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 7-9: 1,190 Compliance Checks, 10 Notices of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,190 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Wolf Administration Provides Additional Recommendations to Help Schools Safely Navigate COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania departments of Health (DOH) and Education (PDE) today provided school administrators and governing bodies with recommendations as to which instructional models they should consider implementing based...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 601 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 119,453
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 10, that there are 601 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 119,453. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 760 Positive Cases Reported Bring Statewide Total to 118,852
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 8, that there are 760 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported to the department, bringing the statewide total to 118,852. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 813 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 118,092
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 8, that there are 813 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 118,092. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Pennsylvania Shares Update on COVID-19 Dashboard, Mitigation Efforts in Long-Term Care Facilities
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, comparing the seven-day period of July 31 – August 6 to the...
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement August 5-6: 1,168 Compliance Checks, Seven Notices of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,168 licensed liquor establishments from Wednesday, August 5 through Thursday, August 6 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 758 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 117,279
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 7, that there are 758 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 117,279. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Gov. Wolf: Congress Must Extend $600 Federal Unemployment Benefit to Help Pennsylvanians
After joining U.S. Senator Bob Casey earlier this week to call for an extension to the $600 federal unemployment benefit, Governor Tom Wolf is again urging Congress to act quickly and continue this lifeline for out of work Pennsylvanians. “COVID-19 has brought about...
Department of Health: Take Proper Steps to Protect Yourself and Baby While Breastfeeding during COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Health today encouraged people who are breastfeeding or chestfeeding to take proper steps to protect themselves so their babies can get the essential nutrients...
Wolf Administration Provides Recommendation for School and Recreational Youth Sports
The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Education today jointly recommended that Pre-K–12 school and recreational youth sports be postponed until at least Jan. 1, 2021, to protect children and teens from COVID-19. The administration is providing this...
Gov. Wolf: $10.5 Million to Help Career and Technical Education Centers Resume Operations
Governor Tom Wolf is dedicating approximately $10.5 million to Career and Technical Education Centers (CTC) to assist them in implementing public health and safety plans and help them to resume operations. CTC Equity grants provide funding to support effective...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 807 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 116,521
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 6, that there are 807 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 116,521. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Allegheny...
Wolf Administration Highlights Increased Efforts to Expand COVID-19 Testing Availability
Governor Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine today highlighted ongoing efforts to expand testing across Pennsylvania to ensure that every Pennsylvanian who wants a test can get one. “If we want to mitigate the spread of this very...
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement August 3-4: 1,244 Compliance Checks, Three Notices of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,244 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, August 3 through Tuesday, August 4 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 705 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 115,714
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 5, that there are 705 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 115,714. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 854 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 115,009
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 4, that there are 854 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 115,009. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Allegheny...
Gov. Wolf: $28 Million to Help Higher Education Resume Operations
Governor Tom Wolf is dedicating approximately $28 million to postsecondary institutions and adult basic education providers to assist them in implementing public health and safety plans and help them to resume operations in the fall. The funding will be used to help...
Wolf Administration, Local Law Enforcement Stress Important Roles Education and Understanding Play in Enforcement of COVID-19 Orders
Governor Tom Wolf visited the Susquehanna Township Police headquarters today to discuss the important roles education and understanding play in the enforcement of the various COVID-19 mitigation orders in place across the state. “We have to do everything we can to...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 565 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 114,155
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 3, that there are 565 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 114,155. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Allegheny...
Department of Health Continues to Increase Testing in Several Regions
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health announced today that beginning Wednesday, August 5, various Walmart locations across the state will begin providing drive-thru testing for residents living in areas where there is a need for testing sites. “We appreciate...
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.