On Friday, May 22, Governor Tom Wolf announced the list of Pennsylvanian counties that would be among the first to move into the final, green phase of reopening. Unfortunately, Centre County was not among the counties that will move into the green phase on May 29, 2020.
"Business owners in Centre County are anxiously awaiting a full reopening under the green phase," acknowledged CBICC President & CEO, Vern Squier. "Both employers and residents of Centre County have worked diligently to comply with the COVID-19 and our low infection rates reflect that hard work. We are ready to reopen safely."
How was the decision made that Centre County should not move into the green phase?
"As we all know with many large summer events being cancelled recently, community gatherings are a hotbed for spreading the COVID-19 virus," explained Centre County Commissioner Michael Pipe. "If Centre County moved into the green phase and residents interacted more heavily from May 29 through June 2, then the risk for volunteer poll workers and in-person voters to contract COVID-19 during the June 2 primary election, a 10,000+ person event, would increase. This was a risk that County Commissioners were not willing to take on behalf of residents."
When will Centre County move into the green phase?
"We know that business owners and the local economy is hurting and we are all looking forward to a safe reopening," stated Pipe. "While the Centre County Board of Commissioners was unanimous in a green phase reopening for Centre County as soon as June 3 - Governor Tom Wolf's administration will reopen Centre County on Friday, June 5."
Wolf elaborated on his press conference remarks on Twitter.
"Centre County requested to delay their move to the green phase by one week to June 5th,"
tweeted Wolf
. "Next week, we are planning to announce that Centre County will move to the green phase effective 6/5."
"Many CBICC members have reached out after this decision became public this afternoon to voice their concerns," noted Squier. "We invite CBICC members to join us for a CBICC Member Call with Commissioner Pipe and share how this decision has impacted their businesses."
CBICC members are invited to join Pipe for CBICC Member Call at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 23 to hear more information about the reopening time frame, decision process, and to ask questions. To register for the call, please
click here
.
