Good afternoon and thank you all for joining me. Today we reached the one week Mark of the first County's moving from the Red face to the yellow phase of our covid- 19 reopening process and the second round of counties enter the yellow face today, bringing the total number of yellow face counties to 30 - seven the beginning at 12:01 AM Friday, May 20, -second 12. More counties will enter the yellow face those counties are Adams Beaver Carbon Columbia, Cumberland Juniata mifflin Perry susquehanna wyoming. Wayne and New-york. To Pennsylvanians in one of the 49 counties in the yellow phase, I cannot emphasize enough that you should continue to implement social distance. That means to wear a mask that covers your face from at least the bridge of your nose to your chin whenever you're out in public, it means to continue to stay six feet away from people who do not reside in your household as much as you can, it means to wash your hands and use as much hand sanitizer as you can, it means to telework. Use other technology to avoid in-person interactions, and it means to follow the other guidance outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Federal CDC. This virus has not been eradicated from these counties and we're continuing to closely monitor new case counts. and as I've said before if we see signs of new apps, we're gonna need to act to prevent further transmission. but if we see a continued decline in cases, we can lift more restrictions and bring our lives closer to normal. So it's in every. Pennsylvania's best interest to continue to take social distancing seriously now if you live in one of the 18 counties that remains in the Red zone, you may feel disappointed or frustrated right now When we first began to take action against Coen 19 in our commonwealth, the virus was ravaging Italy and remember this and we heard tragic story after tragic story. and at that point, we didn't want that to be our parents or our friends or our neighbors and so we acted decisively the time is war. We want to be with other people. we wanna feel productive. We wanna go to work to the store. We wanna see our friends and with each passing day, it becomes harder and harder to stay home. What Makes fighting a pandemic? Even harder is that the virus is not like other disasters where the danger is obvious. We can all see storm clouds brewing. We can see rivers swelling we can see trees bending in the high winds, but we can't see the virus particles and someone's breath or on a door knob or on a light switch. So. It's easy to look outside and see a beautiful spring day and saying hey there's no danger. but the danger is there. It's real and we need to take that seriously, The epidemiologists and other staff at the Department of Health have dedicated their lives to tracking diseases. They're professionals trained to analyze not just the pathway of known viruses but opportunities for spread as well and I based the movement of counties from Red to yellow on their scientific and medical advice. It's not just about the number of known positive cases, although that undoubtedly helps us identify hot spots, but it's also about how people in our communities move about and how they interact. It's about the amount of close quarters and shared touchpoints. It's about the likelihood that one case will become 100 cases. We all want our communities to succeed, but we aren't all trained to see the danger of the pandemic. We look out and see the. Skies in the first lasting warm days of spring, that's what we see epidemiologist see a single person in a busy store, exhale, a cloud of virus particles and seven other customers standing nearby inhaling those particles epidemiologists see in the Central worker, take the bus home to a neighboring County and unknowingly share the virus with a dozen other riders epidemiologists C- One symptom was sick person sitting at a table in a restaurant talking to friends having the drop. In their breast spread around the dining room by the ventilation system as a leader of this commonwealth, I'm responsible for the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians and I can't and I will not let this virus ravage our communities and so I've got to take seriously the advice of scientists of medical professionals and their epidemiologists, and that includes information laid out in the Carnegie Mellon University Risk-based Decision Support Tool Report We plan to release this. Publicly twice a week to help Pennsylvanians understand the risk factors where they live the metrics in this report help us We quantifiable risk factors, but we also rely on subjective information from our epidemiologists and other health professionals. We review each County individually before deciding on placement into the Red or yellow or Green faces. We look at case counts modeling geographic location, contact tracing and testing capabilities for individual counties regions the state. A whole yellow counties have been determined to have a lower risk of virus. Red counties on the other hand have been determined to have a higher risk of virus spread. Now, I understand all residents are eager to get back to regular business operations and I'm lifting restrictions and we'll continue to do so as quickly as I think it's safe but continued cooperation a United front against this virus. It's gonna allow us all to reduce those risk factors That's what's gonna. Let us get more businesses and activities up and running while we protect human life instead of feeling frustrated about living in a Red face, County or a yellow face County. consider this we have saved lives, but what we've done through our social distance and efforts we've not only reverse the trajectory of exponential new case growth. We've now cut it in half and some of the counties that will be shifting into the LA next week, Lemond concerns that we just two weeks ago, so please keep. Your efforts in the fight so we can continue to add counties to the list of yellow faces. Thank you again for your patience and for your hard work now, I'm gonna turn it over to doctor Levine her daily Update Secretary Levine Thank you. Thank you Governor. Good afternoon. Here's our latest update on Covid- 19 in Pennsylvania As of 12 AM this morning, we have 986 new cases of covid- 19. This brings our statewide total to 60620 - two Pennsylvanians that have tested positive for Covid- 19 in all 67 counties. This includes 4340 - nine. 937 cases among residents of 550 long term care living facilities, which include nursing homes and personal care homes. It includes 2360 -, nine positive cases that are in the food industry at a hundred and 50. Tragically 4340 - two patients who have tested positive for Covid- 19, have passed away and today all deaths have been among adult patients. As a governor indicated across the state, the rate of infection has been declining over the last 14 days. That is good news for Pennsylvania as we continue to move forward to a carefully coordinated faced opening regionally case counts are trending downward over the last 14 days, but we are still seeing pockets of outbreaks that are of concern. The good news is that the current load of Covid-, 19, has peaked in Pennsylvania. However, some areas of the state have only just begun to it. Meaningful declines, However, while we are on the decline, it is not the time to stop our efforts These efforts will help us prevent a resurgence of the virus and will keep our county's moving in the right direction. testing continues to increase statewide. We've nearly a hundred and 20000 tests performed from April thirtieth through yesterday at laboratories reporting results and so far in the. That have gone from Red to yellow. We are all together successfully managing testing contact tracing case investigations and outbreak responses, Visit our website at Health dot PA dot Gov for a breakdown of all of the data, including animations that show the course of the virus regionally. It's important to remember that as County's move from Red to yellow that we still as the governor talked about have to be very careful yellow means caution parts of the country that. Moved with a more aggressive approach are actually seeing rises in cases and we are keeping a careful eye on what is happening in other countries who's outbreaks have subsided to see if they return, and some of them have had increased number of cases. It seems hard to imagine, but it's just over two months since Pennsylvania announced its first positive cases of Kofi, 19, as we open areas of the state as counties go from Red to yellow in a careful and judicious way, the Department will continue to do all we can to monitor any resurgence of this virus in Pennsylvania. Now, here are my daily reminders. Please wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or the time it takes to sing, happy birthday twice and use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available cover in a coughs or sneezes with your elbow. not with your hands and don't touch your face, especially after touching surfaces clean surfaces frequently and if you have to go out for life sustaining activities, please wear a mask if you're going to come to contact with others if you have. About your health, please contact your health care provider and if you need mental health resources because you are someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the crisis text line by texting PA to 741741 or call the statewide support and referral helpline at 18 5528 42494 again one. Eight 528 42494 for the most reliable information related to Pennsylvania's response, please visit our website at Health dot PA dot Gov and what is most important for Pennsylvanians to remember is stay calm, Stay home and stay safe and now the governor and I are pleased to answer questions. Thank you Secretary. We have some questions on the new illness pediatric multi symptom inflammatory Sy German children from WK, OK. Please tell us the latest on your surveillance of pediatric inflammatory syndrome that is related to covid- 19. so the CDC last night released a case definition in a health alert about this pediatric condition. they're calling it multi-system Inflammatory syndrome in children or M I S C the since they've released that case definition will be working with all of the hospitals, but particularly of course our fantastic children's. In terms of reporting through our data system, any cases of this condition with some phone calls that we've made though before that reporting starts, we have learned that there are cases of M I S C in Pennsylvania, but we don't know the details yet until that in depth reporting will be done through our information system. Cbs Three and KYW News are asking if you have a breakdown of those pediatric cases by region. I do not have any breakdown or any details about the cases since it was just done to some phone calls. But as we get more information Information through our system now with this case, we'll be pleased to release whatever breakdowns we possibly can from WTA publicly trigger a yellow County to fall back into Red stas. so we are monitoring very carefully as we outlined any potential clusters or outbreaks in any and all of the counties, but particularly looking now at counties that have gone from Red to yellow. so we're looking for new cases clusters of new cases that could go into an outbreak. we have many ways of. Doing this of course, case reports through our our system but also we look at what is called syndrome surveillance. We are able to see in terms of emergency Department visits specific diagnosis in terms of how it's listed as the patient enters the emergency Department. We're looking for example, of course for diagnosis of covid- 19, but we might be looking also for for a severe cough or pneumonia or influenza like illness. No influenza really now in Pennsylvania, so we have a number of diagnosis that we're looking for to get a head start to potentially investigate any outbreaks if we have a case, then that individual be isolated, We will be doing case of identification with that person and looking for their contacts. Then we have our staff of contact Tracers contact all those contacts of those individuals and they will be placed in quarantine and by doing this systematically in those counties we. Aims to prevent any outbreaks that might lead them from going from yellow back to Red from six ABC can the Southeastern region move from yellow to June fourth, even if a key metric like 50 to 100000 has not been met and what criteria will you have to move a County back from yellow to Red, which you just discussed, would that be an entire region? or would that be just the County? so again we we really haven't been looking region by region that would be County by County. An entire area of Pennsylvania would not go from yellow to Red if there was an outbreak that gave us concern in one specific County. If that had to happen, it would be that specific County and so we are looking very carefully at all of the data all of the metrics all of the trends that we've been talking about of course looking at the Carnegie Mellon modeling we look at other modeling that we get to make these determinations. We of course have discussions with with the County. Departments in the in the Southeast and we'll be making those determinations when they're ready from Cbs 20 - one what type of gatherings are allowed for counties moving into the yellow phase. Our are those I'm sorry our close activities like five on five basketball allowed in the yellow face and for gatherings that are allowed where social distance and masks are they required. Well, there's guidelines on our FAQs, the frequently asked questions documents available on our. In the governor's website, we're looking to keep down gatherings more than 20 - five people and so we do not want a large concerts or large gatherings of any type because that could increase the spread of covid- 19 exactly the way that the governor was discussing we are not allowing that type of amateur team sports in in the yellow zone that would be for the Green Zone. Thank you Secretary our next question for the governor. From WGAL, what is your reaction to the county's who are pushing to move from Red to yellow? please talk about the divisions. This is creating between the concern for the economy and the concern for health. Yeah, it's it's it's a it's a realistic and reasonable to expect expression of frustration. the problem is that that the that the frustration has to be directed to the to the virus. We're trying to keep people safe and I think when it comes down to balancing between the economic damage that. Of this epidemic is pandemic is done versus the the health the potential that it has the negative health potential. I think if we look at that way, how we allowed to say what happened in Italy or Spain to happen here in Pennsylvania, that would have been much worse for the economy. More people dead more more people sick more people being given maybe treatment that it was beyond the capacity of our health care system that was would not have been. For our economy, either the way we did it here in Pennsylvania, I think has been less bad than the alternative and that I think is what we always have to keep in mind, no one would would would want this if we had a choice. Unfortunately, we did not have the choice. This virus was imposed on us and we are all trying to do the best we can given the dictates and the constraints imposed by this by this virus. Also from WGAL. What is your reaction to the rally at today's capital and your reaction to President Trump's comment yesterday, urging you to reopen business? Hey, this is a Deco. And I think, as I've always said people have the right to to express opinions and I think the folks protesting wherever they protest and the the President certainly is needs to be able to make those decisions. That's what makes a democracy. Right-I just hope that all of the folks wherever they are and however, they're expressing themselves and doing so in a way that helps keep other people safe from WTAE is the state planning to pull licenses for hair salons and barbershops that violate your order. Yeah, I think each. The different businesses is regulated by different things, sometimes the Department of Agriculture Department of State, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services and they make their own decisions again. one of the other things I think we have to be concerned about is what decision the insurance companies don't have any control over them. What decisions they make in terms of honoring insurance premium and insurance policies where companies have violated the law Those are enforcement mechanisms that all these different places have in place and and they're the ones that will be enforcing these things from Cbs 20 - one Lebanon County's Republican commissioners passed a resolution today moving the County to the yellow phase without your consent. Will you send official notice of action or discuss the loss of funding directly? Well again? I I think we're focusing on all these enforcement things. I think that the unfortunate thing about a decision like that is why anybody would think. Make that going to to in the face of a virus that's sitting there saying I don't think you're really ready it could put the lives of folks in that County at risk, and I think that's something that everybody in public service wherever they are that the County level the municipal level the state of both the National level. we ought to be really concerned about again the the focus on on yellow Green. We're trying to share with Pennsylvania the best. We have as I said on Monday you ignore that at your peril from Fox 50 - six also on enforcement the Pike County Sheriff's Office announces it will not be enforcing any violations under the state order. What is the state's response to this and could they be penalized? well again? I don't know exactly. I'm a lawyer. I don't know exactly what role the sheriff plays in enforcing these these things as they say the the the enforcement comes from the certificates, the licenses and even insurance policies there's a whole. Myriad of things And ultimately, though you're you're you're looking at this virus, they're the one. The virus is the thing that's setting the rules here, Not me not the federal government, not the County although it always makes me wonder how somebody elected to public office to enforce the law is actually out there saying I'm gonna break it so but for NBC 10 Governor Wolf, What do you think about New Jersey and Delaware opening up their beaches? Well, I think I got to. Before and I said, I'm not going to the Beach and I think the concern we all ought to have is is again with the virus. Not with the regulation, you know you go anywhere where you're gonna be in close contact with other people for whatever reason you're taking your life into your own hands. You're you're you're jeopardizing your neighbor your jeopardizing yourself. maybe your family and I think you ought to be concerned about that. So personally, I'm not going to the Beach from CNN. HI, governor school districts are starting to unveil budgets and warning of deficits. Do you still believe that the state will be able to provide an increase in basic education and special education funding? Yeah, we're we're working through the budget process right now with the General Assembly and I don't have a complete answer for that. but I think everybody recognizes that every Organization every institution, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is facing dramatic changes. Changes in their financial situations from W L V R, we covered President Trump rival in the Lehigh Valley yesterday, masking has become political with hundreds in attendance, refusing to wear them. This included many state police on site not wearing masks. Do you worry about the message that sends to the public considering your directive asking all Pennsylvanians to wear masks and would you enforce state police to wear them moving forward? I think state police do actually wear masks when. In close contact with other people so I don't know I I I'm not aware of the situation in Allentown again a directive asking someone to do something is not really a directive. I think what we're all asked to do here is pursue our own self-interest and that is if I wear a mask. I'm protecting you and if I'm protecting you and you're someone that is close to me a neighbor, a loved one, a family member a coworker then that that's something I'm doing because I think it's the right thing to do and I'm interested in making sure that I. To keep you healthy, Ultimately, that's what should be driving us to do things like keeping our social distance wearing a mask whenever possible. Stay at home, matter whether you're Red, Green or yellow. We have some questions regarding Beaver County, we'll start with the Beaver County Times Governor Wolf. What information or data did you review that convinced you that Beaver County was ready for yellow after it was the only Western Pennsylvania County left in last week, and does this mean you're hopeful that the outbreak at Brighton is close to being contained well, the the second question I am hopeful that it's being contained. We obviously have work to do there but I think Beaver County has made some really great price. I'm gonna turn this over to the Secretary of to Doctor Levine to To actually answer that question to give you the technical details as to why she and the epidemiologists in our models suggest that you Beaver County was ready to move from Red to yellow Secretary of me. Thank you sir. so actually looking at all of our metrics, our data and our models, including the Carnegie Melon model, but others as well. Beaver County has significantly decreasing case counts over the last two weeks that has been consistent and so they met really all criteria to go from Red to yellow. we are working very hard with the the nursing home in Beaver County to to control the outbreak at that nursing home. We have a new temporary manager that was reporting to us and paid by the Department of Health to. Work with us the staff there to oversee things In addition, the National Guard is there to help with staffing issues and altogether. you know we have a lot of work to do but we will do everything we possibly can to protect the health of the residents and the staff at that and really all facilities. Secretary The next question is back on this issue for the governor. From W E S A I'd like to ask the governor what changed between last Friday and this Friday to explain why Beaver County is beginning to move to yellow, is it resistance from local officials or there or anywhere else playing a role in the decision? these are not political decisions again. I'm trying to we're all trying to keep people safe and as the Secretary just said, Doctor Levine, just said, we're we're looking at at the data and Beaver County is doing much better and we, which means that we think that that virus. has less of a chance this week than it did last week of actually infecting people. that's what's driving these decisions all across Pennsylvania politics has nothing to do with this from The Associated Press. We understand that Nascar is wondering whether it can go through with its scheduled weekend at Pocono Raceway, June 20. -sixth to the 20 -eighth is that something you will allow and do you have the power to prevent it. we actually have had conversations with Nascar and I told them Pennsylvania is not ready. To make it. The area that they wanna have this gathering is actually in the in the Red right now Redzone Red face and and so I told them Pennsylvania is not ready to to make a decision and from Erie News now, Governor State Representative Metcalf is planning to sponsor a resolution calling for impeachment and people at the rally. We're training for you to be impeached as well. What's your response to those calls? Well? I? I'm again not a lawyer, but I I can't wait to see the legal arguments that that that might be forward in that case from W E E U Governor Wolf Federal lawmakers are saying you're withholding of Cares Act funding to counties reopening on their own is something you have no authority to do the Pss are asking you to invest that money on their behalf. Do you have a counter argument or a rebuttal? they're different evidently different idea. As to what the federal government wants us to do, but what we're doing here in Pennsylvania is that the executive branch is working closely with the General Assembly and will decide with them and in conjunction with them how to distribute distribute the discretionary funds. Our next question is for the Secretary. Secretary We have several questions about Dauphin County and being able to move into the yellow face for pressing Journal and pen are you able to tell residents what criteria they did not meet to advance the yellow stage and what do they need to do to close are they to being in the yellow face? huh so again the same metrics that we looked at in terms of Beaver County, which had decreasing rates of affection, did not show positive results in terms of Dauphin County, Dauphin County still has significant rates of infection as well as evidence of communities transmission and spread of covid-. In fact, in the last week actually the numbers have gone up somewhat and so Dauphin County was not in a in a position in terms of the spread of this dangerous virus to go from Red to yellow. It's hard for me to predict when a County will be ready. I think that what with the public can do is to follow all of the guidance that the governor has outlined today. please stay home unless you have to go out for essential business. if you have to go to the grocery store of course and get food or the farm. And get medicines, but otherwise please stay home If you go out, then please practice social distancing. Please wear a mask as we've always said my Mass protects you your mask protects me and if we're all wearing mask in the community itself is protected. the weather has been much better if you go outside and you're gonna see any other people whatsoever or there's even the possibility that you'll see other people. please wear a mask and so we need all need to do everything we possibly can. To prevent the spread of this virus in all of our areas and in Dauphin County Secretary, we have several questions about reopening and the metrics of Green. we have public source. W JL asking, can a County move to Green before all counties are in the yellow phase. so we've discussed this extensively in previous press conferences. We've discussed this extensively with the governor so there is no criteria that the counties have to be in the yellow zone for other counties. Go into the Green Zone, but we have not determined exactly what the metrics are and what and what we'll be looking at in terms of counties going from yellow to Green, but our staff will be starting to look at that next week. and when we have information, we're gonna release it. Thank you Secretary. Thank you Governor. That is all the time we have for questions today for any reporters who are not able to get to the Department of Health and the Governor's Office will follow up within the next 24 hours. There will be no briefing on Saturday or Sunday or. Briefings will begin will resume on Monday. Thank you.