman said in a statement that many policies exclude coverage of businesses or people engaging in illegal acts or conduct.
Employees of businesses that open before they are permitted will receive protections, Wolf said. They can choose not to return out of concern for personal safety and continue receiving unemployment benefits.
Officials and lawmakers in numerous counties left off Friday’s list of the next group moving to the yellow phase blasted the governor for his decision, and some encouraged their businesses and residents to move to the next phase on their own.
More than two dozen legislators Monday signed an open letter to district attorneys statewide urging them to “publicly refuse to enforce (Wolf’s) unconstitutional and overreaching COVID-19 dictates.”
The letter asked district attorneys for commitments they would intervene on any citations issued under Wolf’s restrictions, including citations based on the business closures and stay-at-home orders.
Twenty-four counties moved to the yellow phase Friday, and 13 more will do so in three days. The yellow phase reopens retail establishments under certain guidelines. Restaurants must remain take-out and delivery only, and gyms, spas, casinos and theaters will remain closed.
Wolf also said Monday there is no timetable for when counties will move from yellow to green.
“We still have counties that are moving from red to yellow and we have more counties to come in the future,” Wolf said. “We have not yet set a timeline even for those counties moving from red to yellow, and let alone move from yellow to green.”
More details about the green phase and what that transition will look like will be released in the coming weeks, according to the Department of Health.
“At this time, we are focused on moving the state, and the regions of the state to the yellow phase,” the DOH statement said.
Cases
There have now been 57,154 cases of coronavirus in the state, including 543 new cases since Sunday. There were 24 new deaths reported, for a total of 3,731 fatalities due to the virus.
Allegheny County now has 1,511 cases, an increase of eight patients. There was one new death reported for a new total of 123.
In Fayette County, there were no new cases or no new deaths reported since Sunday. Those totals remain at 85 and four respectively.
Washington County saw no new cases or new deaths, and its totals remain at 124 and four respectively.
Westmoreland County added one new case since Sunday for a total of 418 and according to the DOH, there were no new deaths and that total is 30. Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha reports no additional deaths, and the total he is tracking is 32.
Trib Total Media News Wire Services contributed to this story.