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
Western PA Senators Announce Funding For Affordable Housing
Pittsburgh, Pa. – December 14, 2018 – Today, Senators Jay Costa, Wayne D. Fontana and Senator-elect Lindsey Williams announced $2.2 million in state grant funding to promote affordable housing in Western Pennsylvania. “While the city has seen a surge of...
Fontana reelegido presidente de la bancada demócrata del Senado
Harrisburg, November 14, 2018 – State Senate Democrats today unanimously re-elected state Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) to serve as Democratic Caucus chairman for the upcoming two-year legislative session. The caucus chairman sets the daily caucus agenda and...
Fontana Announces Funding for Six Area Recreational/Environmental Grant Projects
HARRISBURG, November 14, 2018 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced state grants totaling $952,500 for six local environmental/recreational projects. “I’m pleased that these state dollars will support local efforts to enhance parks and other recreational...
Fontana Announces $300,000 Clean Energy Grant for Local Business
BROOKLINE, November 8, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana today announced a $300,000 state grant for Giant Eagle, Inc. to buy 20 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, saving more than 355,000 gasoline gallon equivalents per year. “This grant program helps businesses...
Sen. Fontana Condemns Neo-Nazi Propaganda in Brookline
BROOKLINE, November 7, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Pittsburgh) today condemned those who have been posting hate propaganda in the Brookline community. The senator made the following statement: “Posting messages that advocate hatred and violence in our community...
El senador Fontana anuncia 300.000 dólares en subvenciones para la seguridad escolar
Harrisburg, PA - October 2018 - Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny County) is pleased to announce that $300,000 in School Safety and Security grants were awarded to school districts in the senatorial district through the School Safety and Security Committee within...
Gun Violence on Our Doorstep: Hatred and Gun Violence Have No Place Here
I write today with a heavy heart. Far too many times, we have all watched in horror as mass shootings play out across our nation. That nightmare has now come to pass in our own backyard. To our friends and neighbors in Squirrel Hill, we admire your spirit, strength...
Fontana Lauds Senate Vote on Economic Revitalization Program Expansion
HARRISBURG, October 17, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Pittsburgh) today lauded Senate passage of a bill (House Bill 645) that would double the state’s tax credit program aimed at encouraging businesses to invest in community revitalization efforts. Fontana...
Los senadores Fontana, Costa y Vulakovich anuncian fondos para la sustitución de líneas de agua
HARRISBURG, 17 de octubre de 2018 - Los senadores estatales Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) y Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) anunciaron hoy $ 49 millones en fondos estatales para reemplazar 28,000 conexiones laterales de plomo residenciales en Pittsburgh. "Me complace que...
It’s time to Stand up for the Sex Abuse Victims
Op-Ed Column by State Senator Wayne Fontana I was raised Catholic and spent all 12 years of schooling in Catholic schools. As an adult, I was married in the Catholic Church, raised my children in the faith and sent them to Catholic school. I still firmly believe in...
Senator Fontana Receives Dewey Award for Environmental Work
PITTSBURGH, September 27, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Pittsburgh) today received the Clean Water Action organization’s “Dewey Award.” The award is granted to individuals who are proven champions of the environment within their community. “Throughout my...
Fontana apoya una ley para hacer justicia a las víctimas de abusos infantiles
HARRISBURG, September 24, 2018 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today urged his legislative colleagues to pass legislation that would expand the state’s statute of limitations, enabling more child sexual abuse victims to seek justice. “Considering the harrowing...
Job Fair This Thursday
On Thursday, Sept. 27, with Rep. Dan Deasy and Rep. Anita Kulik, and in partnership with Building Bridges for Business and U.S. Probation & Pre Trial Services, we will be hosting a Job Fair for any interested job seekers. The Job Fair is being held at the...
Shredding Event October 13
With Rep. Dan Deasy and Rep. Anita Kulik, we will be hosting a shredding event on Saturday, Oct. 13 in McKees Rocks. It will be held from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. (or until the shred trucks are full) at the McKees Rocks Shopping Center, located at 114 Chartiers Avenue....
Fontana Supports Call for Opening Window to Allow Child Abuse Victims to Seek Justice
Pittsburgh – September 18, 2018 – At a news conference today at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh, State Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) supported the call to open a 2-year window to allow victims of child abuse by priests to file civil actions against abusers...
Fontana Announces $2 Million in Grants Approved for Small Water and Sewer Projects, Recreation
Harrisburg – September 18, 2018 – More than $2 million in state grants were approved by a state funding authority for nine projects in his district in Pittsburgh and suburban communities in Allegheny County, state Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) said today. ...
El senador Fontana anuncia 15,75 millones de dólares en ayudas a la reurbanización
PITTSBURGH, PA - 5 de septiembre de 2018 - El senador Wayne D. Fontana se complace en anunciar hoy que los proyectos de reurbanización dentro del condado de Allegheny han recibido un total combinado de $ 15,75 millones a través del Capital de Asistencia para el Redesarrollo (RACP) administrado por el estado....
Los senadores Costa y Fontana felicitan al distrito escolar de Pittsburgh por la subvención educativa estatal de 1,6 millones de dólares
Pittsburgh, Pa. - 27 de agosto de 2018 - Los senadores Jay Costa, Jr. y Wayne D. Fontana felicitaron conjuntamente al Distrito Escolar de Pittsburgh por la adjudicación de $ 1,6 millones del Departamento de Educación de Pensilvania (PDE) para apoyar la mejora escolar. "Quiero ...
Open House on Addiction
State Senator Wayne Fontana invites you to an Open House on Addiction! The event will be held on September 12 from 5:30-7:30 PM at Teamsters Temple located at 4701 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. Join us for an informational open house for those suffering from...
El senador Hughes y el senador Fontana presentarán un proyecto de ley para regular las armas impresas en 3D
HARRISBURG, 1 de agosto de 2018 - Buscando detener la propagación de armas impresas en 3D indetectables e imposibles de rastrear, el senador Vincent Hughes (D-Filadelfia) y el senador Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) planean presentar un proyecto de ley para garantizar la Ley Uniforme de Armas de Fuego de Pensilvania....
El Senador Fontana anuncia fondos para mejorar la señalización luminosa local
Brookline, 12 de julio de 2018 - El senador estatal Wayne D. Fontana anunció hoy que cinco comunidades locales recibirán un total de más de $ 4,5 millones en fondos de subvenciones estatales para mejoras en las luces de señalización vial. "Estos fondos actualizarán las señales de tráfico -- mejorando la seguridad...
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.