This just crossed the timeline, a bit of good news for people in Southeastern Pennsylvania who are going on three months now with the COVID-19 stay at home order.

Combination report here from the Inquirer’s Anna Orso and Chris Brennan, along with Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA:

Pennsylvania counties still under strict coronavirus restrictions — including hard-hit Philadelphia and its suburbs — will move to the “yellow” reopening phase by June 5 at the latest, according to three sources with knowledge of the Wolf administration’s plans.

Under Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening plan, 49 of 67 counties are already in the yellow phase, or the first phase of reopening, in which most but not all businesses can reopen. In the yellow phase, limitations on public gatherings remain, and restaurants and bars remain closed to in-person business. Gyms, salons, malls, and movie theaters also remain closed.

The Philadelphia, Reading, and Allentown areas have been stuck in this red phase for what feels like an eternity, and progressing out of that would be fantastic.

These are the social restrictions listed on the state website for the YELLOW PHASE:


  • Stay at Home Order Lifted for Aggressive Mitigation
  • Large Gatherings of More Than 25 Prohibited
  • In-Person Retail Allowable, Curbside and Delivery Preferable
  • Indoor Recreation, Health and Wellness Facilities and Personal Care Services (such as gyms, spas, hair salons, nail salons and other entities that provide massage therapy), and all Entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) Remain Closed
  • Restaurants and Bars Limited to Carry-Out and Delivery Only

Indoor recreation is closed, but under those guidelines it looks like they’d be able to reopen the outdoor portion of Philadelphia rec centers and reattach basketball hoops to the baskets. You could play pickup soccer at Penn Park or get some flag football going at Fairmount Park. At least I think that would be okay if I’m understanding that blurb.

Update: