Trump approves disaster declaration for Pennsylvania

President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in Pennsylvania.  FOX 29's Marcus Espinoza reports.

PHILADELPHIA - President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in Pennsylvania on Monday night, as Gov. Tom Wolf extended the closing of schools and nonessential businesses indefinitely.

Wolf also added four more counties — Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill — to a separate stay-at-home order and extended its duration by more than three weeks, through at least April 30.

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Trump’s order allows for federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

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President Donald Trump (Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead)

More than 10 million Pennsylvania residents, or 80% of the state’s population, have now been instructed to remain in their homes, with exceptions that include working at a business that’s still open, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, visiting a doctor, caring for a relative or heading outside to exercise.

Pa. disaster declaration approved amid COVID-19 crisis

FOX 29's Lauren Johnson has the latest details in Montgomery County.

Wolf said he knows the extended shutdown of businesses, schools and swaths of daily life “isn’t easy to hear,” but is necessary to save lives and keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

“We’re going to keep our schools and businesses closed as long as we need to keep them closed to keep Pennsylvania safe. Right now, it isn’t safe,” he said.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania rose on Monday to 4,087, with 48 reported fatalities.