Beginning Sunday, April 19, 2020, at 8:00 p.m., Pennsylvania businesses that are still permitted to be open will be required to implement certain safety measures under the enforcement of various state agencies and the state police.

The order issued by Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine requires employers to take the following measures:

• provide masks for their employees that must be worn during working hours (except breaks)
• stagger work start and stop times when practical to prevent gatherings of large groups entering or leaving the premises at the same time
• conduct meetings and trainings virtually and establish social distancing practices in the workplace

The order also provides measures to be taken if a business has been exposed to COVID-19.

In addition, customers will be required to wear masks while on the premises. Businesses must deny entry to individuals not wearing masks (unless certain exceptions apply), conduct business with the public by appointment only, and, if that is not feasible, limit occupancy to no greater than 50 percent of the number stated on their certificate of occupancy.

Businesses also must maintain social distancing for both customers and employees, encourage online ordering, and designate a specific time for high-risk and elderly persons. Shields or barriers must be installed at registers and check-out areas.

Employees must be provided with handwashing breaks every hour, and employees must wipe down carts and handbaskets. For businesses with multiple check-out lines, fewer registers should be used, and those registers should be cleaned and rotated every hour.