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
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...
Health Department Director Executes Order to Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
PITTSBURGH – Dr. Debra Bogen, Director of the Allegheny County Health Department this afternoon executed the order for bars and restaurants to cease on-site consumption of alcohol to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The order is effective immediately although it...
County Bans On-Premises Alcohol Consumption, Recommends Quarantine for Travelers
PITTSBURGH – County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen today announced that additional mitigation measures are being taken in Allegheny County in response to recent one-day increases in new cases. “For the first time since...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 621 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 84,991
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 27, that there are 621 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 84,991. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Wolf Administration Announces Strategy to Ease Long-Term Care Facility Restrictions through Gradual Three-Step Process to Protect Vulnerable Populations
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania departments of Health and Human Services today issued updated guidance to ensure a safe return to activities, visitation, and other events for residents in nursing homes, personal care homes, assisted living residences...
Wolf Administration Continues Support for Residents and Staff at Long-Term Care Facilities, Mitigates the Spread of COVID-19 through Testing, Education and Resources
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Secretary of Human Services Teresa Miller today emphasized the work being done through testing, education and resources to assist long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 to...
Gov. Wolf: Masks are Mandatory in Pennsylvania Businesses
Governor Tom Wolf today reminded all Pennsylvania residents and businesses that masks are mandatory when visiting a business. “The importance of mask-wearing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect people and businesses cannot be overstated,” Gov. Wolf said....
Gov. Wolf: Last PA County will Move to Green on July 3
Governor Tom Wolf announced today that Lebanon County is slated to move to the green phase of reopening on July 3, putting all 67 counties in green. Twelve counties moved to green today, joining 54 already in the least restrictive phase of reopening. “We will soon...
Secretary of Agriculture Implores USDA to Continue Waiver to Safeguard Food Bank Employees, Volunteers, Clients
Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue pleading for his continuance of Pennsylvania's waiver for the need to collect client names and addresses and verify income...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 600 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 84,370
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 26, that there are 600 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 84,370. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Five More Fine Wine & Good Spirits to Begin Limited In-Store Public Access in Southeast Pennsylvania
559 FW&GS stores across Pennsylvania will be open for retail sales Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board today announced that five more Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in southeast Pennsylvania will resume limited in-store public access, abiding...
Health Department Releases Additional Information on the Week’s COVID Cases
PITTSBURGH – Today’s report of 61 new cases of COVID-19 caps a 7-day period during which Allegheny County has reported 244 new cases. These cases were overwhelmingly among younger people who were traveling, visiting bars and restaurants, and out in the community. The...
Gov. Wolf: CARES Act Funding Now Available to Museums and Cultural Organizations
Governor Tom Wolf announced the availability of $20 million in grant funding for cultural organizations and museums to offset lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown order. The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) today approved...
Wolf Administration Urges Pennsylvanians to Celebrate Safely on the Fourth
Harrisburg, PA – As millions of Pennsylvanians prepare to celebrate Independence Day, the Wolf Administration is urging residents to take the necessary steps to protect both loved ones and property. “Fireworks aren’t toys,” said State Fire Commissioner Bruce...
Reopening Phase Orders Updated to Include 12 Additional Counties Moving to Green on June 26
Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today signed amended green phase orders for the 12 counties moving to green at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, June 26. The counties include Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh,...
Human Services Secretary: Medicaid Providers Cannot Charge Patients for PPE
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Human Services (DHS) today advised Medicaid providers that Medicaid recipients may not be charged for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used in connection with medical or dental services. “While we are moving in the right...
Gov. Wolf: Pennsylvania Businesses Endorse Mask-Wearing to Protect Employees, Customers, Communities
Multiple research studies indicate the efficacy of mask-wearing to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Mask-wearing also has been called altruistic, a way to increase our freedoms, and a simple kindness. Today, Governor Tom Wolf’s call to wear masks has been...
L&I Holding Virtual Town Hall on Thursday so Pennsylvanians Can Ask Questions of Unemployment Compensation Experts
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is hosting its fifth live virtual town hall from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM this Thursday, June 25, 2020, to share information about regular unemployment compensation (UC) and other new COVID-19-related...
Gov. Wolf Leads Bipartisan Effort in Calling on President, Congressional Leaders to Invest in Broadband Internet Access
As states continue to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including economic recovery efforts, Governor Tom Wolf and a bipartisan coalition of 11 governors today sent a letter urging the president and Congressional leaders to make critical investments to ensure...
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.