By Steve Marroni | smarroni@pennlive.com

What businesses are essential, and what are non-essential?

It’s a question on the minds of many customers and business owners the day after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf “strongly urged” non-essential businesses across the state to close for 14 days, starting Tuesday, to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

And another question many have is “what does ‘strongly urged mean, exactly?’”

PennLive has received more than 400 reader questions, many of them about the shutdown and what businesses will be closed. We are working on getting the answers, but here is what we know so far:

Yes, “strongly urged” means non-essential businesses have to close:

According to guidance issued later Monday by the Wolf Administration, Wolf’s order closes non-essential businesses, but he used the phrasing “strongly urged” because the Pennsylvania State Police and National Guard won’t being called out to enforce the order unless it becomes necessary.

Spotlight PA is reporting a spokesperson for the governor’s office said Wolf “could force closures, but as the governor previously stated, this is something that is incumbent on all of us to help mitigate the spread.”

“In unprecedented circumstances like these we expect compliance to protect customers, employees, and the community,” the spokesperson said. “The administration will work with local law enforcement, permitting entities, and local officials to enforce if needed. The governor does not want to expend valuable resources from the State Police and National Guard because irresponsible people will not do the right thing.”

Later Monday evening, the Wolf administration toughened its stance, saying it is relying on businesses to “act now before the governor or the Secretary of Health find it necessary to compel closures.”

What businesses are essential?

The governor’s office Tuesday morning released an updated list of what sectors and services are considered to be essential. They include:

• Food processing,
• agriculture,
• industrial manufacturing,
• feed mills,
• construction,
• trash collection,
• grocery and household goods (including convenience stores),
• home repair/hardware,
• auto repair,
• pharmacy and other medical facilities,
• biomedical and healthcare,
• post offices and shipping outlets,
• insurance,
• banks,
• gas stations,
• laundromats,
• veterinary clinics and pet stores,
• warehousing,
• storage,
• distribution,
• public transportation,
• hotel and commercial lodging.

Businesses that include legal services, business and management consulting, professional services and insurance services are encouraged to have employees work remotely or telecommute. If that is not possible, they should employ social distancing best practices and be aware of the Trump Administration’s guidance to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.

What businesses are non-essential?

Non-essential businesses include public-facing industries such as:

• Entertainment,
• hospitality and recreation facilities,
• community and recreation centers;
• gyms,
• yoga,
• barre and spin facilities
• hair salons and barber shops,
• nail salons and spas,
• casinos,
• concert venues,
• theaters,
• sporting event venues,
• golf courses
• retail facilities, including shopping malls except for pharmacy or other health care facilities within retail operations.

Further, the governor has ordered that all restaurants and bars close their dine-in facilities to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so, but eating and drinking inside restaurants and bars is temporarily prohibited.

These businesses offering carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage should employ social distancing best practices and be aware of the Trump Administration’s guidance to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.

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