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 Provides Update on COVID-19, 579 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 83,770
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 25, that there are 579 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 83,770. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Department of Health Announces Partnership with CVS Health to Assist with COVID-19 Response in Nursing Homes
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced a partnership with CVS Health to assist with nursing home facility testing as part of the state’s COVID-19 response. The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Emergency Management...
Gov. Wolf Thanks Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Staff During Visit
As the commonwealth continues its measured, phased reopening and COVID-19 case counts continue to decline, Governor Tom Wolf visited Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center today to thank staff and learn more about how the facility is handling the pandemic and...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 495 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 83,191
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 24, that there are 495 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 83,191. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Wolf Administration Urges USDA to Maintain Flexibility for States Administering SNAP Benefits in Response to Continued Threat of COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA - Governor Tom Wolf today sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the USDA to extend waivers granted to provide states for longer than a month at a time to preserve flexibility they need to...
Insurance Department Issues Notice to Insurers Highlighting Inappropriate Billing Practices
Harrisburg, PA – Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman announced today that the department has submitted a notice to the Pennsylvania Bulletin outlining guidance for insurers that encounter providers engaging in inappropriate billing practices during the COVID-19...
Gov. Wolf: Masks Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Governor Tom Wolf today noted that research confirms the importance of wearing masks to stop the spread of COVID-19 and that Pennsylvanians are required to wear masks when entering any business in all counties in both yellow and green phases of reopening. “As most...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 510 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 82,696
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 23, that there are 510 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 82,696. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are 6,464...
Gov Wolf Thanks Pennsylvania’s Food Banks for Helping Those in Need
Governor Tom Wolf is thanking food banks, farmers, volunteers and others across the state for helping to feed Pennsylvania families during the pandemic. Today, the governor visited the York County Food Bank’s East York Emergency Food Hub, which provides groceries to...
Gov. Wolf: Pennsylvania Reduced Prison Population by Record-Setting 3,471 since March 1
Governor Tom Wolf announced today that since March 1, the population of those in state correctional facilities has been reduced by 3,471 individuals, the largest multiple-month decrease ever experienced by the Department of Corrections and one that likely helped the...
DEP Launches Expanded Online Permitting Options to Assist Businesses
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced a new online permit application tool that will help permit applicants submit their permit applications electronically. The new tool, OnBase-DEP Upload Form, will...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 456 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 82,186
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 22, that there are 456 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 82,186. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 464 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 81,730
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 21, that there are 464 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 81,730. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 504 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 81,266
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 20, that there are 504 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 81,266. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Department of Aging Releases Reopening Guidance for Senior Centers, Adult Day Centers, and In-Person Visits
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) has issued reopening guidance for aging services providers located in counties that are entering the green phase. In collaboration with representatives of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and...
Department of Health: More than 4,000 Close Contacts of COVID-19 Cases Identified, Monitored through Contact Tracing Efforts across Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today announced more than 4,000 close contacts of COVID-19 cases have been identified and monitored to date through the contact tracing efforts of 500 trained contact tracers throughout the state, including...
Gov. Wolf: 12 More Counties to Go Green on June 26
Governor Tom Wolf today announced that 12 more counties will move to the green phase of reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 26. These counties include Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery,...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 526 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 80,762
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 19, that there are 526 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 80,762. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Secretary of State: Disaster Declaration Helps Pennsylvanians Get Needed Services During COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar outlined today the benefits to Pennsylvanians of the governor's disaster declaration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Department of State has worked closely with the governor over the past...
PEMA: Gov. Wolf’s Disaster Declaration Vital for Commonwealth Response
Harrisburg, PA – The director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Randy Padfield, today emphasized the need for continuing Governor Tom Wolf’s proclamation of disaster emergency in order to continue commonwealth response efforts and make state,...
Department of Health Distributes Fifth Shipment of Drug to Help Treat COVID-19 Patients in Hospitals
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health distributed the fifth shipment of the investigational antiviral medication, remdesivir, to treat patients in the hospital with COVID-19. Today, 4,788 doses of medication were sent to 82 hospitals. The federal...
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.