Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered a number of non-life sustaining businesses to close their physical locations statewide to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
Fine Wine & Good Spirit stores have closed, but beer distributors are considered life-sustaining operations and thus can stay open.
Why?
“Most beer distributors provide more than beer – they provide water, soda and some food/snacks, and may be the only nearby option for those items in some areas of the state,” Casey Smith, the communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, said in an email to PennLive.
“Allowing beer distributors to remain open will potentially limit the people visiting grocery stores where we hope to have people able to easily access life-sustaining food.”
A message posted to the website of the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania, which calls itself ‘the trade association for Pennsylvania’s beer distributors, retail and wholesale,’ has posted tips and guidelines to its website about keeping customers and employees safe.
The list includes practicing cough and sneeze etiquette and encouragement to often sanitize and clean all commonly used and frequently used spaces, among other things. It also urges its members to ' practice social distancing by not congregating in a confined area.'
“The Wolf Administration understands and is committed to ensuring access to treatment for individuals suffering from substance and alcohol use disorder during mitigation for COVID-19,” Smith said.
- More: 'Alcoholics Anonymous is open’: Substance abuse support groups work around coronavirus challenges
“Pennsylvania operates the Get Help Now hotline at 1-800-662-HELP staffed by trained professionals available 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. As always, representatives will stay on the phone with callers and connect individuals directly with treatment providers that have capacity to support their needs.”
Pennsylvania reported 207 new coronavirus cases as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, which brings the statewide total to 851. There have been six deaths.
More of PennLive’s coronavirus coverage:
- More than 2 dozen Pa. businesses receive warnings for not closing as ordered: state police
- Pa. reports 207 new coronavirus cases, raising statewide total to 851
- Why haven’t Home Depot, Lowe’s and hardware stores closed during the coronavirus pandemic?