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 Presents Comprehensive COVID-19 Testing Prioritization Plan And “Know Your Insurance Coverage”
Harrisburg, PA - Amid all efforts aimed at keeping Pennsylvanians safe from COVID-19, Pennsylvania has developed an enhanced testing strategy that makes testing accessible, available, and adaptable as the state learns more about the virus. Today, Sec. of Health...
SCI Camp Hill Provides COVID-19 Update
Camp Hill, PA -- State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Camp Hill Superintendent Laurel Harry reported today that a total of 24 employees have reported testing positive for COVID-19, with seven cases remaining active. The prison also reports 22 inmate cases,...
50,000 Pennsylvanians Download COVID Alert PA App in first 24 Hours, Governor Urges Everyone to Make Your Phone Part of the Fight
Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced the availability of the COVID Alert PA app that can notify users if they may have been exposed to COVID-19 without revealing their identity or location. Since the announcement, 50,000 Pennsylvanians...
L&I Launches UC Chatbot And New Employer Live Chat Capabilities, Giving Greater Accessibility To UC Claimants And Employers
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Labor & Industry's (L&I) Office of Unemployment Compensation (UC) has updated its UC Live Chat feature to include a virtual assistant to provide immediate assistance in general questions and guidance on...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 898 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 152,544
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., September 23, that there were 898 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 152,544. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
State Police Bureau Of Liquor Control Enforcement September 21-22: 1,107 Compliance Checks; 13 Notices Of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,107 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, September 21 through Tuesday, September 22 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include...
Secretary Of Agriculture: Opportunity For Dairy Farmer COVID-19 Relief Closes September 30
Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today reminded Pennsylvania dairy farmers that the deadline to apply for the CARES Act-funded Dairy Indemnity Program, which provides financial relief for losses due to discarded or displaced milk...
Department Of Health: Pennsylvanians Must Know Signs And Symptoms Of Sepsis, A Life-Threatening Blood Infection Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Harrisburg, PA - Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine today urged an increased awareness about sepsis, a serious infection that is the most common complication observed in severe cases of COVID-19 and can lead to life-threatening complications and...
Department Of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, September 14 – September 20
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from September 14 through September 20, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants including social...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 834 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 151,646
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., September 22, that there were 834 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 151,646. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Wolf Administration Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance For Personal Care Homes, Assisted Living Residences, And Private Intermediate Care Facilities On Testing, Visitation
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Human Services (DHS) today issued updated COVID-19 guidanceOpens In A New Window for personal care homes, assisted living residences, and private intermediate care facilities covering screening and surveillance testing...
Gov. Wolf Vetoes Unnecessary Bill, Provisions Would Risk Spreading COVID-19
Governor Tom Wolf today vetoed House Bill 2787, which would have mandated that school fall activities be under the sole jurisdiction of local school districts. This bill is superfluous given that local school governing bodies already have authority but it restricts...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Sept. 11-17
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. Updates are released each Monday. The update includes the...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 967 Two-Day Positives Bring Statewide Total To 150,812
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., September 21, that there were 234 new cases, in addition to 733 new cases reported on Sunday, September 20 for a two-day total of 967 additional positive cases of COVID-19,...
Wolf Administration Highlights Efforts to Ensure that PPE is Available, Accessible and Plentiful
Six months after the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf today highlighted the Wolf Administration’s efforts to respond to the state’s critical need for personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure that mitigation-related...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,162 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 149,845
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., September 19, that there were 1,162 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 149,845. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Wolf Administration Reminds School Districts That Protection And Mitigation Must Remain Priorities
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Education today reminded school districts that the federal court ruling issued earlier this week is not a blanket end to the protection and mitigation orders that protect people from the deadly virus of COVID-19 and that we must...
State Police Bureau Of Liquor Control Enforcement September 16-17: 549 Compliance Checks; 11 Warnings
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 549 licensed liquor establishments from Wednesday, September 16 through Thursday, September 17 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that...
Department Of Health: Walmart And Quest Diagnostics COVID-19 Testing Sites To Close After Sept. 25 Tests, Alternate Sites Available
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today notified Pennsylvanians that the remaining nine Walmart drive-thru and parking lot COVID-19 testing sites across the state will be closing upon the completion of testing on September 25 due to a low...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 760 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 148,683
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., September 18, that there were 760 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 148,683. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Department Of Health To Collaborate With Centre County, Adds Testing Sites In Centre And Columbia Counties In Effort To Contain Local Spread Of COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Friday, Sept. 25, testing clinics will be held at locations in Centre and Columbia counties to contain the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in these counties. In addition, the department...
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 fontana@pasenate.com 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.