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
Health Department Issues New Order to Stem Spread of COVID-19 in County
PITTSBURGH – Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen today announced that additional mitigation measures are being taken in Allegheny County to further stem the spread of coronavirus cases in the county. The new order calls for a one-week closure of bars,...
Department of Revenue Offering Assistance to Tax Filers Ahead of July 15 Filing Deadline
Harrisburg, PA — With the deadline to file 2019 Pennsylvania personal income tax returns set for July 15, 2020, the Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers who need help with their returns to call the department’s main call center. The department’s...
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) program, which provides an extra $600...
Department of Health Distributes Sixth Shipment of Drug to Help Treat COVID-19 Patients in Hospitals
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health distributed the sixth shipment of the investigational antiviral medication, remdesivir, to treat patients in the hospital with COVID-19. Today, 3,162 doses of medication were sent to 80 hospitals. The federal...
Gov. Wolf: Sec. of Health Signs Expanded Mask-Wearing Order
Expanding on the business safety order signed by Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine in April that requires the wearing of masks in businesses, Governor Tom Wolf today announced a new order signed by Dr. Levine that takes the mask-wearing...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 636 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 87,242
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., July 1, that there are 636 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 87,242. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Pennsylvania Restaurants and Bars Required to Protect Workers and Patrons During COVID-19
The Wolf Administration reminded Pennsylvanians of the requirements put in place for restaurants and bars to protect the health and safety of workers and patrons from COVID-19. “As we continue to make public health and safety a top priority, it’s also important that...
More Than 310,000 Pennsylvanians Receive Rebates Early to Provide Support During COVID-19 Pandemic
Harrisburg, PA — Governor Tom Wolf and Treasurer Joe Torsella today announced more than 310,000 Pennsylvanians have received their rebates early through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which provides support to older homeowners, renters and people with...
More Than 310,000 Pennsylvanians Receive Rebates Early to Provide Support During COVID-19 Pandemic
Governor Tom Wolf and Treasurer Joe Torsella today announced more than 310,000 Pennsylvanians have received their rebates early through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which provides support to older homeowners, renters and people with disabilities. Governor...
Human Services Encourages Choices to Protect Individuals with Disabilities and Other Vulnerable Populations from COVID-19, Funding for Long-Term Care Providers on July 1
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Human Services (DHS) today encouraged Pennsylvanians to make socially responsible decisions that protect themselves, their families, their communities and vulnerable populations, such as individuals with disabilities, from the...
Department of Health Launches COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today launched an online early warning monitoring dashboard that provides information statewide and county COVID-19 prevalence to track increases in disease in the community on a weekly basis. “This dashboard...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 618 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 86,606
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 30, that there are 618 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 86,606. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Pennsylvania Extends Unemployment Compensation Benefits for 13 More Weeks
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today announced that people who exhaust their regular unemployment compensation (UC) and federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) may now...
State Police, Liquor Control Board Remind Licensed Liquor Establishments to Require Masks, Follow Social Distancing
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE) and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) today called on licensed liquor establishments and their patrons to abide by social distancing and masking requirements to help...
Gov. Wolf Visits UPMC Pinnacle Community Osteopathic, Thanks Staff, Discusses Required Mask-wearing Benefits
As health care professionals work the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and the commonwealth continues to emphasize the importance of mask-wearing and social distancing to protect all, Governor Tom Wolf today visited UPMC Pinnacle Community Osteopathic Hospital in...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 492 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 85,988
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 29, that there are 492 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 85,988. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Wolf Administration: CARES Act Funding for Small Businesses Available Tomorrow
Governor Tom Wolf announced that beginning tomorrow small businesses across Pennsylvania can apply for grants to offset lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown order. “In unprecedented times, like those we are currently facing,...
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Resumes Expanded E-Commerce Sales at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com
Harrisburg – Having expanded the online product catalog back to about 6,000 items, resumed online Special Order sales and eliminated the six-bottle order limit, FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com has returned to expanded e-commerce sales. At the start of the...
Wolf Administration Updates Veterinarian Guidance to Include Routine or Elective Surgeries
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today updated the Guidance on Veterinary Practices amid the COVID-19 Pandemic to allow for non-essential services and routine or elective surgical procedures, like spaying and neutering, to take place....
Gov. Wolf Issues Statement in Support of Allegheny County COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts Announced Today
Governor Tom Wolf today commended the Allegheny County Executive and Health Department for the additional mitigations the county is putting in place in response to significant COVID-19 case increases over the past few days, emphasizing that the situation in Allegheny...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 505 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 85,496
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 28, that there are 505 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 85,496. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
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.