Twenty-seven warnings were issued by Pennsylvania State Police to businesses that they say remained open in defiance of Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non-life-sustaining” enterprises close.
The closure order, which police began enforcing Monday morning, is an attempt by the state to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“As expected, we found the overwhelming majority of people and businesses across the commonwealth are voluntarily complying with the order and doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said State Police Commissioner Colonel Robert Evanchick.
On March 19, Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining establishments to close. Restaurants and bars had already been ordered to halt all dine-in services.
The largest number of violations was four each out of barracks in Harrisburg, Greensburg, and Erie.
State police spokesman Ryan Tarkowski said authorities hope to educate business owners found in violation instead of automatically issuing citations.
“We understand there’s a lot of new information every day, and a lot of misinformation out there,” Tarkowski said. “Most people want to do the right thing, and we’re there to help educate.”
Authorities are asking citizens who suspect a business is violating the state’s order to call their local police department’s non-emergency phone number, or the nearest state police station. They ask that people not call 911 for such reports.