Pennsylvania golf courses, marinas, private campgrounds can reopen this week

Golf courses, marinas and some campgrounds will be permitted to open Friday as Pennsylvania officials move toward a gradual reopening of a state economy halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to private campgrounds, guided fishing trips will be allowed to resume Friday. All of those businesses must follow life-sustaining business guidelines laid out by the Department of Health, according to Gov. Tom Wolf.

State park campgrounds will remain closed through at least May 14.

“Pennsylvanians have remained resilient throughout this covid-19 crisis, and as we successfully continue to flatten the curve to protect our physical health, it is critical that we also focus on our physical and mental health during these extraordinary times,” Wolf said Monday.

As days warm and lengthen, he said, time outdoors will help residents manage stress and boost mental health.

The governor cited a study by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation that indicated 45% of adults in the nation said the pandemic has dealt a blow to their mental health, and stress and worry will likely continue even as the threat slows.

Businesses and consumers must continue to follow mitigation guidelines while the state’s disaster declaration is in place.

Those guidelines include encouraging people to stay close to home and avoid crowded destinations and to continue to practice social distancing measures such as finding a less-crowded trail or crossing the street to avoid directly passing another runner.

“Finding the balance between enjoying the outdoors and staying safe is only possible when all Pennsylvanians are abiding by the same precautions,” Wolf said.

He said people will have to adhere to those guidelines for the restrictions to stay lifted.