Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine last week amended existing COVID-19 orders to allow for adjusted capacity to gathering limits while keeping in place the proven mitigation tools that include wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

“Pennsylvanians must continue to social distance and wear masks as we prepare to fight the virus through the fall and winter,” Wolf said. “Regardless of the size of an event or gathering, those things are still imperative to stopping the spread of COVID. We know everyone has sacrificed in many ways and today’s announcement reflects a gradual adjustment to our lives as we learn how we can do things safely until we have a cure, or an effective vaccine is widely available.”

“We will closely monitor cases and outbreaks and if our case investigation and contact tracing efforts determine that events or gatherings are the source of an outbreak, we can and will dial back these new limits,” Levine said. “Public health and safety are our first concern and will always remain as such.”

When not hosting events, occupancy restrictions outlined in the green phase of reopening continue to apply to businesses in the commonwealth.

Any gathering restrictions established by local authorities, such as the ones established in Philadelphia and State College, remain in effect. The complete form can be reviewed at: https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20201006-TWW-amendment-to-targeted-mitigation-order.pdf

Wolf also announced the distribution of $96 million to more than 5,000 small businesses impacted by the coronavirus shutdown, but local business owners continue to stress and suffer under constantly changing operational parameters. The form includes specific definitions for words such as “event,” formulae for determining mitigated occupancy based upon a business’ normal occupancy limits, and guidelines for non-business owners hosting events at home. The latter point essentially asks that everyone continue to avoid large gatherings.

As of Monday, the state has 166,081 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 8,350 deaths. Lehigh County has 5,976 confirmed and 359 deaths; Northampton County has 4,852 confirmed and 309 deaths; the city of Bethlehem has 1,362 confirmed and 82 deaths.