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 Week-Nine Of Regional COVID-19 Testing Extension Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced beginning Friday, February 5, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in COVID-19 testing clinics will be held in Blair, Columbia, Elk/Cameron, Sullivan, and York counties. The counties with testing sites will...
Sen. Fontana Releases Statement on the Governor’s 2021 Budget Address
Harrisburg – February 3, 2021 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D- Allegheny) released the following statement following Governor Tom Wolf’s budget address: For the last 11 months, millions of Pennsylvanians have sacrificed—by protecting their loved ones, looking out for their...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than One Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 3, there were 3,128 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 853,616. There are 3,281 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than One Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 2, there were 4,410 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 850,488. There are 3,280 individuals hospitalized with...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than One Million Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., February 1, there were 2,854 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 3,985 new cases reported Sunday, January 31 for a two-day total of 6,839 bringing the...
Members of Pa. Senate Dems urge U.S. House Majority Leader Pelosi to investigate, expel Rep. Scott Perry for seditious acts
HARRISBURG – January 29, 2021 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus wrote U.S. House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging an investigation into the “traitorous and seditious acts” against the U.S. Constitution by U.S. Rep. Scott Perry. “This is not a...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 893,000 Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 29, there were 9,643 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 834,048. Note that case counts today include backlogged antigen testing...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: More Than 941,400 Vaccinations To Date
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 30, that there were 5,191 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 839,239. There are 3,586 individuals...
Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections Initiates Relaunch Of COVID-19 Dashboard
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary John Wetzel today announced that the DOC will relaunch its COVID-19 dashboard. In March 2020, the department responded quickly to the pandemic and implemented a system for reporting basic...
Democratic State Senators Reintroduce Bills to Protect Quality, Stable Health Care in PA
HARRISBURG – January 28, 2021 – State Senators Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks), Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), and Tim Kearney (D-Delaware), reintroduced package of bills to ensure Pennsylvanians maintain quality, stable...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 6,036 New Cases, 3,768 Patients Hospitalized And 759 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 28, there were 6,036 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 824,405. Note that case counts today include backlogged antigen testing...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,874 New Cases, 3,790 Patients Hospitalized And 760 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 27, there were 5,874 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 818,369. There are 3,790 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 4,628 New Cases, 3,887 Patients Hospitalized And 770 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 26, there were 4,628 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 812,495. There are 3,887 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Wolf Administration Provides COVID-19 Vaccine Update, Focuses on Getting More Doses to Pennsylvanians Amid Limited Federal Supply
Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam provided an update today on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania and the many challenges that are ahead because of limited supply of doses from the federal government. They were joined at...
Department Of Health Announces Week-Eight Of Regional COVID-19 Testing Extension Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced beginning Thursday, January 28, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in COVID-19 testing clinics will be held in Armstrong, Cumberland, Jefferson, Monroe, and Wayne counties. The counties with testing sites...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Jan. 15-21: Case Increases Near 31,100; Percent Positivity at 10.5% and 66 Counties with Substantial Transmission
The Wolf Administration 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 31,140, a statewide percent positivity of 10.5% and...
State Police Bureau Of Liquor Control Enforcement January 22-24: 470 Compliance Checks; 17 Notices Of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 470 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, January 22 through Sunday, January 24 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: Two-Day Total Of 7,910 New Cases, 3,910 Patients Hospitalized And 790 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 25, there were 3,976 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 3,934 new cases reported Sunday, January 24 for a two-day total of 7,910, bringing the...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,785 New Cases, 4,169 Patients Hospitalized And 822 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 23, that there were 5,785 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 799,957. There are 4,169 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19....
State Police Bureau Of Liquor Control Enforcement January 18-21: 1,110 Compliance Checks; 16 Notices Of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,110 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, January 18 through Thursday, January 21 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 4,758 Patients Hospitalized And 851 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 22, there were 5,338 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 794,172. There are 4,758 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.