Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday that he is planning to lift his temporary COVID-19 protective mitigation order, which banned indoor restaurant dining and workouts at gyms, on Jan. 4 as planned.

The order went into effect Dec. 12, prohibiting indoor, in-person business at bars, restaurants, social clubs, private catered events, gyms, movie theaters and bowling alleys. Extracurricular activities at schools were banned. Indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people under the temporary order.

When he announced the order, Wolf said it would last until Jan. 4.

On Wednesday, he said all the restrictions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus have resulted in the statewide infection positivity rate decreasing for the second consecutive week and plateaus in the number of new cases and deaths.

Mitigation orders in place before Dec. 12 that require face masks to be worn, limit gatherings and limit customer capacity in businesses will remain in effect after Jan. 4.

COVID-19 cases “will return with swift and deadly consequences” if Pennsylvanians become complacent in following the orders, Wolf said.

He said he hopes mitigation efforts continue to flatten COVID-19 numbers until the general public can be vaccinated.

“By working together, we can keep each other safe,” he said.

Wolf and state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said they do not know when or how much vaccine the federal government will distribute to the state, and it will be months before the general public can receive vaccinations.

Levine said he signed an order Wednesday requiring that hospitals, health systems, pharmacies and health centers allot at least 10% of the vaccine they receive for emergency medical service personnel and other health care professionals not affiliated with a hospital or health system.

She said many EMS workers already have received vaccinations, but her order makes it mandatory.

EMS and other nonaffiliated health care workers are included with doctors, nurses, technicians and therapists who comprise the Phase 1A group of health care workers and are the first to receive vaccinations. Nearly 1 million health care workers in Pennsylvania are in Phase 1A, Levine said.

Mitigation efforts remain vital because Phase 1 vaccinations will take a few months, and it will take months for manufacturers to produce enough vaccine for the general public, she said.

The Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus and the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association issued statements in response to Wolf's announcement.

“For the past three weeks, Pennsylvania's hospitality industry, employees and related businesses have been devastated by another unilateral and unwarranted shutdown from Gov. Wolf,” the Republican Caucus said. “Our state deserves better, and Pennsylvanians should not have to live in fear of another unexpected and ill-advised shutdown.

“When we return to session next week, the House Republican Caucus will begin work on an economic recovery plan for all Pennsylvanians that will help ensure these destructive shutdowns and restrictions never happen again.”

Chuck Moran, PLBTA executive director, said: “While this is positive news for establishments across the state, unfortunately, the lingering impact on both businesses and employees will be felt as we move into 2021. Businesses lost a key time of the year, while many bartenders and servers missed out on usually very generous tips during the holiday season.

“The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association urges the Legislature to help fix the financial problems small business taverns and licensed restaurants face as a result of this current order. When the Legislature returns in January, we ask our state senators and representatives to move legislation to provide industry-specific grants.

“Furthermore, to help the industry recover, we urge Gov. Wolf to lift the order that prevents taverns and licensed restaurants from using bar-top seating if establishments follow proper social distancing or barriers in those locations. Many corner bars throughout Pennsylvania have extraordinarily little, if any, table seating. This would help the smallest locations survive.”

The health department reported 8,984 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 631,333.

There were 319 new deaths as of Tuesday, raising the state total to 15,672.

In the county, 137 new cases raised the total to 6,237, and six new deaths raised the total to 185.

Butler Memorial Hospital reported two people died Dec. 28, and two died Dec. 29, and it has 65 COVID patients, including seven in the intensive care unit.