Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper has declared a disaster emergency effective immediately.

  • EMTA is considered an essential service, according to the County Executive.
  • Dahlkemper and her administration have allowed eight-days of paid time-off for all non-essential county employees from March 18 through March 29 in response to COVID-19.

Pennsylvania governor orders statewide shutdown of all nonessential businesses to help prevent spread of coronavirus.

  • This will start at midnight and last for at least two weeks. Restaurants are urged only to remain open for carry-out and delivery orders.
  • Non-essential businesses include community and recreation centers; gyms, including yoga, barre and spin facilities; hair salons, nail salons and spas; casinos; concert venues; theaters; bars; sporting event venues and golf courses; retail facilities, including shopping malls and except for pharmacy or other health care facilities within retail operations, according to a news release.

Pennsylvania Department of Health: There are 96 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. The Secretary of Health just said there are a number of cases where they cannot determine how the individuals were exposed to the virus. 879 patients have tested negative.

Erie County has suspended its current trial term. Jurors are told not to report. (3/16)

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced the indefinite closure of all Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores and licensee service centers, effective at 9:00 PM Tuesday, March 17, to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Additionally, sales at www.FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com will cease at 5:00 PM today.

Chautauqua County does not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of noon Monday. There are 4 people in precautionary quarantine.

Presque Isle Downs & Casino will be suspending operations at midnight tonight until further notice. (3/16)

Mercyhurst University and Edinboro University have decided to move entirely to remote instruction for the rest of the semester. (3/16)

Child Development Centers, Inc. will be closing all sites starting Wednesday, March 18 due to the coronavirus. Head Start classes will remain closed Tuesday at all facilities in Venango, Crawford and Erie counties. The agency plans to re-open its centers on Monday, March 30. (3/16)

Pennsylvania Game Commission will close all offices to the public for at least two weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (3/16)

JOY Senior Center will be closed until April 1. (3/16)

All Meadville Family YMCA youth programming is postponed for two weeks to coincide with Governor Wolf’s mandated school closures. Its childcare facilities are not affected. All group exercise classes are canceled effective Tuesday, March 17 with the hopes of resuming the regular schedule Monday, March 30. (3/16)

The Chautauqua County Historical Society Board of Trustees is announcing it is closing the McClurg Museum temporarily, effective immediately until further notice, as a precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). (3/16)

Red Letter Hospitality has decided to temporarily close its restaurants effective Monday, March 16. This includes The Cork 1794, The Skunk & Goat Tavern, Molly Brannigan's and Core Life Eatery. In the meantime, they will be offering online ordering with pick-up effective Tuesday, March 17. (3/16)

Asbury Woods has canceled its Maple Festival and community programming through March 30. The Nature Center is closed. The trails remain open dawn to dusk each day. (3/16)

The Barber National Institute will temporarily close all adult day programs in all of its facilities beginning Tuesday, March 17.  This includes programs in Erie, Corry, Girard, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Bedford and Somerset, PA, as well as the Bollinger campus in Warren. In addition, visitors to all facilities are restricted until further notice. The closings are expected to continue through Friday, March 27. (3/16)

Opening weekend performances of Another Country at All An Act Theater March 20-22 have been canceled. (3/16)

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) is alerting motorists that cash will not be accepted at any interchange statewide beginning tonight at 8 p.m. This is a temporary safety measure to keep travelers moving with no need to stop at tollbooths or interact with tolling personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, cash and credit cards will not be accepted anywhere on the PA Turnpike’s ticket system. All tolls will be assessed electronically via E-ZPass or the PA Turnpike TOLL BY PLATE program as vehicles travel at posted speed limits through tolling points. (3/16)

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) emergency order has suspended all door-to-door, in-person and public event sales activities by agents of competitive electric and natural gas suppliers in the Commonwealth’s retail energy markets. (3/16)

The Crawford Area Transportation Authority will continue to operate public transportation at its current level of service in both Crawford and Venango Counties.  CATA is carefully monitoring the corona virus situation along with guidance from the Governor’s office, CDC and PennDOT.  If reductions in service are required, CATA will use all means at their disposal to notify the public as quickly as possible. (3/16)

People are being asked to limit visits to Ashtabula Muncipial Court to only situations that are absolutely necessary in order to limit any possible exposure to COVID-19. (3/16)

The Stars of the Sixties at the Warner Theatre March 28 has been canceled. Patrons who purchased their tickets online from Erie Events will receive a full refund to their credit cards within 7-10 business days. (3/16)

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today instructed the six Pennsylvania casinos that are open as of today to begin closing procedures so that all gaming activities and entry to patrons is concluded by 6 a.m. Tuesday, March 17. Presque Isle Downs & Casino has already announced it plans to temporarily close at midnight. (3/16)

All Millcreek Township recreational programs have been canceled. This includes all spring season activities for both adult and youth and Asbury Barn rentals. (3/17)

Conneaut, Ohio City Hall will be CLOSED to the general public in order to minimize the community spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), effective Tuesday, March 17 until further notice. It will continue to serve the public via regular mail, email and other telecommunications. (3/17)

McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe will be open only for take-out and delivery service starting March 17. (3/17)

Free delivery will be available from Primanti Bros., where applicable, via www.primantibros.com. UberEats, DoorDash and Grub Hub also will remain available for customers. Takeout orders will be available at all locations. Team members will be on-hand to bring takeout orders directly to customers’ vehicles as a convenience and to further protect the health of customers and team members. (3/17)

State Rep. Pat Harkins (D-Erie) announced Tuesday he is temporarily closing his Erie district office as a preventive measure in response to the COVID-19 epidemic.

State Rep. Bob Merski (D-Erie) announced today that he is closing his district and satellite offices to the public until further notice as a preventive measure to combat the spread of COVID-19.

United Way Erie FREE Taxes VITA sites are closed until further notice in response to the COVID-19.

In response to COVID-19, the City of Corry is closing the following locations to the public beginning Wednesday, March 18, for the foreseeable future: City Building, Fire Department, Community Center, Senior Center, Public Works Facilities and North Hills Golf Course.

To help combat the spread of the coronavirus, Scott Enterprises is currently only offering Applebee’s Carside To Go, Quaker Steak & Lube and IHOP Carry Out services as well as participating in delivery services with GrubHub, DoorDash, and UberEats.

Erie Distillery will have carryout for bottles and spirits Tuesday from noon until 8 p.m. and normal hours Wednesday.

Tops Friendly Markets is changing the hours of operation at most of its stores from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. starting Wednesday to restock and continue to maintain the increased sanitation levels in our stores. This also pertains to Tops Fuel sites. Stores that typically open later and close earlier will maintain their existing hours of operation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is closing all county assistance offices (CAOs) statewide to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17 in coordination with Governor Wolf’s mitigation guidance regarding COVID-19. In-person business will resume no sooner than Wednesday, April 1. Pennsylvanians are encouraged to use DHS’ online applications and resources to apply for benefits or submit paperwork as necessary: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome

Erie City Council announces that due to the coronavirus, the meeting is closed to the public and there will be no citizens to be heard at the city council meeting Wednesday March 18, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. Citizens may mail concerns to the Office of the City Clerk, Room 104, Municipal Building, 626 State Street, Erie, PA. 16501 or by email to [email protected] which can be read into the record of the meeting or recorded in the minutes. The City Council Meeting can be accessed through the website www.cityof.erie.pa or government access channel 1024 on Spectrum.

Saint Martin Center is closed to face-to-face appointments starting Wednesday until April 1 to protect the health of the community and follow guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The center is still open for food pantry distributions. It is not able to accept clothing or physical donations.

Wegmans will now be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The store has also closed all Market Café seating areas, all in-store Pubs, select burger bars, Amore, next door. Additionally, the store has a two-item purchase limit on certain products.

The PA Department of Labor & Industry is suspending its waiting week for unemployment compensation. People are encouraged to apply online, but the state warns the system may be slow due to increased traffic.

The Erie Chief of Police would like to remind the public about the curfew in effect for minors (18 and younger) year-round from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily.

Twelve Apostles Lutheran Church, Saegertown has cancelled all activities including Sunday worship until April 5.