The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Pennsylvania
- Level
- State
- Authority
- Interpretive guidance on the Orders of the Governor and the Secretary of Health Directing Targeted Mitigation Measures (July 15, 2020; PA-016, PA-017) as amended Sept. 17 and Oct. 6, 2020 (PA-019, PA-065, PA-066, PA-067)
- Issued
- 2020-10-06 Oct. 6, 2020
- Effective
- 2020-10-09 (with the Oct. 6, 2020 amendments' effective date) (read as 2020-10-09)
- End
- 2020-11-27 (the Targeted Mitigation Orders were superseded by PA-022 and PA-023) (read as 2020-11-27)
- In force
- Oct. 9, 2020 to Nov. 27, 2020
- Quarters
- 2020 Q4
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Telework mandateCapacity limitGathering capFace-covering requirementWorkplace rulesOperating condition
- Addressees
- all businesses; event venues and organizers; restaurants and bars; gyms; schools (for non-instructional gatherings)
- Character
- guidance incorporated
- Collection
- Standing duties: Pennsylvania DUT-PA
Operative words
Does an Order mean mandatory? Is this a law? Yes, it is mandatory that all applicable businesses and event venues follow the guidelines set forth in the Order. However, businesses and event venues may choose to be more restrictive with their gathering limitations.... Yes. Event venues must go above and beyond to implement public health tactics.
Penalty
Enforcement action by the Department of Health and other State agencies (as stated); the statutory penalties of Exs. DUT-PA-001, DUT-PA-007 and DUT-PA-018
What it required
Stated, in the executive's own words, that the guidelines written into the mitigation orders were mandatory and had the character of law; restated the telework rule ('Unless not possible, all businesses are required to conduct their operations remotely'); and stated that 'The Department of Health and other state agencies have the ability to take enforcement action if these practices are not implemented' and that 'Masking requirements must be enforced.'
Retrieval noteRecorded exactly: the FAQ's answer on signage says venues and businesses 'should create specific policies and take specific actions to enforce social distancing and the Face Cover Order' (a recommendation as to method); the obligation to enforce the face-covering requirement itself is the order's ('Masking requirements must be enforced'; PA-020 sec. 4(A)).