PA Capitol Building Reopening Under Increased Security Measures

HARRISBURG, PA — More than two months after the fatal riot at the U.S. Capitol, the state Department of General Services announced Tuesday that the Pennsylvania Capitol will reopen on March 22. Extra security measures will be in place.

To enter the building, all state employees, lobbyists and others who don't work in the Capitol or its connected buildings will have to pass through the metal detectors at the building entrances - as will media not assigned to the Capitol newsroom or those who do not have state-issued press badges.

Pennsylvania Capitol police will have increased officer patrols and members of a state special response team will provided enhanced security. No public events will be scheduled inside the Capitol for the immediate future.

The extra security comes in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. According to The Washington Post, more than 300 people face criminal charges related to the incident in which five people died and multiple police officers were assaulted.

Security measures have been heightened at the state Capitol since the riot, although the building has been closed to the general public since December because of the coronavirus outbreak.