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
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 800 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 107,425
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 26, that there are 800 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 107,425. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Allegheny...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,054 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 106,625
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 25, that there are 1,054 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 106,625. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Dashboard Data Shows Weekly Case Increases Statewide, Multiple Counties with High Percent-Positives
Governor Tom Wolf 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 17 – July 23 to the previous seven days, July 10 – July 16. The...
Gov. Wolf Visits Lancaster Health Center to Thank Staff and Provide an Update on Testing and Contact Tracing
Governor Tom Wolf today visited Lancaster Health Center, a federally qualified health center, to thank staff for their work to ensure the community’s most vulnerable receive care during COVID-19 and year-round. “Here at Lancaster Health Center, workers have gone out...
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement Continues Compliance Checks
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,804 licensed liquor establishments from Wednesday, July 22 through Thursday, July 23 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,213 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 105,571
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 24, that there are 1,213 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 105,571. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Gov. Wolf Signs First Responders Bill, Other Legislation
Governor Tom Wolf signed several bills into law today including HB 1459, which establishes a mental wellness and stress management program for emergency responders who experience post-traumatic stress injuries or traumatic brain injuries on the job. The legislature...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 962 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 104,358
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 23, that there are 962 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 104,358. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Allegheny...
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement Continues Compliance Checks
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,876 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, July 20 through Tuesday, July 21 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Secretary of Agriculture: Urban, Community Gardens Combat Food Deserts, Grow Food, Life Skills
Harrisburg, PA - Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today toured Harrisburg’s Wesley Garden with volunteers and gardeners, discussing the important role community gardens play in providing access to fresh, healthy food for communities affected by food...
State Assistance Available Now and After $600 Federal Unemployment Benefit Ends Saturday
Harrisburg, PA – With the additional $600 federal unemployment benefit about to end, the Departments of Labor & Industry (L&I) and Human Services (DHS) are reminding Pennsylvanians that other state programs are available. The Federal Pandemic...
L&I Holding VirtualTown Hall on Unemployment Compensation at 1 p.m. Thursday
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvanians can ask questions directly to unemployment compensation experts during the Department of Labor & Industry's (L&I) ninth live virtual town hall from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM this Thursday, July 23. The event will feature...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 631 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 103,396
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 22, that there are 631 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 103,396. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Today’s...
Department of Health Builds Contact Tracing Resources to Support Increases of COVID-19 Cases
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today provided an update on contact tracing efforts as COVID-19 remains a threat in our communities. Contact tracing is the process of identifying, notifying, and monitoring anyone who came in close contact...
Pitt, Penn State, Temple University Presidents Voice Support for Mask-Wearing, Mitigation Efforts
Presidents of the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University and Temple University voiced their support today for mask-wearing and mitigation efforts put in place by the Wolf Administration to stop the recent rise in cases of COVID-19 and keep Pennsylvanians...
Gov. Wolf Visits WellSpan York Hospital, Thanks Staff, Discusses Mask-wearing Benefits
With a recent rise in COVID cases and subsequent additional targeted mitigation efforts put in place, Governor Tom Wolf today visited WellSpan York Hospital to thank staff and emphasize why mask-wearing and social distancing are necessary and effective to fight the...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,027 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 102,765
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 21, that there are 1,027 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 102,765. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement Continues Checks, Issues 44 Warnings for COVID-19 Compliance
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,524 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19 as part of its regular work to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation...
Human Services Provides Update on SNAP Online Grocery Purchasing, Encourages Retailers to Join
Harrisburg, PA - Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today reminded Pennsylvanians of the ability to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds to purchase groceries online through select retailers. This flexibility allows SNAP...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 711 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 101,738
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 20, that there are 711 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 101,738. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Allegheny...
National Health Policy Leaders Endorse Gov. Wolf’s ‘Bold’ Action to Stop Another COVID Surge in PA
National health policy leaders today endorsed Governor Tom Wolf’s most recent mitigation efforts to stop another surge of COVID-19 cases in the commonwealth, reminding all Pennsylvanians that by taking these measures now we can stop further spread and end mitigation...
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.