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
Vance, Fontana to Introduce Legislation Reauthorizing Health Care cost Containment Council
HARRISBURG (October 14, 2008) –Sens. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York) and Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced plans to reintroduce legislation to reauthorize the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4). PHC4 was created in 1986 to address...
Fontana Lauds Re-Start of Afro-American Parade
HARRISBURG, October 9, 2008 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today commended community leaders and activists on their successful efforts to re-start of this weekend’s Afro-American Heritage Day Parade. “Pittsburgh’s “Afro-American Heritage Parade is a...
State Legislators Declare “ONE CAMPAIGN DAY” in PA
HARRISBURG—October 7, 2008 — At Capitol press conference today, State Sens. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), and Reps. W. Curtis Thomas (D-Philadelphia) and William Kortz (D-Allegheny) declared "ONE Campaign Day" in Pennsylvania,...
Fontana Reminds People of Federal Stimulus Check Deadline
HARRISBURG, Oct. 6, 2008 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana today urged citizens to make sure they apply for a federal stimulus check by the Oct. 15 deadline. Fontana said most citizens who file federal tax returns automatically received a check earlier this year. ...
Fontana Reminds Pennsylvanians to Register to Vote
HARRISBURG, October 2, 2008 - - State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana is reminding eligible Pennsylvanians that Monday, Oct. 6, is the deadline to register to vote in the November 4 General Election. “In November, citizens will have an opportunity to cast their ballot on an...
Beware of School Bus Safety
Spetember 2008 - Click Here to Listen
Fontana & Doyle Present Long-Overdue Military Service Medals to Local Vet
HARRISBURG, August 8, 2008 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) and U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-14) presented several long-overdue military awards to Augustine Russo of Dormont in Congressman Doyle’s Ross Street office this morning. "When Mr. Russo's...
Fontana and Rafferty to Close DUI Repeat Offenter Loophole
HARRISBURG, August 8, 2008 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced that he and Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. (R-Montgomery) plan to introduce legislation to close a loophole in the law that recently allowed a repeat DUI offender in Allegheny...
PA Consumer’s Advocate
August 8, 2008 - Click Here to Listen
Fontana Reiterates Minimum Wage Hike to Workers and Employers
HARRISBURG, July 3, 2008 -- State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (DAllegheny) is reminding workers and employers that the final step in Pennsylvania’s phased-in minimum wage took effect July 1. The minimum wage rose to $7.15 for virtually all Pennsylvania workers after two...
Fontana: Property Tax/Rent Rebate Filing Deadline Extended to December 31
HARRISBURG, June 23 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today reminded senior citizens that they now have until December 31 to file for the state’s expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program. “Gaming revenues have enabled us to significantly expand the benefits and...
Fontana Fights For Stronger Smoking Ban
Says Current Bill Would Have Blocked Tougher Allegheny County Ban HARRISBURG, June 4, 2008 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) said the Senate took bipartisan action today in favor of a stronger statewide smoking ban that would protect Allegheny County’s right...
Fontana Heralds Re-Opening of Point State Park
PITTSBURGH, MAY 30, 2008 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today joined Governor Rendell, DCNR Secretary DiBerardinis and representatives of the PA Historical & Museum Commission, Riverlife Task Force, and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development at a...
Fontana and White Introduce EITC Information Act
HARRISBURG, May 13, 2008 - State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana and Rep. Jesse White today announced the joint introduction of legislation creating the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Information Act. Senate Bill 1354 and House Bill 2474 would require employers to notify...
Fontana recuerda a los estudiantes el plazo de las becas universitarias
HARRISBURG, April 23, 2008 - - State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today reminded students and their families that May 1 is the filing deadline for the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used to determine eligibility for Pennsylvania’s need-based...
Fontana to Host “Baby Fair” Saturday in Pittsburgh
HARRISBURG, April 21, 2008 — State Senator Wayne D. Fontana is hosting a special baby fair this Saturday for new and expectant families. Entitled “Hey Baby!” the free event will be held twice this Saturday, April 26 at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh. The first...
Fontana Urges People to Make Sure they Filie for Stimulus Check
PITTSBURGH, April 18, 2008 — State Senator Wayne D. Fontana today urged citizens to make sure they are positioned to receive a federal stimulus check this year. “People need to understand that it is not too late to qualify for a stimulus check,” Fontana said. “While...
Fontana: Gulf War Bonus Applications Available
HARRISBURG, April 8, 2008 — State Senator Wayne D. Fontana today announced that veterans of the Persian Gulf Conflict can obtain a bonus application at any of his local district offices. “It is important that we honor the commitment and sacrifice of all war veterans,”...
Fontana Rallies to Improve Economic Competitiveness
HARRISBURG, March 18, 2008 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) joined with other legislators and the CompetePA Coalition at a news conference in Harrisburg today to generate support for Senate Bill 1229, the High-Tech & Manufacturing Stimulus Act. The bill...
Fontana to Introduce Tool to Address Tax Exempt Properties
HARRISBURG, March 14, 2008 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced that he will introduce legislation that allow municipalities additional tools to address costs associated with providing essential services where the municipality contains a...
Senators Honor the Pennsylvania Public Television Network
HARRISBURG, March 12, 2008 - - State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) and Senator Rob Wonderling (R-Bucks/Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton) took part in the third annual Pennsylvania Public Television Network (PPTN) Neighborhood Awards Ceremony at the State Capitol...
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.