Celebration & Isolation: Faith leaders, congregants adjust, adapt during this sacred month

April 8, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

The Hadee Mosque in Uptown Harrisburg

Faith communities are figuring out how to stay connected to their members in the midst of a crisis that is changing the way people gather.

This week is especially challenging as three major religions are forced to celebrate their symbolic holidays differently this year.

Wednesday brings Passover for the Jewish faith; on Sunday, Christians observe Easter; and April 23 marks the beginning of the month-long Ramadan observance for Islam.

While Secretary of Health Rachel Levine suggested on Monday that religious ceremonies be held online, even recommending a “virtual Seder,” the ritual feast that starts Passover, it isn’t that easy for some in the Jewish community.

Rabbi Elisha Friedman of the Kesher Israel congregation explained that Saturdays and festivals are sacred days when the use of technology is prohibited in the Orthodox Jewish tradition. While some rabbis are making exceptions to allow Zoom calls, others are not.

“Some families are divided,” he said. “A lot of people are really upset. Some people are even going to be celebrating by themselves.”

To help with the loneliness an isolated Seder meal and Passover may bring, Friedman’s family has been making art and delivering the Seder food items to individuals living alone.

Fortunately, the Kesher Israel congregation has been able to stay in contact during the crisis.

“A lot of us live in the same neighborhood,” he said. “So, we see each other, and that’s nice.”

Harrisburg’s First Church of the Brethren has a relatively small congregation with around 100 people attending on a given Sunday, Associate Pastor Josiah Ludwick said. Without prior experience streaming services online, they have had to adjust quickly.

The church now uploads weekly videos for their congregation, including music, preaching and Bible study. Their Easter service will take this format, as well.

Ludwick explained that the Church of the Brethren denomination also participates in a “Love Feast” the Thursday before Easter. This event typically includes feet washing, confession, communion and a shared meal. This year, they will be joining others from the denomination online for an alternative version with scripture reading, prayer and singing.

“In some ways, COVID is bringing us together even more than before,” Ludwick said. “We don’t have to physically be together to be together in spirit.”

Ahmad Hameed, public affairs director for the Hadee Mosque, expressed a similar sentiment as area Muslims’ plans for Ramadan also will look different this year.

“It is important for us to stay connected to our community,” he said.

The mosque on Division Street in Harrisburg is closed for all but essential services, but meetings and sermons are hosted regularly through YouTube and Zoom.

While Ramadan fasting is usually opened by a gathering at the mosque, Hameed said fasts will need to be opened in peoples’ homes. The required five prayers each day will remain, along with fasting until sundown.

“It is disappointing not to go to the mosques and participate in congregational activities,” Hameed said. “But I totally understand why we are doing it.”

Members of the mosque have been reaching out to older people to assist with getting them groceries, medicine and other necessary items. They have also offered their mosque for any state or local agency’s use.

“With Easter, Passover and Ramadan all at the same time, it’s important for people of faith to feel they can still be connected, but ensure everybody’s safe and healthy,” Hameed said.

Kesher Israel is located at 2500 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website. Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren is located at 219 Hummel St., Harrisburg. Visit their website for more information. The Hadee Mosque is located at 245 Division St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

State reports nearly 1,700 new cases, 70 more deaths from COVID-19

April 8, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The state Department of Health’s shaded COVID-19 map

Positive COVID-19 cases reached another daily high today, as the state Department of Health reported 1,680 additional cases in Pennsylvania.

As of midnight, 16,239 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 since the disease was first detected in Pennsylvania about a month ago.

Moreover, the state reported another 70 deaths from the disease, bringing the statewide total to 310 fatalities.

Locally, Lancaster County now has 16 COVID-19-related fatalities, two more than yesterday. Dauphin County now has two deaths, one more than yesterday. Deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: two in Cumberland and York counties and one in Perry County.

“Now more than ever, as we continue to see COVID-19 cases and deaths rise in Pennsylvania, we need Pennsylvanians to take action,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Those actions should be to stay calm, stay home and stay safe.”

The virus now has spread to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 168 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 84 cases, Lancaster County has 561 cases, York County has 233 cases, Lebanon County has 169 cases, Adams County has 33 cases and Perry County has 13 cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases statewide with 4,456 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 1,521 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 87 and 37, respectively.

Statewide, 98,538 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 82,299 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 91,278 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 7 percent are aged 19-24
41 percent are aged 25-49
29 percent are aged 50-64
20 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

“If you must go out, please limit it to as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well,” Levine said. “We need all Pennsylvanians to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and also our healthcare workers and frontline responders.”

In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police issued three more warnings for failure to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non life-sustaining” businesses shut their physical locations. In all, the police have now issued 208 warnings, but have not yet issued any citations.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Gamut Theatre cancels public events through summer due to coronavirus

April 7, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Gamut’s downtown Harrisburg theater

One of Harrisburg’s main theater groups has scrubbed the remainder of its spring season, canceling its regular programming at least until the fall.

Gamut Theatre Group today said it would not resume public performances until September at the earliest. This means that Free Shakespeare in the Park, held each June at the band shell in Reservoir Park, will not be held this year.

Founders Melissa and Clark Nicholson said they were taking the step in an abundance of caution.

“No one knows for certain when COVID-19 will reach its apex and how long it will take to come down off of that,” said Executive Director Melissa Nicholson.

Gamut already had cancelled public programming through April 30.

In addition to Free Shakespeare, the cancellation closes the remaining run of “An Enemy of the People,” which was being staged when the pandemic hit in March, and the Young Acting Co.’s production of “Cinderella.”

It also shutters Gamut’s summer programming, including the Gamut Theatre Summer Academy and the Popcorn Hat Players Children’s Theatre summer show.

Clark Nicholson said they will make futures decisions based upon developments in combatting the disease.

“Until a vaccine is developed, there’s going to be additional waves of this virus, which will make us reexamine what it means to put actors together onstage, and how we will congregate the audience in a safe way,” said Clark. “It’s going to be a slow, difficult period of trial and error.”

In the interim, Gamut has offered its building to city, county and state officials for community use should it be needed, according to a release from Gamut.

“It’s sitting there unused and won’t be utilized as a theater for quite some time,” said Melissa. “If it can be useful in any way for the purpose of combating the spread of the virus or helping sick people get well, we gladly offer it in service to our community.”

During the shutdown period, Gamut will explore alternative programming options, including a virtual online Gamut Theatre Summer Academy, master classes in Shakespeare study, and educational resources for teachers to use in their online classes, according to the theater group.

Since shutting its doors in March, Gamut has maintained an online presence. For example, each Wednesday a different Core Company member presents a talent, skill or interest to share with the general public through social media, and Clark Nicholson has added a new chapter each week to “How We Came to Run the Gamut,” published on Gamut’s website.

Gamut said that it is planning for the 2020-21 season with an eye toward “minimal expense and maximum safety” for all participants.

“Making the decision now to cancel through the summer gives us the time we need to re-group and rethink how to successfully plan for September and beyond,” Clark said. “When this is all over, people will have a great need to go out and gather in their favorite places. Our job right now is to make sure that there is still a Gamut Theatre to come back to. We have always been extremely creative in our problem-solving. And I think that may be our most important asset at the moment.”

For more information about Gamut Theatre, visit their website.

COVID-19 cases, deaths up sharply in PA, says health department

April 7, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

More than 14,000 people in Pennsylvania have now tested positive for COVID-19, as the state today reported another significant increase in the caseload, as well as a substantial increase in fatalities.

The state Department of Health today said that 1,579 new cases were detected as of midnight. In all, 14,559 Pennsylvanians have tested positive for the virus.

The department also reported a significant rise in the death toll from the disease. Another 78 people have died, the highest daily number of fatalities yet recorded.

As of today, 240 people have died from the disease in PA compared to 162 people yesterday, the department stated.

Locally, Lancaster County now has 14 COVID-19-related fatalities, three more than yesterday. York County now has two deaths, one more than yesterday. Deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: two in Cumberland County and one each in Dauphin and Perry counties.

At her daily press briefing, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said that the jump in reported deaths was partially due to a reporting lag following the weekend.

“Today’s increase in deaths is due to a lag time into our system,” she said.

The virus now has spread to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 155 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 77 cases, Lancaster County has 490 cases, York County has 218 cases, Lebanon County has 145 cases, Adams County has 28 cases and Perry County has nine cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 4,012 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 1,359 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 58 and 30, respectively.

The increase in cases reverses a three-day trend of lower new-case totals. On Saturday, the commonwealth recorded 1,597 new cases. On Sunday, there were 1,493 new cases and 1,470 on Monday.

Statewide, 91,278 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 76,719 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 83,854 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
7 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 42 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 29 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 20 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police have issued 14 more warnings for failure to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non life-sustaining” businesses shut their physical locations. In all, the police have now issued 205 warnings, but have not yet issued any citations. The police have issued one citation to an individual for failure to company with Wolf’s “state-at-home order,” while issuing six warnings.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

State reports nearly 1,500 new COVID-19 cases; case numbers similar for third straight day

April 6, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

An image from the PA Department of Health lab in Exton

New positive COVID-19 cases remained around 1,500 for a third straight day, today jumping by 1,470 in Pennsylvania.

The commonwealth has now recorded 12,980 cases since the first case was recorded about a month ago.

The state Department of Health on Saturday reported the highest one-day total of 1,597 new cases since the pandemic reached Pennsylvania. On Sunday, there were 1,493 new cases.

The health department today also reported another 12 deaths; 162 people have died from the disease statewide.

Locally, Lancaster County now has 11 fatalities, three more than yesterday. Fatalities in other midstate counties were unchanged: two in Cumberland County and one each in Dauphin, Perry and York counties.

The virus has spread to 65 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 132 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 68 cases, Lancaster County has 408 cases, York County has 189 cases, Lebanon County has 124 cases, Adams County has 25 cases and Perry County has five cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 3,611 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 1,230 cases.

Statewide, 83,854 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 70,874 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 77,771 people had been tested for the virus.

“We need everyone to listen to the orders in place and to stay calm, stay home and stay safe,” Levine said. “We know that these prolonged mitigation effects have been difficult for everyone, but it is essential that everyone follows these orders and does not go out unless they absolutely must.”

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
7 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 42 percent are aged 25-49
29 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 20 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

In addition, over the weekend, the Pennsylvania State Police issued 28 warnings for failure to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non life-sustaining” businesses shut their physical locations. In all, the police have now issued 191 warnings, but have not yet issued any citations.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Nearly 1,500 new COVID-19 cases recorded in PA; new count down from yesterday

April 5, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The state’s shaded COVID-19 case map for today

Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 caseload took another jump today, as the commonwealth reported almost 1,500 new positive cases.

The state Department of Health today said that 1,493 additional Pennsylvanians have tested positive for the coronavirus since yesterday.

That number is lower than yesterday, when 1,597 new cases were reported.

The number of positive cases now totals 11,510 since the disease was first detected in PA about a month ago.

The health department also reported another 14 deaths, meaning that 150 people have died from the disease statewide.

Locally, Lancaster County now has eight fatalities, three more than yesterday. The death toll in other midstate counties was unchanged: two in Cumberland County and one each in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry and York counties.

“The continued rise in cases combined with our increasing deaths from COVID-19 reflects the seriousness of this situation,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The virus has now spread to 65 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 118 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 58 cases, Lancaster County has 371 cases, York County has 171 cases, Lebanon County has 106 cases, Adams County has 22 cases and Perry County has five cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 3,135 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 1,111 cases.

Statewide, 77,771 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 66,261 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 70,030 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 8 percent are aged 19-24
42 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 29 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 20 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Positive COVID-19 cases exceed 10,000 in Pennsylvania, almost 1,600 new cases today

April 4, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The state Department of Health’s shaded COVID-19 map

More than 10,000 Pennsylvanians have now tested positive for the coronavirus, as the commonwealth today reported 1,597 new positive cases.

The state Department of Health said that Pennsylvania had 10,017 total positive COVID-19 cases as of midnight.

The nearly 1,600 cases reported today set another single-day mark for new cases. Yesterday, the department reported 1,404 new positive cases.

“Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the virus is slowing down,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The department also reported that 136 people have died from the virus since the outbreak began almost a month ago, 24 more than yesterday. Locally, five people have died in Lancaster County, two in Cumberland County, and each in Dauphin, Perry and York counties.

The virus has now spread to 64 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 99 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 54 cases, Lancaster County has 291 cases, York County has 144 cases, Lebanon County has 87 cases, Adams County has 21 cases and Perry County has five cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 2,610 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 982 cases.

Statewide, 70,030 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 60,013 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 55,099 people had been tested for the virus.

In her press briefing today, Levine repeated yesterday’s recommendation that PA residents should stay at home, but, if they need to go out, should wear face masks. She said that masks prevent transmission of the virus from breath droplets.

“My mask protects you, and your mask protects me,” Levine said.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 8 percent are aged 19-24
41 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 29 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 20 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Harrisburg, nonprofit leaders address ways to help vulnerable citizens during health crisis

April 3, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, Tri County Community Action’s Jennifer Wintermyer, Harrisburg Area YMCA’s Rosie Turner and Momin Bhatti, the city communications director

So much of life seems uncertain these days.

In light of the COVID-19 health crisis., local leaders gathered online on Friday to offer guidance to some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.

In another edition of “Community Conversation,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse spoke today with Rosie Turner, director of marketing and communications for Harrisburg Area YMCA, and Jennifer Wintermyer, executive director of Tri County Community Action.

Papenfuse, Turner and Wintermyer discussed new resources for businesses and individuals.

The mayor announced a new Economic Injury Disaster Loan sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“This is a terrific opportunity that every small business in Harrisburg should be applying for and taking advantage of,” he said.

The loan can provide an advance of up to $10,000 for small businesses and private nonprofits, Papenfuse said. He added the loan does not need to be repaid as long as the money is used for eligible expenses, such as paid sick leave, maintaining payroll and making rent or mortgage payments.

For individuals facing difficulty, Wintermyer explained that Tri County Community Action, a nonprofit assisting families with home ownership, budgeting and child development, is still functioning online.

“The more we can support our families, the we can help prevent a crisis situation down the road,” she said.

While the mayor did announce that evictions will not be taking place during the COVID-19 crisis and utilities will not be shut off, he did note that they will need to be paid eventually. Wintermyer explained that, through the PPL OnTrack program, her group can help with the cost of electricity.

For PPL Electric customers living at or below 150 percent of poverty, the assistance program gives families a reduced payment for a time until they can get back on their feet.

“If you think you may miss utility payments, apply sooner rather than later,” Wintermyer said. “It’s OK to say I need a hand up during this time.”

To make sure they’re doing their part for the community during the crisis, the Harrisburg Area YMCA has moved many of its classes and resources online.

The Y’s Livestrong class for cancer survivors, Healthy Weight and Your Child, Tobacco Cessation and Prevention and Diabetes Prevention Programs are meeting online to continue promoting healthy lifestyles and reduce feelings of isolation, Turner said.

“By helping people stay connected, we have gotten a lot of really beautiful feedback about what that means to those populations who otherwise would be completely isolated,” she said.

Both the Camp Curtin and Northern Dauphin County YMCA are working with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, as well, providing meals for the community.

The East Shore YMCA has faced a unique challenge, as it contains dormitory style affordable housing for 86 men.

“When we first started hearing things coming out, our very first instinct was—these men are not going anywhere, how do we help them?” Turner said. “The first thing we thought about was food availability.”

Through YMCA employees’ personal donations and the help of the Camp Curtin YMCA, food is being delivered three days a week.

For anyone in need of assistance related to human services, Wintermyer encouraged calling 211.

This week’s Community Conversation can be found on Facebook. They are held each Friday at noon through Facebook Live. For more information, visit the City of Harrisburg, The YMCA and the Tri County Community Action’s websites.

The Week that Was: News and events around Harrisburg

April 3, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

PA Gov. Tom Wolf (right) at one of his virtual press briefings this past week

The coronavirus pandemic showed no sign of easing this week, nor did news about it. Once again, it dominated our lives and the news cycle. If you missed any of our coverage, we have all of our stories listed and linked below.

Artsfest will go virtual this year, as the coronavirus pandemic puts a halt to large gatherings. Read our online story to find out what Harrisburg has planned.

COVID-19 cases continued to surge in Pennsylvania, as evidenced by the state Department of Health’s daily briefings. We write updates every day, with the most recent data statewide and locally.

Harrisburg deployed portable toilets to several locations around the city, mainly for use by the homeless population. These facilities join another group deployed last week on Market Street, as well as sinks in several city parks. Click here to read our online news story.

Harrisburg’s local tax filing deadline has been extended to mid-July, as have the federal and state deadlines. Our online news story has additional details of the change.

Hope Tree of Central PA may look like your average sycamore, except when it’s all lit up after the sun goes down. A local couple, in addition to the city, hopes the tree serves as a source of inspiration and a way to raise funds for small businesses hurt by the health and economic crisis. Read our online feature story here.

Nonprofits in the Harrisburg area are being dramatically affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. In his most recent “Community Conversation,” Mayor Papenfuse spoke to leaders of local nonprofits. Click here to find out what they said.

PA residents should wear face masks when going out in public, according to new state guidance. Gov. Tom Wolf cited the growing COVID-19 health emergency to justify the recommendation. Our news story offers greater detail.

Sara Bozich, like the rest of us, continues to be trapped indoors. But, in her weekly blog, she has a few ideas for virtual meet-ups and some ways to support local businesses.

The “stay-at-home” order quickly escalated this past week, going from clusters of counties to statewide. What does this mean exactly? We have Gov. Wolf’s list of allowed and not allowed activities in our news stories.

TheBurg dropped our April issue this past week. We had to scale back delivery of the print issue because so many distribution locations are closed. We actually recommend reading it online to prevent needing to make a special trip outside.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our local digest of news and events delivery right to your email inbox? If not, subscribe here!

Gov. Wolf recommends that PA residents wear face masks in public

April 3, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

PA Gov. Tom Wolf (right) at his press briefing today

Pennsylvania residents should wear masks when going outside of their homes, the state recommended today.

At his daily press briefing, Gov. Tom Wolf said that he’s now recommending face coverings as another way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

“Two days ago, I amplified our social distancing efforts by instituting a statewide stay-at-home order, and today I am asking all Pennsylvanians to wear a mask any time they leave their houses,” Wolf said.

The recommendation, he said, came as the rate of infection has risen dramatically over the past week. Today, the state Department of Health reported 1,404 additional cases of COVID-19, the greatest new daily caseload yet reported. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 8,420 positive cases in 63 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

In addition, as of midnight, 102 people statewide have died from the disease, according to the health department.

Wolf stressed that he doesn’t intend people to wear surgical masks, which should be reserved for health care workers. But, he said, even a cloth covering would help reduce the spread of the virus from an infected person.

“Masks help prevent people from sharing illnesses,” he said. “But, they don’t do a great job at keeping people from getting sick, and, they’re not foolproof. So, it is critical that our first act is to ask ourselves if we really need to leave our house. If we don’t really, truly need to leave, then we shouldn’t.”

He repeated his call that all Pennsylvanians should stay at home unless they need to make a “life-sustaining” trip, such as going grocery shopping.

“Wearing a mask will help us cut down the possibility that we might be infecting an innocent bystander, like the grocery store cashier, the pharmacist, or someone stocking shelves,” Wolf said.

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