December 30, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today signed an order directing that a percentage of all vaccine distributions to hospitals, health systems, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and pharmacies be designated for health care personnel within Phase 1A, including those health care personnel working in Emergency Medical Services, that are not affiliated with a hospital or health system. This order goes into effect January 6, 2021.
December 30, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 30, that there were 8,984 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 631,333.
There are 6,022 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,174 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
December 29, 2020
Senators Will Be Joined by Pa. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine
WEST CHESTER (December 29, 2020) – State Senator Steve Santarsiero, State Senator-Elect Carolyn Comitta and Senator Tim Kearney will hold a virtual townhall meeting with Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine to answer residents’ questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and discuss the Commonwealth’s vaccination plan.
The meeting, set for Wednesday, January 6 at 3 p.m., is focused on the southeast Pennsylvania region and will likely include additional state lawmakers representing the area. It will be held via Zoom and is free and open to the public. Interested participants should register ahead of time here or at either Senator-Elect Comitta’s (www.pasenatorcomitta.com), Senator Kearney’s (www.senatorkearney.com) or Senator Santarsiero’s website (www.senatorstevesantarsiero.com).
In addition, plans for more virtual townhalls on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine are underway and will be announced soon.
The COVID-19 vaccine is currently being distributed in southeast Pennsylvania to front-line healthcare workers as part of a multi-phase plan. More information on the vaccine distribution plan for Chester and Delaware Counties is available at www.chesco.org/4376/Coronavirus-COVID-19. COVID-19 information from the Bucks County Health Depart is available at https://buckscounty.org/government/healthservices/HealthDepartment.
“As the vaccine rollout continues, more residents have more questions about safety, logistics, and distribution,” Senator-Elect Comitta said. “This is an opportunity for you to get answers. We welcome your questions and encourage you to pass along this information and share it publicly.”
“This will be an excellent chance for people to learn more about the vaccine and have their questions answered,” said Senator Kearney. “It’s also important to remember the vaccine will be just one tool in our fight against COVID-19. We can still protect ourselves and others by wearing a mask, keeping our distance, and washing our hands.”
“As the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out for our essential workers and most vulnerable populations, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Senator Santarsiero. “This town hall will provide information on the variety of vaccines and allow for questions from participants. Together, we will get through this.”
In addition to Dr. Levine, the meeting will include an expert panel of officials from both the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health team responsible for overseeing the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Comitta, Kearney, and Santarsiero also cautioned that while the vaccine is very promising, due to limited supply it won’t immediately be widely available to everyone. They urged all Pennsylvanians to continue to diligently follow the guidelines that are scientifically proven to stop the spread of the coronavirus, including mask-wearing, frequent handwashing, social distancing, and avoiding large crowds.
Currently, the FDA has granted emergency use authorization to two COVID-19 vaccines: the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine. More vaccines are in development and expected to be seeking emergency use authorization soon.
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December 29, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from December 21 through December 27, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants, including masking of employees offering carry-out, delivery and curbside pick-up services, and reflect the temporary order prohibiting dine-in service from December 12, 2020 until January 4, 2021.
December 29, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Dec. 20 through Dec. 27.
With the high number of COVID cases across the commonwealth, the Department of State is continuing with compliance enforcement as it relates to the regulated boards and commissions. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for the licensed professions, including social distancing, masking and occupancy limits. These numbers include actions taken during routine inspections and investigations prompted by consumer complaints.
December 29, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 29, that there were 8,545 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 622,349.
There are 5,995 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,174 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
December 28, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health today shared its weekly update on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing data and encouraged Pennsylvanians to download the COVID Alert PA app, as more than 720,000 have already done, to aid in contact tracing efforts. All 67 counties have substantial COVID-19 transmission rates.
December 28, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System DashboardOpens In A New Window, highlighting a seven-day case increase of 46,777, a statewide percent positivity of 15.1% and all 67 counties with substantial transmission status.
The update includes the following:
December 28, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 28, that there were 3,779 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 4,884 new cases reported Sunday, December 27 for a two-day total of 8,663, bringing the statewide total to 613,804.
There are 5,905 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,145 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
December 28, 2020
Governor Tom Wolf thanked Congress for providing relief to Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor released the following statement:
“I am pleased that the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package was signed into law last night. The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread and painful economic consequences in addition to the public health danger it poses, and this legislation provides necessary relief to Pennsylvanians in need. I thank our congressional lawmakers for their bipartisan efforts to see this bill become law.
December 28, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 454 licensed liquor establishments from Thursday, December 24 through Sunday, December 27 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements, including the suspension of in-person service from December 12, 2020 through January 4, 2021, as outlined in the limited-time mitigation order.
Liquor Control Enforcement Officers issued 16 notices of violation and 21 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. A notice of violation precedes the issuance of an administrative citation, which is civil in nature, and is intended to provide licensed liquor establishments notification of the nature of violation(s) discovered. The investigation remains open during this period, pending review by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE). Because the investigation is ongoing, names of establishments issued a notice of violation will not be released at this time. Each BLCE district office posts a monthly public information release that includes details on citations issued by that office.
December 28, 2020
Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard, highlighting a seven-day case increase of 46,777, a statewide percent positivity of 15.1% and all 67 counties with substantial transmission status.
December 28, 2020
Pennsylvania is preparing for the new CARES Act extensions for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs, while cautioning that delays by the federal government in approving the legislation will cause a gap in these benefits for more than 509,000 workers in the commonwealth.
December 26, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 25, that there were 7,581 additional positive cases of COVID-19, and as of 12:00 a.m., December 26 there were 7,174 additional positive cases bringing the statewide total to 605,141.
There are 5,925 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, nearly double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,196 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
December 26, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Because Congressional legislation to extend the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs has been delayed in Washington, D.C., the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is strongly encouraging the more than 500,000 Pennsylvanians receiving payments through these expiring programs to seek other forms of assistance. Under the current CARES Act, both programs will stop at the end of this month and Pennsylvania claimants will not receive payments after the week ending December 26.
December 24, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 23, that there were 9,230 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 590,386.
There are 6,142 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,263 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
December 23, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Sunday, December 27, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Beaver, Clearfield, Juniata, Potter and Schuylkill counties. The counties with testing sites will change each week over the next nine weeks so that 61 counties will eventually be covered by dedicated pop-up testing sites over a 12-week period.
December 23, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 23, that there were 9,605 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 581,156.
There are 6,151 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,236 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
December 23, 2020
Governor Tom Wolf today announced that he has initiated a transfer of $145 million in funds from the Workers’ Compensation Security Fund at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to be appropriated by the state legislature into grants for businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Business owners and employees have worked hard to protect their customers and their communities during this pandemic, and I thank all of those who have prioritized health and safety despite the hardship of the past several months,” Gov Wolf said. “Our business owners and workers have been forced to make sacrifices because of COVID-19 and they need and deserve our support.
December 22, 2020
Wolf Administration Director of Testing and Contact Tracing, Michael Huff, and Special Assistant on Contact Tracing for the Department of Health, Lindsey Mauldin, today presented an update on the state’s COVID-19 testing and contact tracing efforts, including the introduction of a new digital tool to aid in case investigations and additional testing sites at Rite-Aid locations.
December 22, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from December 14 through December 20, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants, including masking of employees offering carry-out, delivery and curbside pick-up services, and reflect the temporary order prohibiting dine-in service from December 12, 2020 until January 4, 2021.
December 22, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Dec. 13 through Dec. 20.
With COVID cases increasing across the commonwealth, the Department of State is continuing with compliance enforcement as it relates to the regulated boards and commissions. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for the licensed professions, including social distancing, masking and occupancy limits. These numbers include actions taken during routine inspections and investigations prompted by consumer complaints.
December 22, 2020
Governor Tom Wolf thanked congressional lawmakers for responding to the needs of the American people and passing a second federal COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package. The governor released the following statement:
“The COVID-19 relief package passed yesterday by Congress is long overdue. The emergency relief funds authorized under the CARES Act were crucial to helping our nation survive the spring surge of COVID-19, but those funds expired while desperate need remained. Americans continue to struggle due to the economic consequences of this global pandemic.
December 22, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Departments of Labor & Industry (L&I) and Human Services (DHS) and the United Way of Pennsylvania want Pennsylvanians to know there are state and local programs and resources available for those who are unemployed.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought hardship to hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, including many who have never been unemployed before and don’t know where to turn for help with housing, food, and other human service needs,” said L&I Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “The United Way of Pennsylvania’s 211 program is an excellent tool for Pennsylvanians who need to locate their local food bank, shelter program, or other support service. By working together, L&I, DHS and the United Way of PA hope to provide every Pennsylvanian with access to the support they need to get through this pandemic.”
December 22, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Departments of Labor & Industry (L&I) and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) want Pennsylvanians to know there are utility related assistance programs available.
“This global pandemic is presenting a number of financial challenges to Pennsylvanians,” said Acting L&I Secretary Jennifer Berrier. “Today marks the official start of winter and the dangerously cold temperatures that can often accompany it. The arrival of the winter solstice is a timely reminder to our out-of-work residents that utility-related assistance and other local resource programs are available to help Pennsylvanians with basic needs.”
