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
Nurses Rally in Support for Fontana Bill on Hospital Staffing and Care
HARRISBURG, May 10, 2016 – Dozens of nurses rallied in the state Capitol Rotunda today to show support for legislation sponsored by Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) that would improve staffing and the quality of care at Pennsylvania hospitals. Fontana’s Senate Bill...
State Senate Hearing in Pittsburgh Focuses on Opiate Addiction Treatment
Pittsburgh - April 7, 2016 - At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on ways to improve access to treatment for people suffering from addiction to opiates, such as heroin, opium and...
Fontana, Costa Call For Removal of ICA Director, Criminal Investigation
Harrisburg, April 5, 2016 - State Sen. Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Caucus Chairman Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) called today for the removal of Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) Executive Director Henry V. Sciortino and...
Fontana Bill Would Make a Lead Detection Test an Option for Home Buyers
HARRISBURG, March 23, 2016 –State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today introduced legislation that would give home buyers the option of requesting that a home be tested to determine what level of lead is in the water. The Fontana bill (Senate Bill 1176) was part of a five-bill...
Fontana Re-Elected Vice Chair of PHEAA Board
HARRISBURG, February 18, 2016 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today was unanimously re-elected to serve as the vice chairman of the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Created in 1963 by the state...
Fontana Statement on Senate Kane Removal Attempt
HARRISBURG, February 10, 2016 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today provided the following statement on the state Senate’s attempted vote to remove Attorney General Kathleen Kane from office. The senate voted 29 to 19 in favor of recommending Kane’s removal. However,...
State Auditor General’s Report backs Fontana’s Call to Dissolve ICA
PITTSBURGH, November 10, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today issued a statement in response to the audit report issued by state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. The audit concludes that the state-imposed Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority...
Fontana Calls GOP Stopgap Budget a Wasteful PR Stunt
Harrisburg, Sept. 18, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today gave the following statement after the party-line Senate vote in favor of the Republican’s so-called stopgap budget measure. Fontana voted against the legislation. “I’m disgusted by this...
Fontana Bill Would Disband “Redundant and Unecessary” ICA in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 15, 2015 – Calling Pittsburgh’s state-imposed Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) “unnecessary, redundant and a waste of taxpayer dollars,” State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced legislation that would disband the authority. “The ICA...
Fontana Calls GOP Budget a Political Scam
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today provided the following comment after the state Senate’s 30-19 party line vote for a Republican-sponsored 2015-16 fiscal year budget (House Bill 1192): “It’s disappointing that Republicans are advocating...
Fontana Backs Suit to Enforce Highmark-UPMC Consent Decree
Harrisburg, May 22, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) has signed on to a “friend of the court” legal brief aimed at backing the state Attorney General’s lawsuit to enforce the Highmark-UPMC consent decree. The lawsuit would force the two sides into...
Fontana Credits Governor Wolf for Dynamic Budget Proposal
Harrisburg, March 3, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2015-16 state budget proposal: “Any budget discussion must begin with the fact that the irresponsible policies of the past four...
Fontana Bill would Legalize and Regulate Ride-Share Services
Brookline – February 12, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today re-introduced legislation that would legalize, regulate and license transportation network companies (TNC) in Pennsylvania. Uber and Lyft, and other so-called ride-sharing service...
Fontana Opens Local Mobile Offices to Reach More Constituents
HARRISBURG, February 3, 2015 – In an effort to make his staff and local services more convenient and accessible for constituents, state Senator Wayne D. Fontana is opening two new mobile offices. “Redistricting has changed some of the communities I represent,” Fontana...
Fontana Appointed Democratic Chair of Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee
HARRISBURG, January 15, 2015 – State Senator Wayne Fontana has been named Democratic Chair of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee. “I am pleased with this committee assignment and will use my position to help cities like Pittsburgh and its outlying...
Fontana Sworn in to Another Senate Term
HARRISBURG, January 6, 2015 – With family, friends and supporters on hand, State Senator Wayne Fontana took the oath of office today and pledged to continue fighting for jobs, economic investment and tax relief. First elected in 2005, the Brookline lawmaker ran...
Fontana Describes Corbett Mid-Year Budget Deficit as a “Foregone Conclusion”
Pittsburgh, December 3, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement after Corbett Administration officials today admitted that the state faces a nearly $ 2 billion budget shortfall: “Budgets are about choices and priorities. ...
Fontana Elected to Serve as Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman
Harrisburg, November 12, 2014 – State Senate Democrats today unanimously elected state Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) to serve as Democratic Caucus chairman for the coming two-year legislative session. The caucus chairman sets the daily caucus agenda and leads...
Fontana Supports Ride-share Companies at PUC Hearing
Harrisburg, August 28, 2014 – Urging the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) to grant ride-share companies Uber and Lyft permanent operating licenses, State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today testified that the businesses provide citizens more transportation options,...
Fontana Applauds PUC Vote on Temporary Ride-Share Licensing
Brookline – July 24, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today said he was pleased by the five-member Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) unanimous vote today to allow Uber and Lyft to continue providing so-called “ride-share” service in Allegheny County. Fontana, who...
Fontana Introduces Ride-Sharing Legislation
Resolution calling for immediate PUC action also proposed Harrisburg – July 8, 2014 – Legislation that would provide a remedy to the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) ruling that bars Uber and Lyft from offering ride-sharing transportation alternatives in Allegheny...
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.