Pennsylvania is “on pause” from now until Jan. 4, Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday when introducing a new set of temporary mitigation measures to try to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, all indoor dining at businesses including restaurants, bars, breweries, social clubs and private catered events is prohibited.

Outdoor dining, take-out food service and take-out alcohol sales are allowed.

Also on the forbidden list are indoor gatherings and events with more than 10 people; outdoor gatherings or events with more than 50 people; indoor operations at gyms and fitness facilities; in-person business in the entertainment industry including movie theaters, bowling alleys and casinos; all sports for grades K-12; all voluntary, in-person activities sponsored or approved by a school’s governing body; and attendance at professional or collegiate sports activities.

All in-person businesses serving the public can operate at 50%.

“The real problem is once again the governor is issuing broad, statewide orders and really targeting certain businesses,” said state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint. “He’s putting thousands of people out of work over Christmas.”

The restaurant industry, specifically, has been devastated by the shutdowns and restrictions, Causer said.

“We’ve been working with business owners throughout the state with best management practices,” he explained. “They are putting up plexiglass, wearing masks, cleaning more and all of a sudden you slap a statewide order on them.

“There are many people (the governor) is putting out of work who will struggle to put food on their tables. At Christmas. He really needs to understand what he’s doing and the effect that will have.”

Causer said that rather than have continued shutdowns, he thinks the focus should be on education and personal responsibility.

“People should be doing their part to distance, to wear a mask. None of us are downplaying the coronavirus. We know how problematic it is and how it is spreading,” he continued. “I don’t think broad, statewide orders are the answer.”

When asked how one might police personal responsibility, Causer responded, “How do you enforce it either way? I know people who are not taking it seriously. We all need to do our part.”

Wolf’s orders have promulgated a mistrust in the government.

“That sentiment is very strong throughout the state,” Causer said. “These kinds of orders certainly do not help that situation.”

Throughout the pandemic, the governor has been focused on public health, which is commendable. However, Causer said, “at the same time, we have to realize the impact it has — financial, mental health — it’s affecting many areas of our lives.”

As far as getting Wolf to change his mind on the order, Causer said the legislature’s hands are tied.

“We’ve been trying for months to work with him,” he said. “The legislature is not in session right now. We’re not even allowed to go back into session until January 5th.”

Wolf’s temporary orders end Jan. 4.

“Only the governor can call the legislature back into special session,” Causer said. And it certainly doesn’t seem likely that Wolf would call the House and Senate to reconvene for the purpose of fighting an executive order, the legislator lamented.

“There’s a petition circulating to bring the legislature back early. I’ve signed that petition.”

On Thursday, arguments were being made online about why people should follow the orders when Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is breaking a state law himself by displaying a flag of a marijuana leaf from his balcony at the state Capitol. A law was recently passed, and signed by Wolf, governing what sorts of flags and signs can be displayed at the Capitol.

Fetterman has said he doesn’t care; the flag remains.

“I think the lieutenant governor is talking out both sides of his mouth,” Causer said. “He needs to follow the law like everyone else needs to.

“There has to be some level of decorum and some regulation on what can be hanging in the Capitol building,” he continued. Fetterman is sending the wrong message — that laws and executive orders don’t need to be followed.

“He doesn’t want to comply with the law, but he wants us to comply with the governor’s orders,” Causer said. “It’s a direct contradiction.”

The state Senate released a statement Thursday evening, calling Wolf’s new mitigation measures a “death knell for many of our independently owned restaurants. One estimate found that more than 330,000 restaurant employees have lost their jobs since the pandemic began in March. During that time, 96 percent of Pennsylvania restaurant owners have had to lay off or furlough workers.”