COVID-19 UPDATE: Resources, information, and helpful tips to protect you and your family!
Senator Fontana Hosts a Telephone Town Hall on the Coronavirus
Senator Fontana Hosts a Telephone Town Hall on the Coronavirus
LIVE daily briefings from the PA Department of Health:
pacast.com/live/doh or www.governor.pa.gov/live/ or watch on Facebook
Vaccine Information
I co-hosted a virtual townhall on January 11, 2021 with Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine and officials from PEMA and the PA Department of Health who are responsible for overseeing the rollout of the COVID vaccine.
Latest News
Department Of Health Announces Free COVID-19 Testing Site In Centre County, Stresses Need For Continued Testing
Harrisburg, PA - Stressing the need for continued COVID-19 testing even as vaccinations accelerate, the Department of Health today announced that beginning Tuesday, March 30, a long-term free indoor walk-in COVID-19 testing site will open for the general public...
Human Services Secretary Highlights Work Of Child Care Providers During The Pandemic, Availability Of COVID-19 Vaccines For Child Care Professionals
Shiremanstown, PA - Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller today visited the Children’s Garden of St. John’s to highlight Pennsylvania’s ongoing work to facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations for child care providers through the retail pharmacy...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 4.7 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 26, there were 4,927 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,005,167. There are 1,717 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Wolf Administration Discusses Partnership Between COVID-19 Vaccine Providers, Area Agencies On Aging, MCOs To Help Seniors Secure Vaccine Appointments
York, PA - The Wolf Administration today discussed an amended order signed by Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam, indicating that certain vaccine providers must work with local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Medical Assistance Managed Care...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 4.6 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 25, there were 3,623 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,000,240. There are 1,652 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Insurance Department, Insurance Industry Reassure Pennsylvanians COVID-19 Vaccine Does Not Impact Life Insurance
Harrisburg, PA – Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman is reassuring Pennsylvanians that receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will not impact their ability to purchase life insurance, or their ability to collect on a policy. In response to several concerned consumers...
Gov. Wolf Tours Scranton Primary Health Care Center to Share Vaccination Success
Governor Tom Wolf visited Scranton Primary Health Care Center, Lackawanna County’s only federally qualified health center, to tout progress the state is making toward vaccinating eligible Pennsylvanians. The governor was joined by Rep. Marty Flynn and COVID-19 Vaccine...
COVID-19 Vaccine Providers To Partner With Area Agencies On Aging, MCOs To Help Seniors Secure Vaccine Appointments
Harrisburg, PA - Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam today signed an amended order indicating that certain vaccine providers must work with local Area Agencies on Aging and Medical Assistance Managed Care Organizations to specifically schedule adults...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: Over 3 Million People Vaccinated And More Than 4.5 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 24, there were 4,667 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 996,617. There are 1,631 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Gov. Wolf Credits Feb. 24 order to providers for move from 30th to 17th in nation for first dose vaccinations
Governor Tom Wolf announced that one month after ordering providers to administer 80% of vaccine does within 7 days of receipt Pennsylvania is ranked 17th in the nation for the percent of people who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. (Source: Centers...
Department Of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, March 15 – 21, 2021
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from March 15 – 21, 2021. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants, including social distancing, masking...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 4.4 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 23, there were 3,515 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 991,950. There are 1,577 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Gov. Wolf Signs Five Bills Including Package to Streamline Appointments for District Attorney Vacancies
Governor Tom Wolf signed five bills, including a package of three bills bringing consistency to the rules of succession when a vacancy occurs in the office of a county district attorney. “The legislation signed today will bring needed clarity and transparency to...
Department Of State Releases COVID-19 Enforcement Actions, March 14-21
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from March 14-21. The Department of State is continuing with compliance enforcement as it relates to the...
Gov. Wolf: 100,000 Milestone Reached for Teacher and School Staff Vaccinations
Governor Tom Wolf announced today the special initiative to vaccinate teachers and school staff has reached another milestone with 100,000 educator vaccinations through last weekend. As of this morning, 102,161 educators have been vaccinated through 28 Intermediate...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update For March 12-18: Case Increases At 14,182; Percent Positivity At 6.5% And 25 Counties With Substantial Transmission
Harrisburg, PA - Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam today released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System dashboard, highlighting a seven-day case...
Sen. Fontana Releases Statement on Senate GOP Refusal to Use Emergency Constitutional Amendment for Window of Justice for Sexual Abuse Survivors
Harrisburg – March 22, 2021 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D- Pittsburgh) released a statement today regarding the announcement by Senate Republicans that the Pennsylvania Senate will not consider an emergency constitutional amendment to provide a window for sexual abuse...
Department Of Health Amends Universal Face Coverings Order To Align With CDC Guidance
Harrisburg, PA – Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam today amended the existing Universal Face Coverings order, issued on November 17, 2020, to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Recommendations for Fully...
Gov. Wolf: Teacher And School Staff Vaccinations Are Ahead Of Schedule
Doylestown, PA - Approximately two weeks after Governor Tom Wolf and the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force announced the voluntary single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine would be administered to Pre-K to 12 educators and school staff, the special initiative is ahead...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Vaccination Update For March 20: Pace Accelerating, More Than 4 Million Vaccinations Administered, More Than 1.4 Million People Fully Vaccinated
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 20, that there were 4,213 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 984,515. There are 1,548 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of...
Department Of Education To Study The Pandemic’s Impact On Learning And Teaching
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will use a nearly $1 million federal grant to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 students across Pennsylvania and recommend educational strategies to help students and schools move...
What You Need to Know About COVID-19
The Coronavirus was first discovered during an outbreak in Wuhan, China. The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new virus that causes respiratory illness in people and can spread from person-to-person. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms often do not appear in a person until 2 to 14 days after exposure.
Prepare Yourself and Your Family
The best way to avoid contracting COVID-19 is by practicing vital social distancing procedures. It is recommended to work remotely and severely limit contact with others.
If you think you have come into contact with someone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or are exhibiting them yourself, please follow the instructions on the graphic below:
PennDOT/Real ID Updates
Federal REAL ID Enforcement Deadline Postponed to October 2021
The Department of Homeland Security has postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from October 1, 2020, to October 1, 2021, in response to COVID-19 and the national emergency declaration.
PennDOT closed all driver and photo license centers on March 16 and paused REAL ID issuance in the state out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public health. Centers will reopen no sooner than April 3. PennDOT also sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requesting that the agency consider extending the October 1, 2020 REAL ID enforcement deadline.
REAL ID is a federal law that affects how states issue driver’s licenses and ID cards if they are going to be acceptable for federal purposes. A federally-acceptable form of identification (whether it’s a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver’s license or ID card, a valid U.S. Passport/Passport Card, a military ID, etc.) must now be used on and after October 1, 2021, as identification to board a commercial flight or visit a secure federal building that requires a federally acceptable form of identification ID for access.
REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania. There is no requirement that any resident obtain a REAL ID; PennDOT will continue to offer standard-issue driver’s licenses and photo IDs once issuance has resumed.
More information about document requirements, including a printable document checklist, can be found on the Document Check page of the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website.
Protect Yourself
Medical Costs
As of March 9, the Governor announced that all major health insurers in Pennsylvania have agreed to cover “medically appropriate” COVID-19 testing and treatment.
The 10 major insurers are:
- Aetna
- Capital Blue Cross
- Cigna
- Geisinger
- Highmark
- Independence BlueCross
- Oscar
- Pennsylvania Health & Wellness
- UnitedHealthcare
- UPMC Health Plan
For anyone with questions about their insurance policy, please contact your insurer or the Pennsylvania State Insurance Department with questions. They can also be reached at (877) 881-6388.
Remote Medical Attention and Care
Health officials are urging people who have symptoms to stay home and contact their doctor remotely rather than opting for an in-person visit. Nearly all major health systems offer some form of virtual visits and assistance. Some insurers do, too. People interested in a specific virtual visit should check to see what illnesses it can be used for. Be sure to reach out to your insurance provider to verify this service is covered with your plan.
Here’s an brief overview of virtual visit services offered to local residents:
Capital BlueCross – is offering free medical Virtual Care visits for members who currently have the Virtual Care benefit. The waiving of fees will be effective March 13 through April 15, 2020.
Highmark – is providing many of their members with a virtual clinic visit service. Any fees related to COVID-19 will be waived.
UPMC Pinnacle – is welcoming Online Video Visits for those experience flu like symptoms or just in need of a follow-up appointment. Video visits are available through the MyPinnacleHealth portal for $49.
WellSpan Health – WellSpan Online Urgent Care offers a video visits with Teladoc physicians for patients 3 months and older for their standard fee of $49.
CALLING ALL PSYCHOLOGIST! Things may be picking up for you at this time, so we want to make sure you are covered too. Here are some COVID-19 resources on how to best protect yourself and serve your patients from the Pennsylvania Psychologist Association.
How to Stay Informed
Below is an extensive list of information, statistics, and resources to ensure you stay up-to-date with any changes happening due to COVID-19.
My Office
While our offices are closed, we are working remotely. Please call 412-344-2551 and leave a message or email [email protected] and someone will get back in touch with you as soon as possible.
ENewsletters
- Make sure you are signed up to receive my electronic newsletter (you can sign up HERE)
- To view all past issues of “News & Views” eNews, CLICK HERE
Pennsylvania Department of Health
- The PA DoH Daily COVID-19 report. Updated regularly throughout the day.
- Follow the PA Health Department on Twitter.
- Follow them on Facebook.
A complete list of information and resources available to you by county:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Track confirmed cases in the US. (This site is updated weekdays at noon and shows numbers that were current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.)
- CDC provided information regarding “What you should know about COVID-19”
- Follow the CDC on Twitter.
- Follow the CDC on Facebook.
- Learn how best to prevent “community transition” with specific details on what to do before, during, and after outbreaks.
World Health Organization
- Learn what’s happening Worldwide with the WHO’s Daily report. The most recent report is located at the top of the page. It includes confirmed case and death tallies.
- Additional COVID-19 information is provided on their website.
- Stay informed on Twitter.
- Follow their Facebook page.