Move Up PA Reopening: Lawmakers To Gov. Wolf

PENNSYLVANIA — Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are asking Gov. Tom Wolf to lift the COVID-19 mitigation measures three days earlier than planned, noting the importance of Memorial Day weekend to the struggling tourism and hospitality industries.

The Wolf administration had recently announced that all mitigation measures related to the pandemic, except for the mask mandate, would be lifted on Memorial Day.

"This approach would allow these businesses to have a full holiday weekend to begin to recoup the losses they suffered during COVID-19," according to a letter sent to the governor that was signed by more than 20 state lawmakers. "We are not aware of any scientific standard or evidence that suggests that moving this timeline up a few days would present any serious risk to the health and well-being of the people we represent."

RELATED: PA To Lift All COVID Mitigation Orders On Memorial Day

Among the restrictions currently set to be lifted that Monday are all capacity restrictions on bars and restaurants, as well as event gathering limits indoors and outdoors. The mask mandate will remain until 70 percent of the state's adult population has been vaccinated. Officials estimate that will likely be sometime in June.

Patch has reached out to Gov. Wolf's office for comment on this story. The administration has not yet publicly commented on the request.

The lifting of restrictions comes as the vaccination rate rapidly climbs across the state and case numbers continue to drop.

Economic restrictions have been among the most hotly contested aspects of the Wolf administration's pandemic response, and it's part of what led Republicans to push for ballot questions on the May 18 primary that would curb the governor's powers during a public health emergency.

The letter, signed by Sen. Scott Martin, Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, and 19 other legislators, called the restrictions "devastating" to the hotel and restaurant businesses.