SEOUL, South Korea — In a controversial step, South Korea’s government says it will strap electronic wristbands on people who defy self-quarantine orders as it tightens monitoring to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Senior Health Ministry official Yoon Tae-ho on Saturday acknowledged the privacy and civil liberty concerns surrounding the bands, which will be enforced through police and local administrative officials after two weeks of preparation and manufacturing.

But he said authorities need more effective monitoring tools because the number of people placed under self-quarantine has ballooned after the country began enforcing 14-day quarantines on all passengers arriving from abroad on April 1 amid worsening outbreaks in Europe and the United States.

Lee Beom-seok, an official from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, admitted that the legal grounds for forcing people to wear the wristbands were “insufficient” and that police and local officials will offer consent forms for the devices while investigating those who were caught breaking quarantine.

Under the country’s recently strengthened laws on infectious diseases, people can face up to a year in prison or fined as much as $8,200 for breaking quarantine orders. Lee said those who agree to wear the wristbands could be possibly considered for lighter punishment.

White House points to hopeful signs as deaths keep rising
By JILL COLVIN and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is taking a cautious position on when to reopen the country. That’s even though White House officials are pointing to hopeful signs that the spread of the coronavirus could be slowing.  Trump insisted Friday he would not move to reopen the country until it is safe. He also said he will launch what he dubbed the “Opening our Country” task force on Tuesday to work toward that goal. Trump has been itching to reopen the country. But that has drawn alarms from health experts who warn that doing so too quickly could spark a deadly resurgence that could undermine current distancing efforts.

Wolf suggests Pennsylvania virus cases could surge next week
By MARC LEVY, MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf is predicting that Pennsylvania will see a surge in new virus cases next week. He implored residents on Friday to continue to self-isolate to get the worst of the pandemic behind them and allow the state’s economy to gradually open back up. Modeling suggests that Pennsylvania could hit a peak in hospitalizations and deaths late next week before the numbers gradually drift down through the middle of May. The state has reported 20,000 virus cases and over 400 deaths. Meanwhile, Wolf has authorized the early release of as many as 1,800 inmates from Pennsylvania state prisons in an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

Pennsylvania Begins Implementing New Federal Unemployment Benefits, Eligible Claimants Get Extra $600 Starting Next Week

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is implementing new federal unemployment compensation benefits provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The COVID-19 relief package temporarily provides an additional $600 per week, makes self-employed, independent contractors and gig workers eligible for benefits and extends unemployment compensation (UC) benefits for an additional 13 weeks.

The federal benefits are in addition to Pennsylvania’s regular unemployment benefit, which is about half of a person’s full-time weekly income up to $572 per week for 26 weeks.

Additional $600 Per Week

As part of the CARES Act, unemployment benefits are being expanded to provide an additional $600 per week beginning the week ending April 4, 2020, through the week ending July 25, 2020. This temporary emergency increase in benefits is referred to as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program.

Today, L&I issued the first $600 payments. All eligible claimants that filed biweekly claims for the week ending April 4 and who received their regular UC payment should expect to see the additional money either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. For other eligible claimants who have not yet received a regular UC payment, they will receive the extra $600 the week after receiving their first UC payment.

It is very important to note that anyone who currently has federal withholding tax taken out of their benefits will see the same 10% reduction in the FPUC payment, resulting in a $540 payment. For information about changing your withholding election, visit L&I’s Taxes on Benefits page.

The $600 is paid separately from the biweekly UC benefit, and residents do not need to apply.

Visit the department’s FPUC frequently asked questions for more information.

Self-employed, Contractors or Gig Economy Workers

The CARES Act also temporarily makes unemployment compensation available to self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and others not normally eligible for the benefit. The program is referred to as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). These workers cannot apply through the department’s UC online system at this time. The U.S. Department of Labor requires that PUA be tracked separately from regular UC. For this reason, Pennsylvania must build a new online platform to process PUA benefits.

Eligible individuals should be able to start applying for PUA benefits within the next two weeks. Eligible claimants will receive backdated payments to January 27, 2020, or the first week they were unable to work due to COVID-19, whichever of the two dates is later. The PUA benefit will end December 31, 2020. The department will announce when the PUA benefit application is available.

Visit L&I’s PUA frequently asked questions for more information.

13-Week Benefit Extension 

The CARES Act provides an additional 13 weeks of unemployment compensation, including for workers who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits. Claimants will be eligible for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) from the week beginning March 29, 2020, through the end of the year. The department is awaiting additional federal guidance about the program and will provide an update when information is available.

Additional Information for workers impacted by COVID-19:

• Employment benefits webpage
• Employment benefits guide
• Frequently asked questions
• Tips for filing an initial UC claim
• Start a new claim video

On March 27, Governor Tom Wolf signed a law that makes applying for unemployment compensation easier to access by waiving the one-week waiting period to file, as well as the job search and work registration requirements, among other changes

Visit the commonwealth’s Responding to COVID-19 guide for the latest guidance and resources for Pennsylvanians or the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s dedicated coronavirus webpage for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.

US budget deficit totals $743.6 billion over past 6 months
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government’s budget deficit for the first half of this budget year totals $743.6 billion, up 7.6% from last year and well on its way to topping $1 trillion even before the impacts of the coronavirus were felt. The Treasury Department reported Friday that the deficit from October, the start of the government’s budget year, through  March was $52.5 billion higher than the same period a year ago.

Apple, Google to adapt phones for virus infection tracking
By FRANK BAJAK and MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer
Apple and Google launched a major joint effort to leverage smartphone technology contain the COVID-19 pandemic. New software the companies plan to add to phones would make it easier to use Bluetooth wireless technology to track down people who may have been infected by coronavirus carriers. The idea is to help national governments roll out apps for so-called “contact tracing” that will run on iPhones and Android phones alike.  Software developers have already created apps that have been used for so-called contact-tracing in countries including Singapore and China. Apple and Google plan to release their toolkit in May and say user privacy and security are baked into its design.

Human Services Announces State-Run Facility Admission Protocols for COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts 

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Human Services (DHS) today released adjusted operational admissions procedures due to COVID-19 for Pennsylvania’s state centers, state hospitals, youth development centers, and youth forestry camps operated by DHS.

“DHS is taking every necessary step it can to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep staff and people served by our state-run facilities safe and healthy,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller. “The protocols we are implementing today will help to protect the vulnerable populations in our state facilities and the staff that care for them while ensuring continuity of care and access to these services.”

DHS has implemented the following protocols for admission to state facilities in order to protect the health of residents and staff:

1. Individuals are required to be screened for COVID-19 and provide documentation of screening prior to admission to a state facility. Screenings should include taking the individual’s temperature and discussing possible exposure to COVID-19 or related respiratory symptoms such as a new or worsening cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath.
2. A medical clearance attestation from a physician within 72 hours prior to the requested admission date is acceptable for admission if the individual was screened with a negative result. If the screening raises risk of potential infection but the individual does not have a COVID-19 test result, the individual will not be admitted until at least seven days from symptom onset, three days without a fever, and improvement of other symptoms.
3. If an individual has had close contact with someone suspected to have, or diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual should quarantine for 14 days from the last time they had contact, and admission to a facility should not occur until after the 14-day quarantine is complete and the admission screening outlined is #1 above is completed.

These measures are consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. These procedures will continue until the disaster emergency declared by Governor Tom Wolf is no longer in effect. The level of care needed should be carefully considered before admitting an individual to a state facility to ensure that the services are necessary for the treatment and safety of an individual and that the least restrictive setting is being used.

Pennsylvania’s four state centers, which serve individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism, include Ebensburg Center in Cambria County, Polk Center in Venango County, Selinsgrove Center in Snyder County, and White Haven Center in Luzerne County.

Pennsylvania’s six state hospitals, which provide comprehensive psychiatric treatment and substance use disorder services to people with mental illness, include Clarks Summit State Hospital in Lackawanna County, Danville State Hospital in Montour County, Norristown State Hospital in Montgomery County, Torrance State Hospital in Westmoreland County, Warren State Hospital in Warren County, and Wernersville State Hospital in Berks County. This also applies to South Mountain Restoration Center, a state-run long-term care facility operated by DHS’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Pennsylvania’s youth development centers and youth forestry camps provide treatment, care, and residential services to Pennsylvania’s most at-risk youth. The three youth development centers are South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit in Franklin County, North Central Secure Treatment Unit in Montour County, and Loysville Youth Development Center in Perry County. The commonwealth’s two youth forestry camps are in Hickory Run State Park in Luzerne County and in Trough Creek State Park in Huntingdon County.

DHS has previously issued guidance on visitation to these facilities during COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Visit pa.gov for a “Responding to COVID-19” guide or the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s dedicated Coronavirus webpage for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.

Guidance to DHS providers related to COVID-19 is available here.

Sanders, Jayapal Unveil Emergency Legislation to Provide Health Care for All During Pandemic

Burlington, April 10 — Amidst an unprecedented economic and public-health crisis, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) announced sweeping legislation today to guarantee health care for all Americans for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act, authored by the two lawmakers, empowers Medicare to pay all of the costs of treatment for the uninsured, and cover all out-of-pocket costs for those with public or private insurance, for as long as this pandemic continues.

“During this unprecedented crisis, no one in America should delay seeking medical care because of the cost. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we are only as safe as the least-insured among us,” said Sanders. “We have got to work together to make sure that anyone in America who is sick—regardless of their income or immigration status—can seek the medical treatment they need during this national emergency. With an estimated 35 million Americans in danger of losing their employer-provided health insurance over the coming weeks and months, this legislation is needed now more than ever.”

“Our broken health care system is failing to protect millions of Americans from the coronavirus pandemic. Now more than ever, we need to take bold action to prevent more Americans from getting sick or dying,” said Jayapal. “Everyone in America should have guaranteed access to health care, especially during national emergency.”

As the ranks of the 87 million uninsured or under-insured Americans swell, the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act would take effect immediately upon passage and make sure that through the duration of the crisis, no American would pay any out-of-pocket expenses for health care—including prescription drug coverage.

The legislation also bans surprise billing, empowers Medicare to purchase pharmaceuticals at the same prices as the VA, and prevents private insurance companies from increasing copayments and deductibles, or decreasing coverage, for the duration of the health care crisis.

Route 18 Frankfort Road Slide Repair Work Begins Next Week in Hanover Township

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing preparatory work on the Route 18 (Frankfort Road) slide in Hanover Township, Beaver County will begin Monday, April 13 weather permitting.

Crews will begin preparatory work at the slide located on Route 18 between Cabin Road and Parkside Drive beginning Monday morning. The road will remain in a single-lane alternating pattern controlled by stop signs. No additional restrictions will be needed next week.  A full closure of the roadway for slide remediation work is anticipated to begin on Monday, April 20.  Additional details will be provided prior to the closure.

Mekis Construction Corporation is the prime contractor on this $1.81 million emergency repair project which also includes paving work, drainage improvements, and other miscellaneous construction activities.

Normal highway and bridge construction projects in Pennsylvania remain paused as part of the commonwealth’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This project is part of critical work that continues statewide addressing safety needs and work needed to eliminate roadway restrictions that could impede the ability for the movement of life sustaining goods and services.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

The Rogers Community Flea Market in Ohio has made several changes in lieu of the pandemic, including:

• All auctions are now being held online at www.RogersOhio.hibid.com
• Friday night auctions have been postponed TFN
• Food vendors open, seating areas will be closed.
• Hand-washing stations have been added.
• Only essential businesses will remain in operation from 7:30 to 4 at the latest (some businesses may be asked to leave early).

The full list of changes can be found at their website.