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
Fontana Urges Students to File Soon for Financial Aid
PITTSBURGH, February 8, 2008 - - State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today urged college-bound students to complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. “The cost of college can be very daunting,” Fontana said. “I urge students...
Fontana Applauds Action of Finance Committee on Stimulus Bill
HARRISBURG, January 18, 2008 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) applauded the Senate Finance Committee for action earlier this week to move Senate Bill 1229, the High-Tech & Manufacturing Stimulus Act, to the full Senate for consideration. The bill,...
Fontana Elated with State Support of Pittsburgh Planning Effort
HARRISBURG, January 18, 2008 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny), yesterday, joined Department of Community & Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky in an announcement of a $200,000 state grant to allow the City to complete a comprehensive,...
Fontana Joins Colleagues in “Have a Heart” Campaign
HARRISBURG, January 15, 2008 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) joined his Senate Democratic colleagues today in calling for the General Assembly to provide health insurance to all Pennsylvanians by Valentine’s Day. The “Have a Heart” Campaign was begun in late...
Fontana Says Home Heating Application Now Online
HARRISBURG, NOV. 8, 2007- Low-income families struggling to pay their home heating bills this winter can now apply for heating assistance online, according to state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny). Pennsylvanians can download the LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy...
Smith and Fontana help to add bus run in St. Clair Heights
HARRISBURG, Oct. 4 – State Rep. Matt Smith and state Sen. Wayne Fontana, both D-Allegheny announced that Port Authority Transit will add additional bus runs in St. Clair Heights, effective Nov. 18.“Representative Smith and I heard from our constituents that the...
Fontana Named to Special Energy Session Committee
HARRISBURG, OCTOBER 3, 2007 -- State Senator Wayne D. Fontana today was named to the 15-member state Senate Committee on Energy Policies for the Special Session on Energy.“This special session will help determine how the state can move closer to energy independence...
Fontana Supports Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution
Harrisburg, September 17, 2007- State Sen. Wayne D. FOntana today joined Sen. Tartaglione and other colleagues as a co-sponsor of a Senate Resolution declaring "National Hispanic Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania. "Hispanic Americans are well known for their hard work...
Fontana Pleased with Discussion on Criminal Gun Check Issue
HARRISBURG, August 27, 2007 – Following a meeting today called by the Governor, State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) said he was pleased with the dialogue on the need to upgrade the Pennsylvania State Police’s computerized criminal background check system and...
Allegheny County Senate Delegation Wins Arena Funding
HARRISBURG—July 16, 2007 — The new arena planned for Pittsburgh that will be home to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the next 30 years is a step closer to reality now that the state Senate has approved funding for the $290 million facility. With bipartisan support, the...
Fontana Named to PA Public Television Network Commission
HERSHEY (June 22, 2007) - State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana, D-Pittsburgh, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Public Television Network (PPTN) Commission by Senate Democratic Minority Leader Robert Mellow. “As someone deeply involved in my own Brookline community in...
Fontana insistirá en una fuente de financiación fiable para el transporte público
HARRISBURG, June 20, 2007 -- State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today said he will insist that a continual and dependable funding source for mass transit be part of any transportation funding remedy. “State government should be doing more to encourage mass...
Fontana insta a visitar el nuevo sitio web de la policía estatal
HARRISBURG, 19 de junio de 2007 - El senador estatal Wayne D. Fontana (DAllegheny) insta a los hombres y mujeres interesados en carreras policiales a visitar un nuevo sitio web de la Policía Estatal que proporciona información sobre cómo convertirse en oficial. El nuevo sitio, www.patrooper.com, proporciona...
Fontana Votes to Support Legislative Reforms
HARRISBURG, May 8, 2007 – Calling it a step toward making state government more efficient and accountable, state Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today voted for several legislative reform bills that were reported out of the State Government Committee. “These...
Fontana Announces Funding of Child Advocacy Center Website
PITTSBURGH, April 12, 2007 –(D-Brookline) today joined representatives of Allegheny County’s Child Advocacy Center – A Child’s Place – to announce funding of a new website to assist individuals working with child abuse victims. “It’s particularly appropriate that we...
Fontana Reminds Students of Upcoming Financial Aid Deadline
HARRISBURG, January 16, 2007 –- Families with college students should act now to file for financial aid, said state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana. FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is used to determine eligibility for federal, state and collegiate-level...
Area Senators Comment of Potential Port Authority Cuts
HARRISBURG, January 2, 2007 - A bipartisan group of state Senators representing Allegheny County today pledged to help solve the Port Authority Transit’s (PAT) financial problems. State Senators Jay Costa, Jane Orie, Sean Logan, John Pippy, and Wayne Fontana said they...
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.