Mifflin, Juniata counties enter ‘green’ phase

Local businesses allowed to reopen, some with limitations

Mifflin and Juniata counties at one minute past midnight this morning officially joined the group of counties in the least-restrictive "green" phase of Gov. Tom Wolf's traffic light color-coded reopening plan for Pennsylvania.

Mifflin and Juniata are among 12 counties that made the move today. The others are Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Northumberland, Union, Wayne, Wyoming and York.

That means now 46 of the state's 67 counties are in the green phase. The rest, including Huntingdon and Perry counties, remain in the more-restrictive "yellow" phase. Snyder County was among the first group to move to green on May 29.

In the green phase, many restrictions are lifted and all businesses may be open, but gatherings of more than 250 people are prohibited; restaurants and bars may serve dine-in customers at 50% occupancy; personal care services (including hair salons and barbershops) may open at 50% occupancy and by appointment only; indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities, and personal care services (such as gyms and spas) may open at 50% occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged; entertainment venues (such as casinos, theaters and shopping malls) may open at 50% occupancy; construction activity may return to full capacity with continued implementation of protocols and visitation to prisons and hospitals may resume subject to the discretion of the facility.

Visitation restrictions to nursing homes and long-term care facilities initially remains in place.

The governor's color-coded plan remains in effect for now, despite the General Assembly's lawsuit filed against the governor on Wednesday, according to state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman's office. Corman, a Republican from Bellefonte, represents a district that includes Mifflin and Juniata counties.

"The governor has yet to issue the order rescinding his emergency order as he is compelled to do," said Jennifer Kocher, the communications director for Corman's office. "We are prepared to pursue this in the courts. However, until that process is complete that means that, unfortunately, all of the existing orders, color codes etc. from the governor remain in effect."