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 Announces Free COVID-19 Testing Site In Pike County
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced that a long-term outdoor drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will open to the public in Pike County at the Pike County Pennsylvania Welcome Center. The site is available through a partnership with AMI...
Department Of Health: Over 8.9 Million Vaccinations To Date, 51.6% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 43.4% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 7, there were 2,986 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,169,678. Please note, one lab is still getting caught up with backlogged data...
Department Of Health: Over 8.9 Million Vaccinations To Date, 51.2% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 42.7% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 6, there were 2,476 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,166,692. Please note, one lab is still getting caught up with backlogged data...
PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on Legionella Prevention
Harrisburg – May 5, 2021 - At the request of Pennsylvania State Senators Wayne D. Fontana (D- Allegheny) and John Kane (D- Chester/Delaware), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual policy hearing on Legionella prevention in Pennsylvania and the concern...
Department Of Health: Over 8.8 Million Vaccinations To Date, 50.9% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 42.2% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 5, there were 2,597 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,164,216 There are 2,172 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
PA Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing: Legionella Prevention
Wolf Administration and Rite Aid Partner to Ease COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism
Governor Tom Wolf today announced a partnership with Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid Pharmacy to ease access to COVID-19 vaccinations for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “All Pennsylvanians are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines, but we...
Wolf Administration to Lift Mitigation Orders On Memorial Day, Masking Order Once 70% Of Pennsylvania Adults Fully Vaccinated
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf administration, in coordination with the COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force, announced today that mitigation orders except masking will be lifted on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 12:01 AM. The current order requiring...
Department Of Health: Over 8.7 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 50.6% Of Population, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 3, there were 3,133 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,161,619. There are 2,151 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Department Of Aging: PACE COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership With Walmart Has Helped More Than 25,000 Vulnerable Older Adults
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today announced that its PACE prescription assistance program, working together with Walmart, has helped more than 25,000 older Pennsylvanians get a vaccination appointment. The PACE/Walmart Vaccine...
Fontana Home-Ownership Initiative Cleared for Full-Senate Vote
HARRISBURG - April 28, 2021 – An initiative originally introduced by state Sens. Wayne Fontana and Bob Mensch to boost first-time home ownership has cleared a key committee and is headed again to the full Senate for a vote. The plan will allow individuals and their...
Department Of Health: Resume Use Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Following FDA/CDC Recommendation
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today notified all COVID-19 vaccine providers that the pause in administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine has been lifted. The move follows updated guidance announced today by the...
Department Of Health: Over 7.9 Million Vaccinations To Date, More Than 3.1 Million Fully Vaccinated, First Doses Of Vaccine To 46.2% Of Population, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Harrisburg, PA - - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 24, there were 4,164 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,131,014. There are 2,702 individuals hospitalized with...
Department Of Health: Resume Use Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Following FDA/CDC Recommendation
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today notified all COVID-19 vaccine providers that the pause in administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine has been lifted. The move follows updated guidance announced today by the...
Department Of Health Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard To Highlight Race And Ethnicity Data By County
Harrisburg, PA - Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam today announced the latest update to the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard that provides demographic data such as race, ethnicity, gender and age of individuals who have been vaccinated by...
Department Of Health: Over 7.7 Million Vaccinations To Date, More Than 3 Million Fully Vaccinated, First Doses Of Vaccine To 45.3% Of Population, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 23, there were 4,188 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,126,850. There are 2,808 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Gov. Wolf Visits See-Right Pharmacy to Discuss COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Efforts
Governor Tom Wolf today visited See-Right Pharmacy in Harrisburg to learn more about how the local, neighborhood pharmacy is vaccinating community members and to talk about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Pennsylvania. “Local, community vaccine providers are essential...
Department Of Education Launches Program To Help Schools Address Learning Loss Due To The Pandemic
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) launched the next phase of an initiative that helps school leaders and educators address students’ learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new toolkit and professional learning series,...
Department Of Health: Over 7.5 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 44.7% Of Population, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 22, there were 4,192 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,122,662. There are 2,842 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Senators Announce Funding for Pittsburgh Region Water Upgrades
HARRISBURG, April 21, 2021 – More than 2,000 water customers across the Pittsburgh region will receive new, lead-free water lines through a series of grants announced today by state Sens. Jay Costa, Wayne Fontana and Lindsey Williams. More than $18 million will go to...
Fontana Announces $1.2M for Community Projects
HARRISBURG, April 21, 2021 – Community projects in the 42nd Senate District will receive more than $1.2 million in state funds, Sen. Wayne Fontana announced today. The money will go toward local improvement projects ranging from a pedestrian bridge and walking...
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 [email protected] 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.