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
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement August 26-27: 1,004 Compliance Checks; 18 Warnings
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,004 licensed liquor establishments from Wednesday, August 26 through Thursday, August 27 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 835 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 131,991
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 28, that there are 835 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 131,991 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Gov. Wolf: PA to Distribute $117 Million in CARES Funding for Child Care Providers
Governor Tom Wolf today announced his plan to distribute more than $117 million in CARES Act funding to child care providers across Pennsylvania – the third of three distributions to sustain an industry that builds healthy foundations for our children, facilitates...
Wolf Administration Awards $10 Million to 23 Entities to Develop Effective COVID-19 Vaccines, Treatments and Therapies
Governor Tom Wolf announced that 23 awardees will receive $10 million in grant funding through the COVID-19 Vaccines, Treatments and Therapies (CV-VTT) program to support the rapid advancement of vaccines, treatments and therapies by qualified biotechnology entities...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 620 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 131,156
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 27, that there are 620 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 131,156 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement August 24-25: 1,245 Compliance Checks; 21 Warnings
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,245 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, August 24 through Tuesday, August 25 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Wolf Administration Promotes Programs and Resources Available to Pennsylvania Families with Children During COVID-19 Crisis and 2020-21 Back-to-School Season
Harrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania’s secretaries of the departments of Health, Education and Human Services today assured Pennsylvania families that the Wolf Administration is committed to helping families with children overcome challenges created by the COVID-19...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 501 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 130,536
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 26, that there are 501 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 130,536 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Department of Health Partnership Yields 487 COVID-19 Tests, Resources for Hundreds of Underserved Individuals in Lebanon County in July and August
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today highlighted the results of a testing partnership established with the goal of expanding COVID-19 testing in hot spots of Lebanon County. Welsh Mountain Health Centers, Latino Connection, and Aetna Better...
Wolf Administration Marks Progress on Baseline Universal Testing for Long-Term Care Facilities, Highlights Work of Regional Response Health Collaboratives
Harrisburg, PA - Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today provided an update on universal baseline COVID-19 testing in DHS-licensed personal care homes, assisted living residences, and private intermediate care facilities. To date, 1,160,...
Gov. Wolf: $17 Million to Help Schools Improve Services to Historically Underserved Students
Governor Tom Wolf is dedicating approximately $17 million to help 220 local education agencies (LEAs), including school districts, to improve educational services for approximately 180,000 students at schools designated for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement...
Department of Health, Community Groups Roll Out COVID-19 Mobile Response Unit to Provide Testing and Education to Underserved Communities
Harrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine today announced a unique partnership with Latino Connection, Highmark Blue Shield and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation to create the first-in-the-nation COVID-19 Mobile Response...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 561 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 130,035
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 25, that there are 561 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 130,035 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Gov. Wolf Urges Legislature to Protect Pennsylvanians from Evictions and Foreclosures
With an executive order that protects homeowners and renters from eviction or foreclose expiring Sept. 1, Governor Tom Wolf sent letters to the House and Senate urging the legislature to temporarily extend the existing moratorium and fix defects in Act 24 of 2020, a...
Department of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, August 17-23
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from August 17 through August 23, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants including social...
Gov. Wolf Calls on Legislature to Act Immediately on COVID-19 Recovery and Government Reform
Governor Tom Wolf today presented his fall legislative agenda for worker and family support and protections, COVID-19 recovery, and government reform. The initiatives were introduced to focus the General Assembly after a spring and summer of Republican efforts to...
Pennsylvania Shares Update on COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard, County Transmission Levels, Cases Traced to Businesses
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 will be released each Monday beginning today. The...
Department of Health Shares Weekly Data for COVID-19 Investigations, Contact Tracing, Monitoring Efforts
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today shared an update on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing data. “In order to successfully mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we need to use proven public health strategies such as case...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 426 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 129,474
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 24, that there are 426 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 129,474 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The number of...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 619 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 129,048
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 22, that there are 619 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 129,048. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 796 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 128,429
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 22, that there are 796 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 128,429. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
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.