PA Business Exemption Deadline Is Friday

PENNSYLVANIA — The deadline for Pennsylvania businesses to apply for an extension to stay open amid the coronavirus outbreak is coming up on Friday, April 3, state officials said.

While all "non life-sustaining" businesses were ordered to shut down, the state has allowed businesses that do not fall under that category to apply for a special exemption to remain open. It's part of an effort to recognize a nuanced situation and keep the economy moving.

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The application can be accessed by business owners online here. It will close at 5 p.m. Friday.

The state had received 32,474 applications for exemption as of Tuesday evening.

Each request is being reviewed on the "guiding principle" of balancing public safety while ensuring critical infrastructure remains intact.

The closure of all non-life-sustaining businesses has been in place across the state since March 19. This does not include places like grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. For a full list of what's considered "life-sustaining," see here.

>>>See full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania

This article originally appeared on the Phoenixville Patch