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Resolution providing for further renewal by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh of a Declaration of Disaster Emergency, ratified by Council on March 17th, 2020; to extend the effectiveness of the Declaration for fourteen days (14) additional days thereby making the Declaration effective until September 8th, 2020; in response to the ongoing public health emergency associated with the spread of coronavirus
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WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh issued a Declaration of Emergency (“Declaration”) in response to the existing public health emergency associated with the spread of COVID-19 on March 13th, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh ratified the Declaration on March 17th, 2020 and renewed the Declaration to remain in effect until April 10th, May 5th, May 12th, May 19th, May 26th June 2nd, June 9th, June 16th, June 23rd, June 30th, July 7th and August 25, 2020 via Resolutions 140, 139, 162, 214, 217, 225, 249, 261, 271, 281, 310, and 319 of 2020 respectively; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued on June 4th an amendment to the Governor’s original Proclamation of Disaster Emergency dated March 6, 2020, to extend the duration of the Order for 90 days until Wednesday, September 2, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania further, as part of the “Phased Reopening” of Pennsylvania, has moved Allegheny County to the “Green Phase” as of June 5th, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the “Green Phase,” as described, “facilitate[s] a return to a ‘new normal’” and “eases most restrictions by lifting the stay at home and business closure orders to allow the economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health”; and
WHEREAS, pursuant the Governor’s Proclamation in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Disease Prevention and Control Act, the Governor’s Office and Pennsylvania Department of Health have since issued various orders, providing directives and guidance to businesses and the public to reduce the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the County of Allegheny in late June began recording an increase in COVID-19 cases when compared with previous months; and
WHEREAS, in response to this increase, the Allegheny County Health Department on July 17th issued orders implementing disease control measures to abate and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City Pittsburgh believes that the Declaration of Emergency should be extended for a period not-to-exceed fourteen (14) days from the date of potential expiration, subject to further renewal of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh at such time, in order to provide the City of Pittsburgh with the appropriate means to address the existing public health emergency associated with the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, as a result, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh wishes to renew the Mayor’s Declaration of Emergency for a period not-to-exceed fourteen (14) days.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The Declaration of Emergency, ratified by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh on March 17th, 2020, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A, is hereby extended and renewed by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh for a period of fourteen (14) days from August 25th, 2020 to September 8th, 2020 unless terminated earlier, in accordance with all applicable law including City of Pittsburgh Code §113.03 and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code at 35 Pa. C.S. § 7501.