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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Wolf’s orders hit businesses hard

Local businesses are continuing to feel the trickle-down effect of the coronavirus.

More than 150 types of “non-life-sustaining” businesses were forced to close by 8 p.m. Thursday as Governor Tom Wolf strengthened the state’s efforts to limit person-to-person contact.

Late Friday night, the governor extended the enforcement period from Saturday to Monday.

Per Wolf’s order, businesses such as grocery stores, beer distributors, gas stations, pharmacies and building material stores are allowed to stay open.

Take-out, delivery and curbside or drive-thru pickup remain the only options for restaurants and bars, though some have chosen to temporarily shut the doors anyway.

Those businesses ordered by the governor to shut down include furniture stores, florists, office supply stores, car dealers, clothing stores, law firms, accounting offices, and varying types of manufacturers.

Wolf said businesses in noncompliance could face citations, fines or license suspensions, and “forfeit their ability to receive any applicable disaster relief and/or may be subject to other appropriate administrative action.”

Criminal prosecution, he said, also remains a possibility.

The Wolf administration said questions on who should close and who can stay open should be emailed to ra-dcedcs@pa.gov. Waivers and exemptions to the closure order can be sought through RA-dcexemption@pa.gov.

At the federal level, the Small Business Administration will soon have the Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance available for businesses. The loans can be used to cover expenses still incurred during the shutdown period.