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
Wolf Administration Updates On Progress Of Vaccinations Of Long-Term Care Facilities And Staff
Harrisburg, PA - The departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS) today provided an update on Pennsylvania’s progress administering COVID-19 vaccines to residents and staff of long-term and congregate care facilities eligible in Phase 1A via...
Gov. Wolf and Aging Sec. Torres Share Community-Based Solutions Helping Pennsylvanians 65-plus Access the COVID-19 Vaccine
As the state continues to get vaccine to Phase 1A eligible Pennsylvanians, today Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Aging Robert Torres highlighted some of the community-based solutions that are working to help Pennsylvanians 65-plus access the COVID-19 vaccine. “We...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: Nearly 1.5 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 11, there were 3,978 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 884,269. There are 2,789 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Announces Week-Ten Of Regional COVID-19 Testing Extension Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced beginning Saturday, February 13, regional drive-thru, outdoor walk-up, and indoor walk-in COVID-19 testing clinics will be held in Berks, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lawrence, and Lebanon counties. The counties...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 1.4 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 10, there were 3,378 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 880,291. There are 2,890 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Launches “Your Turn” Vaccine Eligibility Tool To Aid In Vaccination Process Across Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today launched a new tool called Your Turn to help Pennsylvanians understand where they fall in the vaccine prioritization effort and to be alerted when it is their turn to schedule an appointment...
Governor Wolf Announces $145 Million in Hospitality Relief Funding Ready for Distribution to Pennsylvania Counties
Governor Tom Wolf announced that $145 million in funding will be distributed to all 67 Pennsylvania counties through the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program to help support the commonwealth’s hospitality industry. Funding will be provided in the...
Department Of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, February 1 – February 7, 2021
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from February 1 – 7, 2021. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants, including social distancing, masking...
Department Of Health Launches “Your Turn” Vaccine Eligibility Tool To Aid In Vaccination Process Across Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today launched a new tool called Your TurnOpens In A New Window to help Pennsylvanians understand where they fall in the vaccine prioritization effort and to be alerted when it is their turn to...
Department Of State Releases COVID-19 Enforcement Actions, Jan. 31-Feb. 7
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Jan. 31-Feb. 7. With the high number of COVID cases across the commonwealth, the Department of State is...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 1.3 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 9, there were 4,088 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 2,504 new cases reported Monday, February 8 and 4,717 new cases reported Sunday, February 7...
Wolf Administration Announces Creation of COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force with Legislature
While conversations with the entire General Assembly on the state’s vaccine plan will remain ongoing, Governor Tom Wolf’s Administration also sought to provide a mechanism for accurate, timely information sharing via a streamlined set of communicators between these...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Jan. 29- Feb. 4: Case Increases at 20,204; Percent Positivity at 8.6% and 59 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 20,204, a statewide...
Department Of Health Jan. 24-30 Update On COVID-19 Investigations, Contact Tracing, Monitoring Efforts: Pennsylvanians Urged To ‘Answer The Call’ And Download The COVID App
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health 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 778,000 have already done to aid in...
First Lady Frances Wolf Announces Submissions Now Being Accepted for Statewide Virtual Photo Exhibit Documenting COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
First Lady Frances Wolf announced that the submission period for One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views is open and Pennsylvanians can begin sharing their photos documenting their COVID-19 experience. The first lady announced the statewide virtual...
Gov. Wolf Signs Bill to Support Pennsylvania Businesses, Help Renters Stay in Their Homes
Governor Tom Wolf signed into law Senate Bill 109. Senate Bill 109 allocates $145 million that Gov. Wolf made available to help support businesses suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Business owners and employees have worked hard to protect their customers...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 1.1 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 5, there were 4,688 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 861,674. There are 3,138 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 1.2 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 6, there were 3,930 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 865,604. There are 3,041 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 1.1 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 5, there were 4,688 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 861,674. There are 3,138 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 1.1 Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 4, there were 3,370 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 856,986. There are 3,224 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
First Lady Frances Wolf: “Documenting the COVID-19 pandemic is imperative for the future of Pennsylvania.”
First Lady Frances Wolf encouraged Pennsylvanians to document their COVID-19 pandemic experience during a virtual conversation with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) and State Library. This was the first conversation in a series titled, The...
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.