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
DCNR Provides Guidance on Outdoor Activities During Coronavirus Outbreak
Harrisburg, PA -- Today, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn reminded Pennsylvanians that being outdoors is good health care and self care, but recommendations for social distancing to slow the spread of...
Extension of Filing Deadline Applies to Trusts/Estates, Partnerships and S Corporations
Due Date for Certain Corporation Returns Also Being Moved Harrisburg, PA — Governor Tom Wolf recently signed into law Act 10 of 2020, which extends the due date of certain personal income tax returns and payments, as well as waiving certain other income tax dates. The...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 962 New Positives Bring Statewide Total to 5,805
Harrisburg, PA- The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 1, that there are 962 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 5,805 in 60 counties. The department also reported 11 new deaths among...
State Police Refines Response Guidelines for Certain Non-Emergency Incidents
Harrisburg, PA – Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, announced today a temporary change to the way troopers respond to select non-emergency incidents. With the goal of limiting in-person contact and mitigating the spread of...
Wolf Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians to Respond to the 2020 Census
Harrisburg, PA – Today, on National Census Day, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin reminded all Pennsylvanians to be a good neighbor and respond to the 2020 Census. “We’re committed to working together to make sure all...
Department of Banking and Securities Warns of COVID-19-Related Investment Schemes
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) is warning investors of an anticipated surge in fraudulent investment schemes. “As is so often the case during times of emergency, scammers will be looking to profit from the misfortune...
Gov. Wolf, Sec. of Health: Pennsylvania on Statewide Stay-at-Home Order Beginning at 8 PM Tonight, “Most Prudent Option to Stop the Spread”
Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced all 67 Pennsylvania counties will be under stay-at-home orders effective tonight, Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. “This is the most prudent option to stop the spread of COVID-19 across our...
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Resumes Limited E-commerce Sales, Deliveries through www.FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com
Harrisburg – Beginning today, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board resumed limited sales from www.FineWineAndGoodSpirits.comOpens In A New Window, accepting a controlled number of orders per day with plans to increase order capacity as fulfillment capacity increases....
Regional Chief Medical Officer Collaborative Group Update
PITTSBURGH – During the current COVID 19 illness outbreak, physician leaders from across the region joined together to share insight, plans, and goals for serving all. The group just endorsed and disseminated guidelines on using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation...
Wolf Administration Grants Extension to License to Carry Firearm Permits
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania State Police announced today that Governor Tom Wolf has granted an extension to license to carry firearms permits. Permits expired on March 19, 2020 or later have been extended to May 30, 2020. The extension is necessary due to the...
PHMC’s Historic Sites and Museums to Remain Closed through April 30 as Part of COVID-19 Mitigation
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) Executive Director Andrea Lowery announced that all of PHMC’s state-owned historic sites and museumsOpens In A New Window will remain closed through Thursday, April 30, 2020, to help slow the...
Pennsylvania Extends Renewal Dates for Charitable Organizations During Coronavirus Emergency
The Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act requires organizations soliciting charitable contributions from Pennsylvania residents to register with the Department of State’s Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations (BCCO), unless excluded or...
Gov. Wolf: Early Refill Availability for Prescriptions for Medicaid Recipients
Harrisburg, PA - Governor Tom Wolf announced today that the Department of Human Services (DHS) has directed the state’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to let Medicaid recipients obtain early refills of all prescriptions at their pharmacy point-of-sale,...
Insurance Department Issues Notice to Auto Insurers to Highlight PennDOT Extensions and Urge Flexibility During COVID-19 Outbreak
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman announced today that the Pennsylvania Insurance Department submitted to the Pennsylvania Bulletin a notice to all insurers writing automobile insurance, personal and commercial, within...
Work Continues on PennDOT Emergency and Critical Highway and Bridge Infrastructure Projects
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that 61 emergency and critical highway and bridge projects will be active statewide this week. While the normal highway and bridge construction program has paused as the...
Governor Wolf: Request for Major Disaster Declaration Approved
Governor Tom Wolf today announced the approval of part of his request to the President for a major disaster declaration to support state, county and local response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Pennsylvania. “We are grateful for federal funding that will...
Gov. Wolf, Sec. of Health Extend Stay-at-Home Orders to Seven Additional Counties, 33 Counties Now Ordered to Stay Home
As COVID-19 cases continue to grow and the state continues to seek relief to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, today Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine revised their “Stay at Home” orders to include Cameron, Crawford, Forest,...
State Education Department Offers Statewide Resources to Schools to Continue Instruction During Extended Closure
Harrisburg, PA - Continuing its efforts to provide guidance to schools during the COVID-19 closures, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today released a set of statewide resources educators can use to provide continued instruction to...
Gov. Wolf and Sec. of Health Expand ‘Stay at Home’ Order to Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill Counties, Extend School Closures Indefinitely
As COVID-19 cases continue to grow and the state continues to seek relief to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, today Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine revised their “Stay at Home” orders to include Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and...
Insurance Department Warns Against In-Person Sales After Governor’s Order Closing All Non-Life Sustaining Businesses
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman today cautioned Pennsylvania’s insurance licensees that in-person sales and brokerage are prohibited by Governor Wolf’s order closing all non-life sustaining businesses in the Commonwealth...
Gov. Wolf: State Receives Waiver to Facilitate Greater Flexibility in Medicaid, CHIP Programs During COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts
Harrisburg, PA - Governor Tom Wolf announced today that Pennsylvania, through the Department of Human Services, received approvalOpens In A New Window from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to temporarily grant flexibility...
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.