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Pennsylvania joins neighboring states to plan a return to normal
dnixon//April 13, 2020
As the infection rate of the coronavirus shows signs of flattening, Gov. Tom Wolf has joined with the governors of five neighboring states to begin planning how region’s economy will re-open.
Led by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the governors of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware, are forming a joint task force to design a reopening plan for each state.
The coordinating group will work together to develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the virus.
“We are creating a plan to let people know that we indeed do have a future,” Wolf said. “We have to restore the hope that this pandemic has taken from us…and do what it takes to re-enter and get our economies moving again.”
Each state will name a public health official, economic development official, and chief of staff to serve on the task force, which will begin work immediately. The task force will share a database because the populations of the six states are connected, Cuomo said.
The group will create a framework using every tool available to accomplish the goal of easing social isolation without triggering renewed spread – including testing, contact tracing, treatment and social distancing – and will rely on the best available scientific, statistical, social and economic information to manage and evaluate those tools.
