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 COVID-19 Testing Update with a Focus on Contact Tracing
As COVID-19 cases rise in Pennsylvania and across the country, so does the need for testing and contact tracing. Director of Testing and Contact Tracing, Michael Huff, and Special Assistant on Contact Tracing for the Department of Health, Lindsey Mauldin, presented...
Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority Provides $1.7 Million In COVID-19 Restart Grants To 11 Clean Energy And Energy Efficiency Projects Statewide
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority awarded $1.7 million in COVID-19 Restart Grants to 11 energy efficiency, solar energy, high-performance building,...
Department Of Health Announces Week-Two Of Regional Testing Extension Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Thursday, December 10, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Clinton, Delaware, Greene, Warren and Wyoming counties. The counties with testing sites...
Department Of Health Announces Week-Nine Rapid Antigen Test Card Distributions Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today began distribution of the ninth allotment of COVID-19 antigen test kits provided by the federal government to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified institutions in Carbon, Clarion, Lycoming,...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,421 Patients Hospitalized And 1,115 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 8, that there were 10,170 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 436,614. There are 5,421 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of...
Department Of Agriculture: 2021 Farm Show Butter Sculpture Cancelled Amid COVID-19 Resurgence
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today announced the cancellation of the annual butter sculpture, scheduled to among virtual features in the 2021 Farm Show. “Pennsylvania is experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases with higher daily...
Gov. Wolf, Sec. of Health Sound Alarm on Urgency to Protect Health Care System, Workers as COVID-19 Cases Continue to Surge
As the fall surge of COVID-19 cases continues to surpass record highs nearly every day and the state’s health care systems move precariously close to being overwhelmed, Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today sounded the alarm to...
Department Of Health Provides Update On Flu Season, Urges Pennsylvanians To Get A Flu Vaccine
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced that as of November 28, there have been 480 laboratory-confirmed flu cases and one flu-associated death statewide. As flu season intensifies, Pennsylvanians need to get their flu vaccine. “We are two...
State Police Bureau Of Liquor Control Enforcement December 4-6: 306 Compliance Checks; 16 Notices Of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 306 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,300 Patients Hospitalized And 1,107 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 7, that there were 6,330 new cases, in addition to 8,630 new cases reported Sunday, December 6 for a two-day total of 14,960 additional positive cases of COVID-19,...
Department Of Health Nov. 22-28 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 to aid in contact tracing efforts. “Our case...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Nov. 27 – Dec. 3: Case Increases Near 49,000; Percent Positivity at 14.4% and 66 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 48,668 cases,...
Department Of Health Aligns COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance With CDC
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today notified health care providers that, effective immediately, it has aligned its quarantine guidance for people exposed to COVID-19 with the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,230 Patients Hospitalized And 1,065 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 5, that there were 12,884 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 411,484. This is the highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases. There...
Fontana Bill Would Make Pennsylvania a Mail-in Ballot State
Pittsburgh, December 4, 2020 – Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) today said he will reintroduce a bill that would change Pennsylvania’s voting system so that elections are conducted entirely by mail. “With the pandemic menacing the 2020 elections, I was pleased to see...
Department Of Health Aligns COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance With CDC
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today notified health care providers that, effective immediately, it has aligned its quarantine guidance for people exposed to COVID-19 with the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,071 Patients Hospitalized And 1,065 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 4, that there were 11,763 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 398,600. This is the highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases. There...
Department Of Health: Clean Hands Save Lives
Harrisburg, PA – As COVID-19 and flu remain threats in our communities, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today shared that regular hand washing is one of the most important steps we can take to get rid of germs and keep them from spreading to ultimately...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 4,982 Patients Hospitalized And 1,048 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 3, that there were 11,406 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 386,837. This is the highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases. There...
Governor Wolf Announces Life Sciences Partnership to Create Jobs, Develop COVID-19 Vaccine
Governor Tom Wolf announced that U.S. Specialty Formulations (USSF), LLC, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, will expand its operations in Allentown, Lehigh County to continue its work developing a COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with VaxForm, LLC. This project...
Pennsylvania Capitol Complex Will Close To Public Due To Rising COVID-19 Cases
Harrisburg, PA – With the surge in COVID-19 cases continuing, starting Monday, Dec. 7, the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex will close to the public until further notice. All operations of the Governor's Office and General Assembly will continue, but access to 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.