Protesters rally in Harrisburg to demand Gov. Tom Wolf reopen economy

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania -- Protesters gathered outside the state Capitol on Monday to demand that Gov. Tom Wolf reopen Pennsylvania's economy even as new social-distancing mandates designed to counter the new virus took effect at stores and other commercial buildings.

Car horns blared as people demand that businesses reopen in the commonwealth.

Katie O'Brien is among those who protested in Harrisburg.

"It's excessive. It's hurting small businesses," she said.

As bank accounts dwindle, the science surrounding COVID-19 evolves, and nerves fray, the opinion of when to reopen is mixed.

Kelly Maguire of Havertown believes the protesters are misguided.

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"Personally I think they are crazy. This is a real pandemic, real people are getting sick and I don't think they know the real ramifications of what's going on," Maguire said.

Mike Direnzo believes each business is different and can't understand how Home Depot can remain open when clothing retailers can't.

"I think if you have a TJ Maxx, why can't you have two or three people in there and segregate them?" Direnzo said.

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President Trump has announced his intention for a three-phase resurrection of the economy, while on Monday Governor Tom Wolf announced the construction industry will reopen May 8 and other sectors will be dependent on risk.

"May 8, that is a target date but the question is how do we do it? We will do it by region and that means if we open in Cameron County, for example, that does not mean we are ending the restrictions in Philadelphia," Wolf said.

As we get back to some hint of normalcy, expect masks, distancing, and other precautions to be our new normal for quite some time. United States Senator Pat Toomey says until medical advancements happen, it won't be same.

"As we develop better therapies, as we develop a vaccine - that's a total game changer," Toomey said. "So we will get back to normal, but not in all industries, and not all at once."

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