Governor Wolf’s administration will be lifting the Stay-at-Home order for several neighboring counties next week but not Butler County.
The first group of 24 counties that will be moved from red to yellow status on Friday, May 8th include neighboring Clarion, Venango, Mercer, and Lawrence.
Some businesses and activities in those counties will be able to reopen immediately on a voluntary basis but with some social distancing precautions in place.
The numbers of COVID-19 cases in those counties will continue to be monitored with a significant increase possibly resulting in those counties moving back to the red Stay-at-Home status.
Wolf said Friday afternoon that counties in the southwest portion of the state could be the next to move from red to yellow status but health officials do still have concerns at this time.
Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel spoke to our newsroom earlier today.
“We have a plan that will work, we stood up our networks of supports,” Boozel said. “If [the governor] doesn’t give us what we want, he better have a good reason or there will be a reaction. I don’t know what that reaction will be, but I’ve talked to my fellow commissioners and their plan is to get into a car and go to Harrisburg.”
Commissioner Leslie Osche believes the county can balance keeping its residents healthy and get the economy going again.
“Nobody could have prepared for this. Who would’ve imagined really?” Osche said. “But at the same time because of the connections and relationships that we’ve had, we know that we’re smart enough to make the right moves to take care of people and respect that. And at the same time keep our economy alive.”
You can hear our full interview with the county commissioners here.
