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
Human Services Announces Study to Assess Impact of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania Child Care Providers
Harrisburg, PA - Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today announced a partnership between the department’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs (ISRA) to...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,296 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 34,528
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 21, that there are 1,296 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 34,528. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Department of Agriculture Outlines Updated Farm Labor Requirements, Advocates for Skilled Labor to Ensure Food Supply
Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture provided farmers who provide housing to their workforce – be it domestic, migrant, or guest H-2A workers – with enhanced requirements for seasonal farm labor to maintain a healthy agriculture workforce to ensure...
Tips for Pennsylvanians Receiving Paper Stimulus Checks
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) is providing recommendations for Pennsylvanians receiving their stimulus checks, known as an economic impact payment, in paper check form instead of direct deposit. The payments are part of the...
Thank You to All Frontline Workers
Department of Health Begins COVID-19 Testing Site in Northeast Pennsylvania, 49 Tested on First Day
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today tested 49 symptomatic first responders and health care workers during the first day of the administration’s COVID-19 testing site at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County. The...
Gov. Wolf, Sec. of Health Extend Statewide Stay-at-Home Order Until May 8
Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that the statewide stay-at-home orders issued on April 1 to protect Pennsylvanians and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 will be extended until Friday, May 8 at 12:01 AM. The initial order was set to...
Wolf Administration Submits State Plan Request to Support Food Access for Students During COVID-19 Crisis
Harrisburg, PA - The departments of Human Services and Education today submitted a state plan to the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to students who are eligible...
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Begins Limited Curbside Delivery Program
Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board today announced it has begun offering limited curbside pickup service at 176 locations across the commonwealth to serve more customers seeking wine and spirits while maintaining social distancing practices in the...
Wolf Administration Announces First Round of COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program Funding
Harrisburg, PA — Today, on behalf of Governor Tom Wolf, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin announced that 126 companies in 30 counties have received approved funding through a new program developed under the...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 948 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 33,232
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 20, that there are 948 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 33,232. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Gov. Wolf Announces Online Vehicle Sale Process, Construction Restart Date, PLCB Curbside Pick Up
Governor Tom Wolf announced three actions including online sales of vehicles, which will be enabled by the signing of SB 841, restart of construction projects statewide starting Friday, May 8, and curbside pickup of wine and spirits at select Pennsylvania Liquor...
Gov. Wolf Signs Senate Bill 841 to Provide Flexibility to Local Governments and Businesses
Governor Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 841 today that helps local communities and businesses respond to the COVID-19 emergency and protect the public. The bill provides flexibility on property tax deadlines, allows remote public meetings and notarization of documents so...
State Police Spring and Summer Youth Camps Canceled
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today the cancellation of upcoming youth camps, which had been scheduled throughout the spring and summer months, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Camp Cadet, the Commissioner's Honor...
Pennsylvanians Encouraged to Use Electronic Filing Options for PA Tax Returns During COVID-19 Pandemic
Harrisburg, PA — The Department of Revenue is encouraging Pennsylvanians to take advantage of user-friendly electronic filing options for their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns (PA-40s). Even though the deadline for filing 2019 tax returns has been...
Wolf Administration Reminds Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 to Stay Vigilant Against Scams
Harrisburg, PA — Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin warned Pennsylvania businesses to be cognizant of potential scams related to the administration of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. DCED has received...
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to Resume Limited Special Order Program
Harrisburg – In response to requests from retail licensees and suppliers, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is re-opening its Special Order program, which offers items not stocked by the PLCB, in a limited capacity. The Special Order program will resume this...
New State Mask Order for Transit Riders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 19, 2020) - Starting tonight, Port Authority will take added steps to comply with a new state health order directed at riders not wearing face coverings. There is no change for riders who are already wearing face coverings on vehicles....
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,215 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 32,284
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 19, that there are 1,215 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 32,284. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,628 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 31,069
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 18, that there are 1,628 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 31,069. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Governor Tom Wolf COVID-19 Remarks April 17, 2020
Good afternoon and thank you for joining me. When I was inaugurated in January of 2015, Pennsylvania was at a crossroads. I asked Pennsylvanians to believe in their leaders, and in themselves. I asked my colleagues to put aside partisan differences, and deliver a...
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.