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
PennDOT Issues Guidance as Adopt-A-Highway Activities Resume
Harrisburg PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced guidance for groups looking to beautify their communities as its Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) activities resume across the state, including mask wearing, social distancing and...
Legislators Join Gov. Wolf in Call for Masking
State and federal officials joined Governor Tom Wolf in reminding Pennsylvanians to wear a mask to reduce the likelihood of spreading COVID-19. “As we increasingly resume public activities in our commonwealth, we need to remain vigilant about taking precautions,...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 995 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 91,299
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 7, that there are 995 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 91,299. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The number...
More Research Points to Importance of Masks, Mandatory Mask-Wearing Order Remains in Effect
The Wolf Administration highlighted recent research studies that further point to the importance of wearing masks to stop the spread of COVID-19. “The recent uptick in cases in southwest Pennsylvania have been traced to people not wearing masks in public places such...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 450 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 90,304
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 6, that there are 450 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 90,304. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Gov. Wolf Announces $53 Million in Additional Support for Child Care Providers
Governor Tom Wolf visited the child care center at PSECU headquarters in Harrisburg today to announce $53 million in additional financial support for child care providers that have suffered during COVID-19. “This funding will help child care providers bridge the gap...
State arts council distributes $2.3 million to arts groups
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday that 309 nonprofit arts organizations will receive grants totaling $2.3 million to help with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds from the federal CARES Act support staff salaries, facilities costs and fees for artists or...
Pennsylvania Arts Organizations Receive $2.3 Million in Pandemic Relief
Governor Tom Wolf announced today that 309 nonprofit arts organizations will receive grants totaling $2.3 million to help with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds from the CARES Act support staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel, and...
Mask-Wearing is Required and Critical to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Governor Tom Wolf today reminded Pennsylvanians that mask-wearing is required and critical to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “The order to make mask-wearing mandatory when leaving home was put in place to protect all Pennsylvanians from the spread of COVID-19,” Gov....
Gov. Wolf: Wearing Masks Gives Us More Freedom
On this Fourth of July, Governor Tom Wolf reminded Pennsylvanians that masks – required when leaving home – provide more freedom to do the things we love without an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. “This Independence Day I ask all Pennsylvanians and all those...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 634 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 89,375
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 4, that there are 634 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 89,375. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Gov. Wolf Reminds Pennsylvanians: ‘Masks are Mandatory’
“Masks are mandatory when leaving the home,” Governor Tom Wolf reminded Pennsylvanians today. “Especially as we are beginning a long Fourth of July weekend, it’s critical that everyone remember that masks are mandatory and must be worn when leaving your home,” Wolf...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 667 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 88,741
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 3, that there are 667 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 88, 741. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Local Officials, Business Owners and Organizations Echo Gov. Wolf’s Call to Mask Up, PA
Governor Tom Wolf’s repeated calls to wear a mask and Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine’s latest order requiring masks to be worn at all times in public, combined with scientific proof that masks help stop the spread of COVID-19, are resonating with local...
Reopening Phase Orders Updated to Include Last County Moving to Green on July 3
Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today signed amended green phase orders for the last Pennsylvania county to move to green. Lebanon County is moving to green at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, July 3. With these orders effective at 12:01 a.m., tomorrow...
State Police Continues to Enforce COVID-19 Mitigation Requirements at Licensed Liquor Establishments
Harrisburg, PA – Officers from the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE) will continue visiting licensed liquor establishments over the holiday weekend to ensure licensees are doing their part to prevent the spread of...
Education Department: New Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced School Meals Announced for the 2020-21 School Year
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Education today announced that updated federal income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk for the 2020-21 schools year have been released by the U.S. Department of...
State Assistance Available When Federal $600 Weekly Unemployment Benefit Ends July 25
Harrisburg, PA - The Departments of Labor & Industry (L&I) and Human Services (DHS) are reminding Pennsylvanians that state assistance is available when the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)Opens In A New Window program, which...
Gov. Wolf: ‘Wear a mask, Pennsylvania’
Reiterating the mandate of the mask-wearing order Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed yesterday, Governor Tom Wolf again today advised all Pennsylvanians that wearing masks when outside the home is mandatory. “As we approach the Fourth of July holiday...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 832 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 88,074
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 2, that there are 832 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 88,074. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Health Department Provides Data on June 20-30 COVID-19 Cases
PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department is providing the following data on recent cases of COVID-19. Between June 20 and June 30, Health Department staff started investigations on 712 new cases of COVID-19. New cases range in age from 4 months to 97 years...
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.