July 2020 to August 2020

Public Health & Safety July 2020 to August 2020

August 10, 2020

08/06/2020

This ordinance, effective Tuesday, August 4, 2020, adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and established measures to slow the rate of infection and limit public exposure to the virus. It remains in effect in the Borough of State College until the current pandemic Emergency Declarations are rescinded OR on January 31, 2021.

Wearing of Masks (Face Coverings) are REQUIRED when:

  • Within six feet of another person who is not a household member.
  • Waiting to enter and inside any building open to the public, such as but not limited to municipal/government buildings, grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores, service establishments, and medical and dental treatment facilities.
  • In places of employment where the individual would be in contact with the public, including preparing the packaging of food and/or beverage unless separated by a physical barrier between the employee and the public.
  • On and waiting to board all transport/transit vehicles, such as but not limited to CATA bus, rideshare (like Uber/Lyft) and shuttle services.
  • Coming into contact, both indoors and outdoors, with any person who is not the person's family or household member.

Exemptions to Wearing of Masks (Face Coverings)

Persons shall not be required to wear a mask under the following circumstances:

  • Where a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability prevents wearing a face covering, provided the person provides documentation within 5 days from a licensed medical professional of the existence of diagnosis that prevents the wearing of a mask.

*This is not a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) because the ordinance is not asking the person to disclose their specific diagnosis or medical reason, just the existence of a medical exemption.

  • Religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering.
  • Hearing impaired, or who are communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
  • Wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
  • Obtaining a service or treatment involving the nose or face or a medical procedure for which temporary removal of the face-covering is necessary to perform the service.
  • Seated at a restaurant or other food or beverage service establishment, and all established Pennsylvania Department of Health requirements are followed.

Waiting Lines

  • Lines shall be prohibited in the public right-of-way (ROW) waiting to enter any business location or other private property, except as follows:
  • No more than 10 persons waiting in the ROW to enter an establishment.
  • Persons waiting in line social distancing of no less than 6 feet and are required to wear a mask (face covering).
  • Shall not wait in front of any other business or property other than the business or property that they are waiting to enter.
  • Businesses are not responsible for the enforcement of individuals waiting to enter their businesses.

Limitations on Gathering Size

Gatherings of persons that are not from the same household shall be limited as follows:

  • In all housing types in the Borough of State College, gatherings of more than 10 people both indoors and outdoors combined are prohibited.
  • Gatherings at or in Borough of State College public parks and other municipal property of more than 25 people are prohibited.
  • Gatherings in other private commercial property shall be restricted by the limitations established by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
  • The gathering size restrictions in the Ordinance shall apply for gatherings both indoors and outdoors on the property.
  • When the number of household members exceeds the limitations set forth, no additional persons shall gather at this property, either indoors or outdoors.
  • This shall not apply to private business locations, private offices, and events such as weddings, funerals, protest demonstrations, public and private schools and religious functions.

Enforcement

Law enforcement (police) and other public safety, health officers, ordinance enforcement officers, and emergency management personnel are charged with the enforcement of this ordinance.

Generally, enforcement will be first attempted using educational tactics or warnings prior to fines.

The fine for a person or business not in compliance with the measures outlined in the ordinance is subject to a $300 fine.

To report those not in compliance with this ordinance please contact the police department's non-emergency number at 814-234-7150. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.

July 15, 2020

Governor Tom Wolf and Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today signed new orders for targeted mitigation efforts in response to the recent rise in COVID cases, primarily in southwest Pennsylvania, but also in other counties in the state, influencing the decision for statewide mitigation efforts for bars and restaurants, gatherings and telework. The new orders take effect at 12:01 am, Thursday, July 16, 2020.

"During the past week, we have seen an unsettling climb in new COVID-19 cases," Gov. Wolf said. "When we hit our peak on April 9, we had nearly two thousand new cases that day with other days' cases hovering around 1,000. Medical experts looking at the trajectory we are on now are projecting that this new surge could soon eclipse the April peak. With our rapid case increases, we need to act again now."

The mitigation efforts included in the new orders from Gov. Wolf and Dr. Levine include:

Bars and Restaurants

All businesses in the retail food services industry, including restaurants, wineries, breweries, private clubs, and bars, are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales of food, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, as required by the order, including:

  • Prohibition from conducting operations unless the facility offers sit-down, dine-in meals or is serving take-out sales of alcoholic beverages. All service must be at a table or booth; bar service is prohibited.
  • Alcohol only can be served for on-premises consumption when in the same transaction as a meal.
  • Take-out sales of alcohol for the purposes of off-site consumption are permitted subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law.
  • Non-bar seating in outdoor areas (i.e. tables or counter seats that do not line up to a bar or food service area) may be used for customer seating.
  • Social distancing, masking, and other mitigation measures must be employed to protect workers and patrons.
  • Occupancy is limited to 25% of stated fire-code maximum occupancy for indoor dining, or 25 persons for a discrete indoor event or gathering in a restaurant. The maximum occupancy limit includes staff.

Nightclubs

  • All nightclubs, as defined by the Clean Indoor Air Act, 35 P.S. § 637.2, are prohibited from conducting operations.

Other events and gatherings

Events and gatherings must adhere to these gathering limitations:

  • Indoor events and gatherings of more than 25 persons are prohibited.
  • Outdoor events and gatherings of more than 250 persons are prohibited.
  • The maximum occupancy limit includes staff.

Teleworking

  • Unless not possible, all businesses are required to conduct their operations in whole or in part remotely through individual teleworking of their employees in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which they do business.
  • Where telework is not possible, employees may conduct in-person business operations, provided that the businesses fully comply with all substantive aspects of the business safety order, the worker safety order, and the masking order.

Gyms and fitness facilities

  • All gyms and fitness facilities, while permitted to continue indoor operations, are directed to prioritize outdoor physical fitness activities. All activities must follow masking requirements as provided by the July 1 order, and must provide for social distancing requirements of persons being at least 6 feet apart, as well as being limited by any limitations related to gatherings.

Enforcement

Businesses and individuals in violation of these orders, issued pursuant to the authority granted to the Governor and the Secretary of Health under the law, including the Pennsylvania Disease Control and Prevention Law, could be subject to fines, business closure or other applicable enforcement measures.

Beginning with a spike in cases in Allegheny County in late June, Pennsylvania has seen cases continue to rise there and in other southwest counties, along with additional select counties in the state.

The state has identified three catalysts for case increases:

  • First, some Pennsylvanians have been ignoring mask-wearing requirements and social distancing when they are visiting Pennsylvania bars and restaurants. There they are unknowingly spreading or picking up the virus.
  • Second is out-of-state travel. Both by Pennsylvanians returning from travel to hotspot states, and travelers visiting our commonwealth from those hotspots.
  • And third, a lack of national coordination has resulted in states in the south and west not committing to social distancing.

"The actions the governor and I are taking today are designed to be surgical and thus precise to prevent from repeating the cycle we saw in the spring," said Dr. Levine. "We have gained a great deal of experience since the start of this outbreak and have learned from best practices from other states as well as counties right here in Pennsylvania."

Gov. Wolf and Dr. Levine were joined via Skype by Dr. David Rubin, a general pediatrician and director of PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Rubin and his colleagues developed a unique model, which tracks and projects COVID-19 transmission in real-time across more than 500 U.S. counties with active outbreaks. The model was built to observe how social distancing, population density, daily temperatures and humidity affect the number and spread of COVID-19 infections over time across a given county.

"Over the last few weeks, public health reporting and our team's modeling work have uncovered incontrovertible evidence that the virus is sweeping quickly into the northeast region of the United States from the west and south-where there has been a failure in some states to practice vigilance in masking and social distancing-and that it has already begun its resurgence in Pennsylvania," said Dr. David Rubin, a general pediatrician and director of PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "We can halt this momentum in its tracks. Governor Wolf's measures will help stop the continued spread of the virus into Pennsylvania and its surrounding states, which would threaten the reopening of schools and our economy in the coming months."

Pennsylvanians should consider that even with indoor dining limited and bars closed for on-premises alcohol consumption, cocktails to-go are still permitted and there is no shortage of outdoor dining options.

Small gatherings of friends in the backyard or at a local park are permitted and children and families are encouraged to responsibility take advantage of one or more of Pennsylvania's 121 state parks or other local outdoor fitness options, including at local gyms that are following social distancing protocols.

"Children can visit local playgrounds, community pools, and enjoy outdoor activities with family," Gov. Wolf said. "We want people to spend time together, but to do so while practicing social distancing and wearing masks when required, such as any time you leave your home and are not participating in outdoor fitness.

"We have seen these efforts work during the first wave in the spring, and they will work again if we all do our part. Thank you to every Pennsylvanian for your continued patience and support. I know you are eager for life to get back to normal, and I am, too."

View the Governor's order

View the Secretary of Health's order

July 14, 2020

 State College Borough COVID-19 Update 071320 

  • In early April, the Borough of State College distributed a postcard informing commercial customers that there has been a reduction in collection volumes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may result, if applicable, in credits on their accounts. To better assess if your account qualifies for a credit, please complete this short questionnaire.

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  • COVID-19 Parking Updates:

Background

  • On March 14, Parking Department suspended all parking operation allowing for free on-street and off-street parking
  • On June 15, enforcement of "No Parking from 2 am to 6 am" resumed in all metered spaces in Downtown State College

Update through the month of July

  • Free parking (on-street and off-street) will continue throughout July
  • 2-hour time limit at meters
  • 3-hour time limit at on-street lots (Beaver Avenue, Allen Street, and McAllister Deck*)
    • The three-hour time limit will not be applied at McAllister Deck to permit holders who had active permits as of March 1, 2020.
  • No time limit at off-street parking garages
  • Continue the enforcement of "No Parking from 2 am to 6 am" in Downtown State College

Neighborhood Parking (starting 07/06)

  • 2-hour time restrictions in Residential neighborhoods will resume
  • The commuter zones adjacent to downtown will allow for parking with no time restrictions from 6 am to 6 pm
  • Time limits in residential zones will be reinstated to ensure parking does not encroach on neighborhood streets.

Upcoming Parking Changes

  • Normal parking operations for the Borough of State College Parking Department are scheduled to resume on August 3. All parking ordinances and fees will be applicable at this time.
  • Parking permits will also go on sale to the public starting on July 24.
    • Permit holders will be contacted during the month of July about resuming their permits and payment schedules.

Regulations may be subject to change during the fall semester due to the unknown circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic.