Gov. Tom Wolf says it’s still too early to name a date for reopening Pennsylvania, but his administration is planning economic recovery initiatives for when that happens.

“I think every single American, I know every Pennsylvanian, is eager to get back to work. I’m included in that. We are working all of us as hard as we can to make sure we reopen as quickly as possible,” Wolf said.

On Friday Wolf previewed his proposal for recovery, which includes assistance for hospitals, small businesses and individuals.

For individuals, the recovery plan would expanding food stamps programs, temporarily delaying student loan payments, expanding health insurance, and more broadband access.

Some of the initiatives have been on part of the Wolf Administration’s agenda even before COVID-19 but he has been unable to implement them.

Most of the questions Wolf received from reporters focused more on when the state will reopen for business.

Wolf said it does make sense to reopen the state county-by-county, since that was the way that the stay at home orders were implemented. He said he would provide more specifics next week.

“There’s no question that different parts of Pennsylvania are feeling this differently,” he said. “I said it has to be a staged approach and it will be.”

Wolf has said more widespread virus testing is required in order to give residents confidence that they will be safe when going to work and businesses. President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that states must do more to test their own residents.

Wolf said the federal government is working with the states to increase testing capacity.

During a separate conference call Friday afternoon, Secretary of Health Rachel Levine offered more details. She said the state lab is gearing up to process more tests, and health networks including Lehigh Valley Health Network are taking steps to increase testing.

A testing site at Mohegan Sun Casino near Wilkes-Barre is expected to open in the next week.

Cases still increasing

The number of new cases statewide continues to hover between 1,000-2,000 each day. On Friday the Department of Health reported 1,706 new cases, for a total of 29,441 statewide.

In Pennsylvania, 756 people have died from the virus.

The University of Washington’s model for coronavirus cases predicted that the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania peaked on Thursday, though there were reportedly more people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday.

More than 50 percent of the 756 total deaths statewide have occurred in long-term living facilities like nursing homes, which are particularly vulnerable because of their close-quarters and populations with existing medical conditions.

“Wherever you have a congregation of people if you introduce COVID-19 it has the risk of spreading. I mean all long-term living facilities.

Mask order enforcement

Meanwhile, the state continues to tweak its guidance for businesses.

Starting Sunday evening, businesses who remain open statewide will be required to have their employees and customers wear masks.

Levine said that there are no plans to use police to enforce the mask requirement. Rather, businesses and residents should do what’s best for themselves and their neighbors. They’re asking businesses to tell employees or customers who come in without a mask to either tell them to go home, or provide them with a mask.

“If everyone is wearing a mask, that offers the best protection. We want to offer that at all businesses,” she said.