04.01.20 SOH Statewide Stay at Home Order

Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania
Department of Health to Stay at Home

To protect the public from the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), it is necessary
that all individuals residing in the Commonwealth stay at home or at their place of
residence except as needed to access, support or provide life sustaining business,
emergency or government services. Therefore, on this day, April 1, 2020, under the
authority granted to me by law, I hereby order:
All individuals residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are to stay at home

except as needed to access, support or provide life-sustaining business, emergency
or government services. For employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain
open, the following child care services may remain open: group and family child
care providers in a residence; child care facilities operating under a waiver granted
by the Department of Human Services Office of Child Development and Early
Learning; and, part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from
the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders.
A list of life sustaining businesses that remain open is attached to and incorporated
into this Order. In addition, businesses that are permitted to remain open include
those granted exemptions prior to or following the issuance of this Order.
Individuals leaving their home or place of residence to access, support or provide

life sustaining services for themselves, another person or a pet must employ social
distancing practices as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Individuals are permitted to engage in outdoor activities provided proper social
distancing measures are taken, however, gatherings of individuals outside of the
home are generally prohibited except as may be required to access, support or
provide life sustaining business, emergency or government services as outlined
above.
Enforcement of this Order will commence immediately for all counties covered
under my prior Order directing “Individuals to Stay at Home”, first issued March
23, 2020, as amended March 24, March 25, March 27, March 28, March 30 and
March 31, 2020. Enforcement of this Order will commence at 8:00 PM
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, for all other counties.
COVID-19 is a novel virus that has rapidly spread from person-to-person across
the world and is currently stretching the limits of health care systems in other states and in
other countries. Before COVID-19 overtaxes the Commonwealth’s health care systems,
everyone must take responsible action. Every person in the Commonwealth must work
together to ensure that the resources of the Commonwealth are preserved for whatever
needs may arise throughout what will undoubtedly be a long and difficult response to the
crisis, and that all actions that are possible to help mitigate the spread of disease, and not
contribute to it, are taken.
On March 6, 2020, the Governor issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency due

to the emergence of COVID-19 in the United States and the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
On March 19, 2020, Orders directing the closure of non-life sustaining businesses
were issued. Operation of non-life sustaining businesses present the opportunity for
unnecessary gatherings, personal contact and interaction that will increase the risk of
transmission and the risk of community spread of COVID-19.
On March 23, 2020, Stay at Home Orders for various counties were issued to
attempt to slow the virus’s spread. As the virus continued to spread across the
Commonwealth, those Orders were amended to include additional at-risk county
populations. Thirty-three counties in the Commonwealth are under a Stay at Home Order
currently, yet there are increasing case counts throughout the Commonwealth, with
substantial increases in cases being seen in the Northeastern and Southeastern areas of the
state, as well as increasing numbers in nursing homes. As of April 1, 2020, the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has 5,805 positive cases of COVID-19 and reports 74
deaths from the virus. Currently, there are outbreaks among some of the more vulnerable
populations in the state; there are nursing homes and personal care homes within the
Commonwealth that are reporting outbreaks among their staff and residents.
People infected are capable of exposing others to COVID-19 even if their

symptoms are mild, such as a cough. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever, cough,
and shortness of breath. Older adults and people who have serious chronic medical
conditions are at a higher risk for serious illness. Early symptoms may also include chills,
body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and runny nose.
Additionally, exposure is possible by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it
and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes. Spread by persons who are asymptomatic
is becoming more and more likely. Multiple areas of the United States are experiencing
“community spread” of COVID-19, which means that the illness is being transmitted
through unknown sources, not from known areas of infection. Mass gatherings increase
the risk of transmission and community spread.
COVID-19 is a threat to the public’s health, for which the Secretary of Health may
order general control measures, including, but not limited to, closure, isolation, and
quarantine. This authority is granted to the Secretary of Health pursuant to Pennsylvania
law. See Section 5 of the Disease Prevention and Control Law, 35 P.S. §§ 521.1; 521.5,
sections 2102(a) and 2106 of the Administrative Code of 1929, 71 P.S. § 532(a) and 536
and the Department of Health’s (Department) regulations found at 28 Pa. Code §§ 27.60-
27.68 (relating to disease control measures; isolation; quarantine; movement of persons
subject to isolation or quarantine; and release from isolation and quarantine). Particularly,
the Department has the authority to take any disease control measure appropriate to protect
2
the public from the spread of infectious disease. See 35 P.S. §§ 521.5; 71 P.S. § 532(a),
and 1402(a); 28 Pa. Code § 28.60. The Department determines that the appropriate disease
control measure based upon COVID-19, the manner of its spread in the Commonwealth
and in the world, and its danger to Pennsylvanians, is for individuals residing in the
Commonwealth to stay at home except to obtain life-sustaining services for themselves or
others as outlined in this Order to prevent and control the spread of disease.
Accordingly, the Order and directive for individuals residing in the Commonwealth
to stay at home is necessary to protect the public’s health. This Order is effective
immediately and will remain in effect until April 30, 2020. This Order supersedes all
previous Orders directing “Individuals to Stay at Home.”
Rachel Levine, MD
Secretary of Health

04.01.20 SOH Statewide Stay at Home Order

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Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania

Department of Health to Stay at Home

All individuals residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are to stay at home

Individuals leaving their home or place of residence to access, support or provide

On March 6, 2020, the Governor issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency due

People infected are capable of exposing others to COVID-19 even if their

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