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
Fontana Calls State Budget a Sham
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today provided the following comment after the state Senate approved the 2014-15 fiscal year budget (House Bill 2328): “Apart from the usual misguided priorities, I’m alarmed that so-called fiscal conservatives...
Fontana Comments on Highmark-UPMC Agreement
HARRISBURG, June 27, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement in response to the announced Highmark-UPMC health insurance coverage agreement: “Today’s announcement is good step forward. It will help allay fears and preserve...
Senate Approves Fontana Bill that Renames Part of Rt. 51 in Honor of Capt. Ruane
HARRISBURG, June 25, 2014 – The state Senate has unanimously approved legislation (House Bill 2072) that includes an amendment sponsored by Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) to rename a portion of Route 51 in Kennedy Township as the “Captain Sean M. Ruane Memorial...
Fontana Pays Tribute to Legendary Steelers Coach Chuck Noll
HARRISBURG, June 20, 2014 – Speaking on the Senate floor, state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana gave the following remarks in tribute to the late legendary Steelers coach Chuck Noll: “Mr. President, I rise to offer this resolution that pays tribute to legendary Pittsburgh...
Op-ed: It’s Time for Huge Non-Profits to Pay Their Fair Share of Pittsburgh’s Tax Burden
Recently, our city’s financial overseers released a five-year plan aimed toward greater stability. While I applaud the recovery officers’ ongoing effort toward a path of reasonable, financial sustainability for Pittsburgh, I have serious reservations about a provision...
Fontana Bill Would Empower Municipalities to Help Rectify Sewer Lateral Problems
HARRISBURG, June 3, 2014 – A state Senate committee today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) that would give municipal governments the option of establishing policies and helping residents repair damaged sewer laterals....
Op-ed: My Idea for Saving the August Wilson Center
As the fate of Pittsburgh’s treasured August Wilson Center for African American Culture inches closer to foreclosure, it is time to step back from this pitched battle between bidders, bankers and community authorities and examine amicable and innovative solutions. In...
Fontana Child Abuse Reporting Bill Set to Become Law
HARRISBURG, May 7, 2014 – The state Senate today unanimously approved Sen. Wayne D. Fontana’s (D-Brookline) bill that would toughen child abuse reporting requirements in schools. Senate Bill 31 now goes to the governor for enactment. “This bill will help protect our...
Fontana Calls for Strengthening State’s Film Tax Credit program
Harrisburg, March 31, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) has introduced legislation that would make more money available to the state’s film production tax credit program by recapturing unused credits from the previous year. If such a law were currently...
Sen. Fontana Re-Elected Vice Chair of PHEAA Board
Harrisburg, February 13, 2014 – 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). “I appreciate the board’s unanimous...
Fontana Wants More Budget Dollars for Jobs and Businesses
Harrisburg, February 4, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2014-15 state budget proposal. “Like all budgets, there are things you like – and things you don’t. While I applaud the...
Senate Democrats Press Corbett on Human Services Funding Failures
PITTSBURGH, January 30, 2014 – Flanked by people who have struggled due to state human services budget cuts, Senate Democrats today detailed their budget priorities and challenged Gov. Tom Corbett to produce a spending plan that is aligned with the needs of...
Fontana Praises Veterans at World War II Monument Dedication
Pittsburgh, December 6, 2013 – Calling the Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II monument a fitting tribute to World War II veterans and Pittsburgh’s historic role in that war, state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) took part in today’s dedication ceremony at the...
Fontana Bill would Give Military Veterans Stronger Hiring Edge
Harrisburg, November 19, 2013 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today unveiled legislation that would increase the veterans’ preference points in Civil Service testing from 10 to 15 points. The Fontana legislation, introduced as part of a previous jobs...
Workforce Development Experts, Community College Officials Share Thoughts, Ideas on Ways PA Can Deliver Qualified Workers to Industry
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 30, 2013 – Workforce development leaders and strategists from community colleges worked with the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee today to devise a better strategy for delivering trained employees to Pennsylvania’s energy, manufacturing and...
Fontana, Senate Committee to Discuss Community Colleges, Workforce Development
Sen. Wayne Fontana and the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee will host a roundtable discussion at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, in Pittsburgh to examine how community colleges can better prepare skilled workers in energy, manufacturing and other industry...
Fontana Welcomes CSX Project to McKees Rocks, Stowe
McKees Rocks, October 17, 2013 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana is praising CSX Corporation’s announcement today that it plans to build the Pittsburgh Intermodal Terminal in McKees Rocks Borough and Stowe Township after reviewing numerous sites along CSXT mainline...
Senate Unanimously Approves Fontana Child Abuse Reporting Bill
HARRISBURG, October 16, 2013 – The state Senate today unanimously approved state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana’s (D-Brookline) bill that would toughen child abuse reporting requirements in schools. “I am pleased by this strong bipartisan vote in the Senate and will urge my...
Pittsburgh Trial Highlights Need for Child Abuse Reporting Upgrade
Op-ed by Senator Wayne Fontana - Testimony from the trial in Pittsburgh involving alleged child abuse by a former Pittsburgh Public Schools police officer underscores the need for better safeguards for our children and clearer reporting procedures for school...
Fontana Says New State Budget Comes up Short on Education and Job Creation
Harrisburg, June 30, 2013 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement after the senate passed a new $28.3 billion budget by a vote of 33-17. Fontana opposed the measure (House Bill 1437): “With this budget, the Corbett...
Fontana Child Abuse Reporting Bill Clears Senate Education Committee
HARRISBURG, June 11, 2013 – The state Senate Education Committee today unanimously approved state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana’s (D-Brookline) bill that would toughen child abuse reporting requirements in schools “I am heartened and encouraged by this strong bipartisan vote...
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.