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 Launches New Online Training for Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse to Mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Harrisburg, PA -- In response to and in recognition of Governor Wolf's Executive Order on Vulnerable Populations, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging has created a free, online Mandatory Abuse Reporting training module to help aging and human services providers...
Department of Health Announces Additional Partnerships to Assist with COVID-19 Response
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced a partnership with General Healthcare Resources to assist with the COVID-19 response. “We are so pleased to have this level of collaboration and assistance from General Healthcare Resources,”...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 336 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 78,798
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 14, that there are 336 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 78,798. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 463 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 78,462
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 13, that there are 463 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 78,462. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Nearly 74...
Gov. Wolf: State’s Measured, Phased Reopening Plan Succeeding as Other States See Cases Rise
As Pennsylvania continues to implement Governor Tom Wolf’s Process to Reopen PA, the state is also among a select few with a steady decline in cases, a positive indicator that the state’s phased, measured reopening plan is working to balance public health with...
Food Safety Program Provides Updated Guidance for Food Establishments
PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department today provided updated guidance for restaurants and food facilities operating in the green phase of the governor’s “Process to Reopen Pennsylvania.” The updated guidance is in accordance with changes made by the...
Allegheny County Expands COVID-19 Dashboard with More Race, Ethnicity Information
PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County today announced that an enhanced interactive dashboard is now available on the county’s website. The new dashboard displays detailed data about COVID-19 cases in the region and will begin reporting more complete information on race and...
Gov. Wolf: Eight More Counties Going Green on June 19
Governor Tom Wolf today announced that eight more counties will move to the green phase of reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 19. These counties include Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike, and Schuylkill....
Reopening Phase Orders Updated to Include 12 Additional Counties Moving to Green on June 12
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 12. The counties include Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Northumberland,...
Secretary of Agriculture: Urbanization Threatens Agricultural Lands, Farmland Preservation Key to Future of Food Security
Mechanicsburg, PA - At the Deckman family farm in Cumberland County today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced an $11.9 million investment in food security by safeguarding 4,432 acres on 48 farms in 25 counties through the state’s nation-leading...
Department of Human Services Issues Request for Application for Regional Response Health Collaboration Program
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for its new Regional Response Health Collaboration Program (RRHCP). The RRHCP is designed to directly support COVID-19 readiness and response in long-term...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 467 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 77,313
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 11, that there are 467 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 77,313. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are 6,113...
Human Services Extends Emergency Assistance Program, Help with Home Energy Crisis Funding and School Meals Available
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced a one-month extension of the temporary Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) and reminded Pennsylvanians of other assistance programs that remain available as the commonwealth reopens and...
23 More Fine Wine & Good Spirits to Begin Limited In-Store Public Access in Southeast Pennsylvania June 12
549 FW&GS stores across Pennsylvania will be open for retail sales Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board today announced that 23 more Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores will resume limited in-store public access beginning Friday, June 12, abiding by...
L&I Holding Unemployment Compensation Virtual Town Hall on Thursday
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is hosting a live virtual town hall from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM this Thursday, June 11, 2020, to share information about Pennsylvania's regular unemployment compensation (UC) and other new...
Human Services Extends Emergency Assistance Program, Help with Home Energy Crisis Funding and School Meals Available
Harrisburg, PA - Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced a one-month extension of the temporary Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) and reminded Pennsylvanians of other assistance programs that remain available as the commonwealth reopens and...
Health Department Provides Data on Recent COVID-19 Cases
PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department is providing the following data on recent cases of COVID-19. Between May 21 and June 3, Health Department staff started investigations on 253 new cases of COVID-19.
Wolf Administration Outlines Impacts of Ending Disaster Declaration
Today, the Wolf Administration outlined the potential impact of ending the March 6 disaster declaration while clarifying that the legislature cannot end it unilaterally. The disaster declaration aids in speeding up the state’s response to the pandemic and provides...
Wolf Administration Provides Guidance to Resume High School and Other Summer Sports
The Wolf Administration today issued preliminary guidance for high school and recreational sports teams to resume voluntary workouts and other in-person activities in the state’s yellow and green phases. The guidance includes college and professional sports....
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 410 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 76,846
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 10, that there are 410 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 76,846. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. There are...
Gov. Wolf: Updated Business Guidance on Outdoor Recreation Available for Yellow and Green Phases of Reopening
Governor Tom Wolf today released updated guidance regarding the types of outdoor recreation that businesses may offer during the yellow and green phases of reopening, and how they may do so safely, as the commonwealth continues to open its own public...
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.