Record economic plunge, bleak jobs numbers reveal virus toll
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER and PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy plunged by a record-shattering 32.9% annual rate last quarter, and the coronavirus is still cutting a path of destruction, forcing millions out of work and shuttering businesses. The economy’s stunning contraction in the April-June quarter came as the viral outbreak pushed already struggling businesses to close for a second time in many parts of the country, sending unemployment surging to nearly 15%. The government’s estimate Thursday of the second-quarter fall in the gross domestic product was the sharpest such drop on records dating to 1947.  So dizzying was the fall that most analysts expect the economy to sharply bounce back this quarter. Yet with coronavirus cases surging in many states, the economy could worsen in the months ahead.

Pennsylvania may pilot virus-tracing app popular in Ireland
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A contact-tracing app that was downloaded by one-fifth of Ireland in 36 hours might undergo a pilot project in Pennsylvania that could go live in the coming weeks as part of an effort to more quickly contain coronavirus outbreaks by notifying people who may have been exposed. Lindsey Mauldin, a special assistant to state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, told lawmakers Wednesday that Health Department personnel are working with academic researchers to figure out how to use the app in Pennsylvania. The app is based on technology developed by Apple and Google. A number of states are interested in using the Apple-Google technology for an app, but none has introduced one yet.

US is expected to report a record-breaking economic plunge
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Having endured what was surely a record-shattering slump last quarter, the U.S. economy faces a dim outlook as a resurgent coronavirus intensifies doubts about the likelihood of any sustained recovery the rest of the year. A huge plunge in consumer spending, especially as people stayed home and avoided shopping, traveling or gathering in crowds as the virus raged, is estimated to have sent the economy sinking at a roughly 32% annual rate in the April-June quarter. That would be roughly triple the previous record economic contraction. On Tuesday, the government will issue its first of three estimates of economic activity for the April-June quarter.

Bars, restaurants challenge virus restrictions
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARC LEVY undefined
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania bar and restaurant owners say they have been unfairly blamed for rising virus case numbers. At a House hearing Tuesday, they challenged the Wolf administration to provide evidence and blasted the Democratic governor over pandemic restrictions they say will drive many of them out of business. Wolf cited rising infection rates in some hot spots when he imposed a new round of restrictions on bars and restaurants two weeks ago. Occupancy was reduced from 50% to 25% capacity, and alcohol can only be served with meals. Pennsylvania, meanwhile, reported more than 1,000 new coronavirus infections Tuesday for the third time in less than a week.

(Brighton Twp.,Pa.) In response to the State of Pennsylvania stating in a release that Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center used an experimental treatment on residents who had the COVID-19 Brighton Rehab and Wellness said in a release that they  issued a plan of correction on July 7, 2020  to the PA Department of Health. The release states that their plan of correction is prepared and executed  to continuously  improve the quality of care and comply with all state and federal regulatory requirements.  Brighton Rehab and Wellness  can not  receive retroactive written approval  from the PA DOH   for the use of hydroxychloroquine in conjunction with zinc. The facility, according to the response  is no longer administering the drug to medically cleared patients with confirmed consent.

The PADOH will educate the medical director  and clinical leadership on resident’s rights  related to experimental research.

(Harrisburg, Pa.) A Report that was released by the State of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, stated that 205 of the 435 residents Patients at Brighton Rehab and Wellness Center were given the experimental drug hydroxychloroquine without approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This is the same drug that President Trump has been pushing for use of for the COVID-19 but the FDA says that in Clinical Trials it has not been proven as an effective treatment for COVID-19.

Brighton Rehab and Wellness has been a hot spot for the virus in the state. As of yesterday, July 28, 2020 there have been 332 resident cases and 73 deaths attributed to the COVID-19 at the facility. There have also been 113 employee cases of the virus. The facility has a total of 589 beds with 314 people currently residing there.

How to participate

A livestream will be online at https://access.live/PAlabor. Those without internet access can listen by calling 1-833-380-0719, however access is limited so we ask that they be reserved for individuals who need them.

Participants can ask questions live during the town hall. To protect participants’ personal confidential information, specific questions about individual claims cannot be answered during the town hall.

Pennsylvania has implemented all of the new programs under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – for self-employed, gig workers, contractors and others not normally eligible for UC.
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – additional 13 weeks of benefits to people who exhaust their regular UC.
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – extra $600 per week for anyone receiving unemployment benefits.
  • The federal government created and funded the $600 weekly FPUC payment. Under federal requirement, the claim week ending July 25, 2020, was the last $600 FPUC payment claimants will receive. Any extension must be approved by the federal government.

Unemployment Benefits Statistics

Since mid-March, more than $30.7 billion in benefits has been paid to claimants:

• $12 billion from regular UC
• $14.5 billion from FPUC
• $4 billion from PUA
• $184.5 million from PEUC

Of the eligible claimants that applied for benefits between March 15 and June 27, and who filed for continued claims, 93 percent received payment as of July 28. 

Improving Customer Service

• L&I UC staff has worked more than 216,000 overtime hours since mid-March.
• UC service center staffing levels have increased 109 percent since March 15 with the hiring of new employees and reassigning of staff from other state offices/agencies.
• Since mid-March, UC staff has responded to more than 652,169 total emails.

Important Resources and Links

• L&I Press Releases
• L&I COVID-19 Guidance and Resources
• L&I COVID-19 Media Center
• Unemployment Press Briefing for July 27, 2020 (password is xK3MJyUT)

Recordings of prior public town halls are available here. Additional unemployment benefits information is available on L&I’s website, Facebook or Twitter.

Democrats, GOP far apart as virus aid talks intensify
By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) — The differences in Washington over the next coronavirus aid package are vast. Democrats propose $3 trillion in relief. Republicans have a $1 trillion counteroffer. And millions of Americans’ jobless benefits, school reopenings and eviction protections are at stake. The White House negotiators are returning to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. It’s apparent that Democrats have the leverage. Republicans are so divided over the prospect of big government spending they are leaving Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell with a severely weakened hand as a $600 federal unemployment assistance and eviction protections expire Friday.

Pennsylvania reports more than 1,100 new virus cases
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania has reported more than 1,000 new coronavirus infections for the third time in less than a week and the sixth time this month as some regions of the state continue to see rising case numbers. The state Health Department said Tuesday that an additional 1,120 people tested have positive for the virus, raising the statewide total to more than 109,000 since the beginning of the pandemic. Health officials reported 24 new deaths, raising the death toll to 7,146.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is reported more than 800 new confirmed coronavirus cases as fresh concerns about it spreading prompted the cancellation of Monday night’s Major League Baseball game in Philadelphia. The Department of Health on Monday also reported four new deaths. The virus has infected more than 108,000 people in Pennsylvania since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 7,100 have died, most of them in nursing homes. In July, Pennsylvania’s 14-day rate of new cases per 100,000 residents has risen by more than 70%, while the seven-day positivity rate has gradually increased. Deaths have declined from June to July, although hospitalizations are on the rise in July, according to state data. Locally in Beaver County we are up to 1127 positive cases of Covid-19. Beaver County remains at 72 deaths.