Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said he is mulling loosening COVID-19 restrictions similar to those lifted Monday in New Jersey, but Pennsylvania business frustration is growing and one Lehigh Valley leader called Dr. Anthony Fauci “irrelevant.”
Wolf spoke in Philadelphia, where he encouraged Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
The appearance came less than two hours after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced all outdoor gathering limits would be lifted May 19. A 50% capacity limit on indoor restaurants and bars also will be lifted, as long as social distancing can be practiced.
Wolf said New Jersey is still more restrictive than Pennsylvania, and he wants to carry out a fast, yet safe, reopening.
“I don’t think anybody wants to drag their feet on this,” Wolf said.
But Wolf, questioned by a reporter, did not mention a specific vaccination-percentage threshold for a further loosening of restrictions in Pennsylvania, even though he used numbers 12 days earlier.
On April 21, Wolf told reporters the “general idea” for when a full reopening of businesses in the state could happen is two weeks after 65%-70% of the state’s population is vaccinated for COVID-19, allowing that extra time for herd immunity.
On Monday, Wolf said the definition of herd immunity is not known.
“I don’t think anybody knows what that rate should be. I mean again yesterday, even [National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director] Tony Fauci was saying, ‘I don’t even know what herd immunity is, what that constitutes,’ ” said Wolf, a Democrat. “So I think we just want to get to the point where we can feel safe and that we can get back to life.”
State Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York County, responded with incredulity to Wolf’s statement about getting to a “feel safe” point.
“It’s outrageous,” Keefer said. “So how do businesses predict anything if it is based on feelings? How do businesses make any decisions?”
Growing frustration
Tony Iannelli, president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, dismissed Wolf’s quotation of Fauci.
“I think Dr. Fauci and the governor are in a very serious game and continue to move the goal posts,” Iannelli said.
Speaking specifically of Fauci, Iannelli said, “He has moved the goal posts so many times he has become irrelevant.”
Iannelli said increased vaccination rates have made businesses and customers more ready for normalcy. He said, “It is time for the governor to take some bigger steps.”
In Pennsylvania, in-person businesses are allowed to operate at 75% capacity. Indoor dining at restaurants is allowed at 50% of capacity, or 75% for those that certify they are following COVID-19 mitigation measures.
The state also has a limit of 25% of maximum occupancy for indoor events, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers practice social distancing. Outdoor events are limited to 50% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size.
In New Jersey, Murphy also expedited a previously announced set of loosening moves. The changes were made possible by improving virus trends, he said.
Iannelli said the Pennsylvania restaurant and hospitality industry needs to have a good start to summer because “these people have gone through hell.”
Melissa Bova, vice president of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, referred to the New Jersey move and a recent statement from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio that he expected COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted and the city to “fully reopen” by July 1.
“There is no reason Pennsylvania shouldn’t be opening up completely at this point in time,” Bova said.
Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, said customers coming into members’ establishments feel they are safe.
“They feel the restrictions should be lifted as we get closer to higher immunization rates,” Moran said.
Vaccination promotion continues
Earlier in the day, the Wolf administration cited federal data saying the state has given first doses to 50.3% of its population.
Wolf said vaccination is a key to getting the state back to normal.
He acknowledged residents are no longer lining up for shots, and the state has to “work a little harder” to encourage people.
“We all have a part to play,” he said. “We cannot lose our momentum now.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Morning Call Capitol correspondent Ford Turner can be reached at fturner@mcall.com.
