‘We are struggling’: A bleak Christmas for America’s jobless
By JOSEPH PISANI and CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Business Writers
NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of Americans have been jobless since the viral pandemic ripped through the U.S. economy in March, triggering a deep recession and causing widespread unemployment. Now, many months later, they face a holiday season they hardly could have foreseen a year ago: Too little money to buy gifts, cook proper meals or pay all their bills. Nearly 8 million people have sunk into poverty since June after having spent the $1,200 checks the government gave most Americans this spring and a $600-a-week supplemental jobless benefit that expired in July, according to research by Bruce Meyer at the University of Chicago and two other colleagues.

Leader Benninghoff Responds to Gov. Wolf’s Business Assistance Announcement

HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday announced he intends to make funding available for small businesses and restaurants impacted by his shutdown orders and ongoing economic restrictions.

Last session, the House Republican Caucus took the lead in standing up for Pennsylvania’s workers, businesses and restaurants by passing legislation like the vetoed House Bill 2513 that would have prevented the current restaurant shutdown and passing a constitutional amendment to limit the governor’s emergency authority.

In response to the governor’s announcement, Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) made the following statement:

 

“There is only one reason why restaurants and small businesses are shut down, suffering and facing permanent closure, and that reason is the governor. The backbone of our state and local economy, restaurants and small businesses, have been unfairly targeted by his administration, and have been pleading for months for relief from his mandates.

 

“Hearing those cries, the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus has taken the lead in advocating that Pennsylvania’s small businesses, restaurants and workers get the relief and commonsense support they desperately need.

 

“Throughout the pandemic, House Republican have tried to bring commonsense to Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 response, stood up for small businesses, and worked to undo the harm caused by Gov. Wolf’s economic shutdowns and restrictions.

 

“Going alone is not what is best for Pennsylvanians. We need to work together, and I encourage Gov. Wolf to work with us on relief plans and join us in focusing on long-term solutions that keep Pennsylvanians working and businesses and restaurants operating safely.”

 

Trump vetoes defense bill, setting up possible override vote
By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has vetoed the annual defense policy bill, following through on threats to veto a measure that has broad bipartisan support in Congress and potentially setting up the first override vote of his presidency. The bill affirms 3% pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes more than $740 billion in military programs and construction. Trump has offered a series of rationales for vetoing the bill. He has called for lawmakers to include limits on social media companies he claimed are biased against him.

Wolf seeks $145M fund shift to help businesses with pandemic
By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s governor wants to use $145 million in a worker’s compensation fund to help businesses cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal would require a vote from the Republican-majority Legislature to appropriate the money, and there has been no deal struck to accomplish that. Wolf is seeking to give the money in grants to businesses that have the greatest need for help. The money is a surplus in the Insurance Department’s Worker’s Compensation Security Fund.

Pfizer to supply US with additional 100M vaccines doses
By JONATHAN LEMIRE and RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer and BioNTech will supply the U.S. with an additional 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine under a new agreement. The drugmakers said Wednesday that they expect to deliver all the doses by July 31. Pfizer already has a contract to supply the government with 100 million doses of its vaccine. Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to gain emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and initial shipments went to states last week. It has now been joined by a vaccine from Moderna, which was developed in closer cooperation with scientists from the National Institutes of Health.

Trump threatens to torpedo COVID relief with new demands
By KEVIN FREKING, ANDREW TAYLOR and LISA MASCARO Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is threatening to torpedo Congress’ massive pandemic relief package in the midst of a raging pandemic and deep economic uncertainty. He’s suddenly demanding changes fellow Republicans have opposed, like a huge jump in the $600 payments planned for most Americans. Trump assailed the bipartisan $900 billion package in a video he tweeted out Tuesday night, and suggested he may not sign it. He said the bill would deliver too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans. The House and Senate cleared the package by lopsided votes, enough to override a veto should Trump decide to take that step.

US close on deal with Pfizer for millions more vaccine doses
By JONATHAN LEMIRE and RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is close to a deal with Pfizer to acquire tens of millions of additional vaccine doses in exchange for helping the pharmaceutical giant gain better access to manufacturing supplies. A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the deal is under discussion but has not been finalized. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations. Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and initial shipments went to states last week. It has since been joined by another vaccine, from Moderna.

Department of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, December 14 – December 20

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.

These numbers include actions taken during routine food safety inspections and inspections prompted by consumer complaints.

From December 14 through December 20, the department’s Bureau of Food Safety performed 493 inspections, 89 of which were complaint-driven. Of those, 84 were COVID-19 specific complaints. The department received 428 food facility COVID-19 related complaints, and 87 of those COVID-19 related complaints were referred to local and county health jurisdictions.

In addition, the department issued 180 written warnings to restaurants reported to be violating the temporary dine-in prohibition. Of those 180 warnings, 40 restaurants were closed by order after they were confirmed to be open for dine-in service and refused to comply with the order.

The limited-time mitigation order includes:

• All in-person indoor dining at businesses in the retail food services industry, including, but not limited to, bars, restaurants, breweries, wineries, distilleries, social clubs, and private catered events is prohibited.
• Outdoor dining, take-out food service, and take-out alcohol sales are permitted and may continue, subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law, or this or any other order issued by the Secretary of Health or by the governor.

A county-by-county breakdown of COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions can be found on the Department of Agriculture’s website. The data will be updated weekly with data from the previous week.

The Bureau of Food Safety has always operated with an education-first model, and always works to educate and correct issues on-site before taking official action. Businesses will receive a closure order if they are confirmed to be operating in violation of the order and unwilling to cease dine-in service while the inspector is present. If the restaurant continues to operate in any manner following closure order, the restaurant will be referred to the Department of Health for further legal action, including an action in Commonwealth Court to enjoin the continued operation of the restaurant in violation of the temporary order.

Consumers with general food safety complaints or concerns about non-compliance for COVID-19 mitigation can file a complaint online. COVID-19 mitigation restaurant enforcement actions will be released on a weekly basis.

For more information about the Department of Agriculture’s COVID-19 response, visit agriculture.pa.gov/covid.

In Beaver County there were 7 inspections conducted one was due to a complaint. There were no warnings or citations handed out.

Department of Health: 22 More Hospitals Receive Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna Doses to be Shipped to 51 Hospitals This Week

 

Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today announced as of 12 PM, December 21, 22 additional hospitals have received 30,255 does of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and will begin distributing it to health care workers as outlined in the state’s interim vaccine distribution plan. This brings the total to 109 hospitals to date that have received vaccine.

 

“Each day, hospitals will be shipped vaccine directly from Pfizer and will begin administering it to health care workers at the hospital,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The hospitals receiving shipments enrolled to be COVID-19 vaccine providers. The federal government has determined the amount of vaccine and when the vaccine is distributed. Hospitals receiving the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine must be able to handle the ultra-low temperature storage requirements.”

 

Hospitals that received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine today include:

Aria Health-Bucks, Bucks County;

• Crozer Hospital, Delaware County;
• Delaware County Memorial Hospital, Delaware County;
• Geisinger Lewistown, Mifflin County;
• Geisinger Medical Center, Montour County;
• Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Luzerne County;
• Grand View Hospital; Bucks County;
• Highlands Hospital, Fayette County;
• Lankenau Medical Center (Main Line Health System), Montgomery County;
• Lehigh Valley Health Network; Lehigh County;
• Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, Cumberland County;
• Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Dauphin County;
• Reading Hospital, Berks County;
• Saint Clair Memorial Hospital, Allegheny County;
• Saint Vincent Hospital, Erie County;
• Sharon Regional Medical Center, Mercer County;
• St. Mary Medical Center, Bucks County;
• The Medical Center at Woods, Bucks County;
• UPMC Saint Margaret, Allegheny County;
• UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Allegheny County;
• Washington Hospital, Washington County; and
• Wilkes Barre General Hospital.

 

In addition, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is due to be received by to at least 51 hospitals throughout the state this week.

“More hospital sites will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine over the next several weeks. Hospital sites are selected by their ability to manage the cold chain requirement with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, completion of the COVID-19 provider agreement, and successful onboarding with the Department of Health for necessary documentation of vaccination. The number of doses, recipient hospitals and arrival dates are subject to change based on updated information from the federal government and Pfizer.

“These first doses of vaccine are being given specifically to health care workers through hospitals,” Dr. Levine said. “Hospitals are making arrangements to implement these vaccinations, not only to their own frontline staff but to other high-priority recipients. The number of people we can immunize truly depends on how quickly the manufacturers can make the vaccine.”

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, December 11, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved its use on December 13.

The vaccine will be available in three phases, beginning with critical populations. Due to the limited supply of vaccine, the first phase is expected to take several months. Initial administration of doses will be according to the ACIP recommendations of vaccine administration to health care workers, residents and staff in long term care facilities.

In the second phase, the department anticipates more vaccine doses will be available. This will allow vaccination of essential workers who cannot work remotely and must work in proximity to others. The third phase is vaccinating all persons of any age not previously vaccinated, once the department has a sufficient supply of vaccine. In this phase, the entire population will have access to a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a nationwide playbook that the department used to develop and still uses to update the Pennsylvania COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan.

More information about the COVID-19 vaccine can be found here.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
• Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa”.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts

MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov

US clears Moderna vaccine for COVID-19, 2nd shot in arsenal
By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MATTHEW PERRONE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is adding a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal. The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use Friday of the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health. The decision comes days after health workers and nursing home residents began getting a similar coronavirus shot from Pfizer and BioNTech. Extra doses from a second vaccine are urgently needed, as U.S. deaths hit all-time highs and some hospitals are running out of beds. But even with additional candidates in the pipeline, there won’t be enough for the general population until spring, and shots will be rationed in the meantime.