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 Provides a COVID-19 Update, Stressing Safety and Efficacy of Vaccine
An orderly, planned distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is a priority of the Wolf Administration and today, Governor Tom Wolf and Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine shared an update on the vaccine, stressing its safety and efficacy. They were joined at...
Department Of Labor & Industry Releases COVID-19 Enforcement Actions, Jan. 4 – Jan. 8
Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry's (L&I) Bureau of Labor Law Compliance released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions for Jan. 4 to 8. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation efforts related to...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,232 Patients Hospitalized And 1,070 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 12, that there were 7,275 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 733,429. There are 5,232 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near...
Department Of Health Dec. 27- Jan. 2 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 745,000 have already done to aid in...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,201 Patients Hospitalized And 1,062 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 11, that there were 5,338 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 7,506 new cases reported Sunday, January 10 for a two-day total of 12,844 additional...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Jan.1-7: Case Increases Near 42,300; Percent Positivity at 14.4% 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 42,322, a...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,318 Patients Hospitalized And 1,092 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit 10,045 Additional Positive Cases Of COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 9, that there were 10,045 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 713,310. There are 5,318 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near...
Gov. Wolf: COVID-19 Vaccine Gives Us Hope as We Update Plans and Keep Fighting to Stop the Virus
The commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan was designed to be fluid and flexible to meet guidance and recommendations from the federal government. Today, Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced the fourth version of the...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,491 Patients Hospitalized And 1,113 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 8, that there were 10,178 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 703,265. There are 5,491 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near...
All Six PA Veterans Homes Have Begun Vaccinating Residents, Staff For COVID-19
Annville, PA - Pennsylvania’s six veterans homes, operated by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), have begun onsite COVID-19 vaccination clinics for residents and staff. The vaccination clinics, which are administered by CVS/OmniCare as part...
State Police Bureau Of Liquor Control Enforcement January 4-7: 921 Compliance Checks; 17 Notices Of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 921 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, January 4 through Thursday, January 7 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Pennsylvania Surpasses Average National Testing Rate, According To White House Task Force Report
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today highlighted that Pennsylvania is above the average national testing rate as noted in the White House Task Force Weekly Report dated January 3. According to the report, Pennsylvania was at the yellow level...
Department Of Health Announces Week-Six Of Regional Testing Extension Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Tuesday, January 12, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Bradford, Clarion, Fulton, Lancaster and Pike counties. The counties with testing sites...
Wolf Administration Updates Recommendations To Help Schools Safely Navigate COVID-19 During Second Semester
Harrisburg, Pa. - The Pennsylvania departments of Health (DOH) and Education (PDE) today provided school administrators and school boards with updated recommendationsOpens In A New Window as to which instructional models they should consider using based...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,613 Patients Hospitalized And 1,120 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 7, that there were 9,698 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 693,087. There are 5,613 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near...
Department Of Health Confirms First Case With The COVID-19 Variant
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, in Pennsylvania. The confirmed case is in Dauphin County. This variant is the same one that was first discovered in...
PA Senate Democrats Release Statement on Violent Protest in DC
Harrisburg, PA – January 6, 2021 – The PA Senate Democrats released the following statement on the violent protest today in the nation’s Capitol: The First Amendment is one of our most sacred. It is not political and it is not partisan. The rights to free speech,...
Profiles In Service: Department Of Human Services Secretary Commends State Facility Staff For Exemplary Service During COVID-19 Pandemic
Harrisburg, PA - Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today recognized the unshakeable commitment of commonwealth employees whose service and sacrifice have protected the lives, health and safety of individuals receiving care at...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,684 Patients Hospitalized And 1,148 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 6, that there were 9,474 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 683,389. There are 5,684 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near...
Department Of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, December 28 – January 3
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from December 28, 2020 through January 3, 2021. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants, including...
Wolf Administration Provides 2020 Testing and Contact Tracing Update, Reinforces the Importance of Testing, Supports for Those Contacted
Wolf Administration Director of Testing and Contact Tracing, Michael Huff, and Special Assistant on Contact Tracing for the Department of Health, Lindsey Mauldin, today presented an update on the state’s COVID-19 testing and contact tracing efforts, emphasizing 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.