August 15, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 15, that there are 850 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 123,800. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 7 and August 14 is 167,267 with 6,450 positive cases. There were 24,713 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 14. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
August 14, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today reminded Pennsylvanians of the availability of assistance in paying certain utility bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Recovery Crisis program ahead of the program’s end on August 31.
“We know that the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent economic insecurity have led to trouble balancing essentials such as home energy bills. Any Pennsylvanian who is struggling to pay utilities should know that they are not alone during this time,” said Secretary Miller. “DHS administers safety-net programs to support families across the commonwealth and help them get through times like these. LIHEAP Recovery Crisis is available through the end of the month, and any Pennsylvanian having trouble paying home energy bills should apply and see if they qualify for a little extra help.”
August 14, 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 comparing the seven-day period of August 7 – August 13 to the previous seven days, July 31 – August 6, along with data on cases that reported visiting a business among potential exposures, and age-specific data for 19-24-year-olds.
August 14, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,222 licensed liquor establishments from Wednesday, August 12 through Thursday, August 13 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social distancing, masking, and other health and safety requirements of the liquor code.
Liquor Control Enforcement Officers issued three notices of violation and 24 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. As mandated by the liquor code, 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.
August 14, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 14, that there are 829 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 122,950. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
Philadelphia is reporting an increase of 147 cases.
The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 7 and August 13 is 165,694 with 5,600 positive cases. There were 26,069 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 13. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
August 14, 2020
Governor Tom Wolf sent a letter to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation reaffirming his support for an extension of the federal $600 weekly unemployment benefit that expired last month. With Senate Republicans failing to pass a bill continuing the program, President Trump on Aug. 8 authorized a plan that will reduce and delay payments to workers in need, end the benefit for 30,000 Pennsylvanians and increase the burden on states.
August 14, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – In the July 2020 report, Pennsylvania Department of Health nursing home surveyors conducted 330 inspections of nursing homes, including 295 complaint investigations. Of these, 227 were COVID-19 specific. In addition, one sanction was finalized against a nursing care facility, which included the issuance of a civil penalties totaling $9,250.
“We know that congregate care settings, including nursing homes, have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Levine said. “That is why we remain committed to protecting the health and well-being of our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians by continuing to hold nursing home operators accountable, as necessary, to ensure they are providing safe care. If you see something at a nursing home that doesn’t seem right, we encourage you to speak up.”
August 13, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today reminded Pennsylvanians struggling with anxiety and other challenging emotions due to the COVID-19 emergency that they do not have to face things alone, help is available.
“We know that psychological distress – whether it stems from poverty, systemic racism, or a public health crisis – can cause trauma. And we know that trauma can create long-lasting, adverse effects on a person’s well-being and can extend across their entire life,” said Sec. Miller. “So, I want people to know that if you are experiencing stress, anxiety, or grief from what we’ve been facing – that’s ok. Those feelings are a natural reaction to the difficult circumstances we’re facing right now. But you don’t have to face them alone, and resources are available that can help you work through these feelings.”
August 13, 2020
In mid-April, Governor Tom Wolf and Lt. Governor John Fetterman announced the creation of a COVID-19 Response Task Force for Health Disparity to help communicate issues about how the pandemic is affecting the state’s minority and marginalized populations.
“About a month after the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in Pennsylvania, I asked Lt. Gov. Fetterman to chair a new task force that would identify any differences in health outcomes for different populations,” Gov. Wolf said. “And to make recommendations to ensure every Pennsylvanian, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background, has equal opportunity to survive and thrive during this pandemic and beyond.”
August 13, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 13, that there are 991 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 122,121. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
Allegheny is reporting an increase of 114 cases and Philadelphia is reporting an increase of 192 cases.
The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 6 and August 12 is 162,548 with 5,416 positive cases. There were 25,714 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 12. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
August 13, 2020
ANNVILLE, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ (DMVA) commitment to provide benefits to the state’s nearly 800,000 veterans during COVID-19 has yielded stronger collaboration with county and federal advocates.
“Veterans are an important part of Pennsylvania’s population, having served our country by fighting for our freedoms and keeping us safe,” said Maj. Gen. (ret.) Eric Weller, deputy adjutant general of Veterans Affairs at DMVA. “Now we are fighting a different kind of war and veterans need our help more than ever during these times of uncertainty. The Office of Veterans Affairs has steadily fielded thousands of queries from veterans about their much-needed benefits.”
August 12, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from August 3 through August 9, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants including social distancing, masking, and occupancy limits.
These numbers include actions taken during routine food safety inspections and inspections prompted by consumer complaints.
August 12, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania departments of Health and Aging today warned Pennsylvanians about contact tracing scams and emphasized the need to stay alert as COVID-19 remains a threat in our communities. Scams might include a caller asking for someone’s Social Security number or payment for tracing services – neither of which are ever a component of a contact tracing inquiry.
“Contact-tracing is vital in the state’s efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and we want Pennsylvanians to be confident that if they receive a call from a contact-tracer that the call is legitimate,” Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “If someone is unsure and would like to verify if the caller does in fact work in contact tracing, they can call the PA Department of Health at 1-877-PA HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) to verify.”
August 12, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 12, that there are 849 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 121,130. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 5 and August 11 is 157,895 with 5,272 positive cases. There were 25,765 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 11. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
August 11, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that in lieu of in-person free potassium iodide, or KI, tablet distribution the department has provided in previous years, the tablets are available to all Pennsylvanians who live or work within 10 miles of the state’s five nuclear power plants by calling the Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH or at county and municipal health departments or state health centers.
August 11, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 11, that there are 828 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 120,281. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 4 and August 10 is 151,455 with 5,298 positive cases. There were 21,755 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 10. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
August 11, 2020
Governor Tom Wolf announced that OraSure Technologies Inc., a developer and manufacturer of rapid diagnostic tests, collection and stabilization devices headquartered in Northampton County, will expand its manufacturing operations in the Lehigh Valley, creating 177 new, full-time jobs and retaining 233 jobs.
“At a time when the commonwealth is ramping up COVID-19 testing, OraSure Technologies’ expansion will bring both economic opportunities to the region and increased testing accessibility,” said Gov. Wolf. “OraSure Technologies has been a staple in Bethlehem for decades, and my administration is pleased to support their expansion in the commonwealth.”
August 10, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,190 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social distancing, masking, and other health and safety requirements of the liquor code.
Liquor Control Enforcement Officers issued 10 notices of violation and 39 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. As mandated by the liquor code, 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.
August 10, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania departments of Health (DOH) and Education (PDE) today provided school administrators and governing bodies with recommendations as to which instructional models they should consider implementing based on the changing levels of community transmission of COVID-19 in their counties. These recommendations are intended to help schools safely provide instruction to students as they progress through the 2020-21 academic year.
The recommendations rely on two standard public health metrics used by public health experts: incidence rate and the percent positivity of diagnostic testing. The metrics are available for every county in Pennsylvania on the DOH COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard.
August 10, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 10, that there are 601 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 119,453. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 3 and August 9 is 152,486 with 5,262 positive cases. There were 18,368 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 9. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
August 9, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 8, that there are 760 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported to the department, bringing the statewide total to 118,852. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
The number of tests administered between August 1 and August 7 is 150,527 with 5,231 positive cases. There were 23,317 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 7. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
August 8, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 8, that there are 813 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 118,092. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
Philadelphia is reporting an increase of 146 cases.
August 7, 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, comparing the seven-day period of July 31 – August 6 to the previous seven days, July 24 – July 30, along with an update on mitigation efforts in all long-term care facilities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
August 7, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,168 licensed liquor establishments from Wednesday, August 5 through Thursday, August 6 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social distancing, masking, and other health and safety requirements of the liquor code.
August 7, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 7, that there are 758 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 117,279. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.
Philadelphia is reporting an increase of 111 cases.
The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between July 31 and August 6 is 148,658 with 5,443 positive cases. There were 24,388 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 6. These results represent the total number of tests administered.
