May 22, 2020
We are all going to have a different type of Memorial Day weekend this year. In most places we will be social distancing instead of watching holiday parades, having picnics, or going to the beach. Although the situation is improving, many people will choose to celebrate at home.
I received an email this morning from the governor's office. I think it is important to share the content of this email with you so you understand what being a county in the yellow phase means.
In April,
Governor Tom Wolf announced his detailed plan for reopening Pennsylvania. The plan includes three phases (red, yellow, and green) that counties will enter based on the conditions in their area.
As of Friday, May 22, 49 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties will have entered the yellow phase of reopening, with more counties to be added as they meet the requirements. This email is intended to clarify what businesses located in yellow phase counties may, may not, and must do to keep all Pennsylvanian’s safe.
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s
website has helpful resources and guidance for businesses in the yellow phase, including:
Requirements for Communicating with Employees and On-site Costumers
Businesses conducting in-person operations or serving the public must make employees and customers aware of the Commonwealth’s guidance that keeps people at their establishment safe.
Businesses must do so by printing, signing, and posting the “
COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses” flyer on their premises. Businesses must post the signed flyer in employee common space and, if the business serves the public, the business must also post the flyer near the business’s public entrance(s) in prominent location(s).
In addition, businesses are required to publicly acknowledge their responsibility to conduct their operations to ensure the health and safety of employees. Businesses must sign the flyer on the space provided. The signature is an acknowledgement that the owner or management is aware of the COVID-19 safety procedures and understands their responsibilities to carry out the guidance and procedures.
Additional printable posters promoting health and safety in the workplace can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s
website. These posters should be displayed when and where feasible.
What is and is not permitted in the yellow phase?
As regions or counties move into the yellow phase, some restrictions on work and social interaction will ease while others, such as closures of schools, gyms, and other indoor recreation centers, hair and nail salons, as well as limitations around large gatherings, remain in place. The yellow phase is designed to begin to power back up Pennsylvania’s economy, while keeping a close eye on public health data to ensure that the spread of disease remains as contained as possible.
Work & Congregate Setting Restrictions:
- Employees that have been teleworking must continue to do so
- Businesses with in-person operations must follow business and building safety orders
- Child care facilities may open but must comply with guidance
- Congregate care and prison restrictions remain in place
- Schools remain closed for in-person instruction
Social Restrictions:
- Stay at home order lifted for aggressive mitigation
- Large gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited
- In-person retail allowed, curbside and delivery preferred
- Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities and personal care services (such as gyms, spas, hair salons, nail salons and other entities that provide massage therapy), and all entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) remain closed
- Restaurants and bars limited to carry-out and delivery only
- All businesses must follow CDC and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning.
As we work to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth and facilitate a return to a “new normal,” it will be equally important to continue to monitor public health indicators and adjust orders and restrictions as necessary to ensure the spread of disease remains at a minimum.
Progress may not be linear, and outbreaks of disease may delay or reverse movement toward reopening. Businesses and organizations should continue to monitor the conditions in their region and should be prepared to adjust as counties move towards the three reopening phases.
Feel free to contact any member of our team at (610) 828-1900 (PA) or (732) 341-3893 (NJ) with questions. Rich Higgins, CPA, managing principal – New Jersey office can be contacted at
Richard.Higgins@MCC-CPAs.com
. I can be reached at
Marty.McCarthy@MCC-CPAs.com
. As always, we are happy to help. Have a good Memorial Day weekend.
Stay safe,
Marty McCarthy, CPA, CCIFP
Managing Partner
McCarthy & Company
Source: Unemployment Compensation Program Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
Disclaimer: This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Information contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used as tax advice, and cannot be used by the recipient to avoid penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. We strongly advise you to seek professional assistance with respect to your specific issue(s).
