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
L&I Issuing Extended PUA Benefit Payments
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier announced that payments for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program in the new federal CARES Act extension are resuming. "Since the federal...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 4,593 Patients Hospitalized And 918 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 20, there were 5,984 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 783,170. There are 4,593 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Pennsylvania Partners With Rite Aid To Vaccinate Priority Populations In Congregate And Long-Term Care Settings
Harrisburg, PA - The departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (DOH) today announced a partnership between the commonwealth and Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to staff and residents of certain long-term care facilities and...
Department Of Health Updates COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, Launches Eligibility Tool To Help People Prepare When Vaccine Is Available
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today released the latest revised COVID-19 vaccination plan that includes people who are 65 and older, and those 16-64 with certain underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the disease....
Department Of State Releases COVID-19 Enforcement Actions, Jan. 10-17
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Jan. 10 through Jan. 17. With the high number of COVID cases across the commonwealth, the Department of...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Jan.8-14: Case Increases Near 40,100; Percent Positivity at 12.7% and All 67 Counties with Substantial Transmission
Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine 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 40,088, a...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 4,582 Patients Hospitalized And 950 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 19, there were 5,341 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 777,186. There are 4,582 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Pennsylvania Partners With Rite Aid To Vaccinate Priority Populations In Congregate And Long-Term Care Settings
Harrisburg, PA - The departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (DOH) today announced a partnership between the commonwealth and Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to staff and residents of certain long-term care facilities and...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 4,614 Patients Hospitalized And 945 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 18, that there were 4,045 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 6,023 new cases reported Sunday, January 17 for a two-day total of 10,068 additional...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 4,848 Patients Hospitalized And 1,010 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 16, that there were 7,166 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 761,777. There are 4,848 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near...
Department Of Health Highlights December 2020 Nursing Home Inspection, Sanction Information Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
In the December 2020 report, Pennsylvania Department of Health nursing home surveyors conducted 624 inspections, including 394 complaint investigations, of 400 unique nursing homes. Of these, 249 were COVID-19-specific investigations. One sanction was...
Gov. Wolf: $2.2 Billion in COVID-19 Funds Help K-12 Schools Improve Services to Students
Governor Tom Wolf is dedicating $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to K-12 school districts and charter schools affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to support food programs, technological improvements and other education services. “All schools have been affected by...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 4,980 Patients Hospitalized And 1,013 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 15, that there were 6,047 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 754,611. There are 4,980 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near...
Department Of Health Announces Week-Seven Of Regional Testing Extension Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Wednesday, January 20, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Adams, Carbon, McKean, Snyder, and Washington counties. The counties with testing sites...
Gov. Wolf, Democratic Leaders Urge Legislature to Act Now to Allocate $145 Million in Financial Support to Businesses Adversely Affected by COVID-19
Governor Tom Wolf today urged the General Assembly to act now to allocate $145 million that is available now to provide much needed support to Pennsylvania businesses that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 public health crisis. Governor Wolf,...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,069 Patients Hospitalized And 1,035 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 14, that there were 7,175 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 748,564. There are 5,069 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near...
Pennsylvania Allows Pharmacies To Administer COVID-19 Vaccine, Bolstering Fight To Stop The Virus
Harrisburg, PA – As part of the Wolf Administration's effort to rollout the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, Governor Tom Wolf has approved a temporary waiver allowing pharmacists licensed by the Department of State to order and administer COVID-19...
First Lady Frances Wolf Announces Statewide Virtual Photo Exhibit to Document Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Experience
First Lady Frances Wolf announced One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views, a statewide virtual photo exhibit she is launching to document the story of Pennsylvania throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibit...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,204 Patients Hospitalized And 1,060 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 13, that there were 7,960 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 741,389. There are 5,204 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19,...
Department Of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, January 4 – January 10
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from January 4, 2021 through January 10, 2021. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants, including masking...
Department Of State Releases COVID-19 Enforcement Actions, Jan. 3-10
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Jan. 3 through Jan. 10. With the high number of COVID cases across the commonwealth, the Department of...
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.