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 Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 2.7 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 5, there were 2,757 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 944,196. There are 1,628 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Gov. Wolf Visits Steelton Rite-Aid Where COVID-19 Vaccine is Administered
Governor Tom Wolf today visited the Rite-Aid location in Steelton administering COVID-19 vaccine to Pennsylvanians and providing free drive-thru testing for the virus. Prior to a press conference at the store, he was joined by Department of Human Services (DHS)...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 2.6 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 4, there were 3,028 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 941,439. There are 1,648 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
First Lady Frances Wolf Discusses Pennsylvania Tourism and Increase in Outdoor Activities During COVID-19
First Lady Frances Wolf hosted a virtual conversation on Facebook discussing how the tourism and outdoor industries have been impacted during COVID-19. This was the fifth conversation in a series titled, “The Bigger Picture”, an extension of One Lens: Sharing Our...
Wolf Administration Provides Additional Information On COVID-19 Vaccine For Teachers, Child Care Workers, School Staff
Harrisburg, PA – The departments of Health (DOH) and Education (PDE) joined the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to provide additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine for Pre-K-12 teachers and other school staff following Governor Tom Wolf and...
Gov. Wolf and COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force Announce Plan to Vaccinate Teachers, Other School Staff
As part of the priority to safely and quickly get more students back in the classroom, Governor Tom Wolf and the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force today announced that Pennsylvania will use the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for PreK-12...
Wolf Administration Extends Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams To Continue Support To Long-Term Care Facilities Facing COVID-19, Highlights Progress Vaccinating Long-Term Care Residents And Staff
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today announced an extension of the Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams (RCATs) to support long-term care facilities as they continue to face COVID-19 and the challenges it creates for congregate care settings. The...
Gov. Wolf Signs Bill Preparing National Guard to Assist with Vaccination Efforts
Governor Wolf signed House Bill 326, which permits the Pennsylvania National Guard (PANG), in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to develop plans for the establishment and operation of regional sites for community distribution and administration...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 2.5 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 3, there were 2,577 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 938,411. There are 1,670 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of State Releases COVID-19 Enforcement Actions, Feb. 21-28
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Feb. 21-28. The Department of State is continuing with compliance enforcement as it relates to the regulated...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: Nearly 2.5 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 2, there were 2,564 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 935,834. There are 1,715 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Feb. 14-20 Update On COVID-19 Investigations, Contact Tracing, Monitoring Efforts: Pennsylvanians Urged To ‘Answer The Call,’ Complete The Connect & Protect Form, And Download The COVID App
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health (DOH) today shared its weekly update on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing data and encouraged Pennsylvanians to download the COVID Alert PA app, as more than 796,000 have already done to aid...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Feb. 19-25: Case Increases at 12,967; Percent Positivity at 6.3% and 26 Counties with Substantial Transmission
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 increase of 12,967, a...
Gov. Wolf Revises Mitigation Order on Gatherings and Lifts Out-of-State Travel Restrictions
As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and the state’s vaccination plan is amplified, the Wolf Administration announced revised and lifted mitigation restrictions that are effective statewide today. “Pennsylvania is taking a measured approach to revising or lifting...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 2.4 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 1, there were 1,628 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 1,945 new cases reported Sunday, February 28, for a two-day total of 3,573 additional positive...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 2.3 Million Vaccinations To Date
The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 27, there were 3,361 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 929,697. There are 1,897 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 403 patients...
Acting Secretary Of Health: Pennsylvanians Can Now Use COVID Alert PA To Access Important COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Harrisburg, PA – Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam today announced that Pennsylvanians can now use COVID Alert PA to access important COVID-19 vaccine information through an updated version of the app. “More than 792,000 Pennsylvanians who have downloaded...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 2.2 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 26, there were 3,346 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 926,336. There are 1,962 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Announces Week-Twelve Of Regional COVID-19 Testing Extension Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced beginning Monday, March 1, regional drive-thru, outdoor walk-up, and indoor walk-in COVID-19 testing clinics will be held Fayette, Forest, Lycoming, Perry, and Susquehanna counties. This is the last of a...
Department Of Health Aligns Quarantine Guidance For Fully Vaccinated Individuals With CDC COVID-19 Recommendations
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced that it has aligned its COVID-19 quarantine guidance for fully vaccinated individuals with that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “We know that Pennsylvanians are eager to get...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 2.1 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 25, there were 2,356 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 922,990. There are 1,972 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
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.