‘Desperation science’ slows the hunt for coronavirus drugs
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP Chief Medical Writer
Six months after COVID-19 started spreading around the globe, desperation rather than information is still driving many decisions about how to treat the disease. Two drugs have been shown to help but key questions remain about their use. In the United States, critically needed studies were slow to give answers, and some were undermined by wide use of certain drugs without evidence they were safe or effective for fighting coronavirus. Politics compounded the problem and hurt the ability to find out. Now researchers are trying innovative ways to get answers faster while still doing good science.

Data: Congress created virus aid, then reaped the benefits
By MATTHEW DALY and BRIAN SLODYSKO Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Newly released government data show at least a dozen lawmakers have ties to organizations that received federal coronavirus aid. Among businesses that received money was a California hotel partially owned by the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as a shipping business started by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s family. Chao is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Car dealerships owned by Republican Reps. Roger Williams of Texas and Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, and fast-food franchises owned by Republican Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, also received money through the Paycheck Protection Program.

By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer
President Donald Trump is launching an all-out effort to press state and local officials to reopen schools this fall. The Republican president says some are keeping schools closed not because of coronavirus risks but for political reasons. Trump hosted a White House roundtable Tuesday with health and education leaders who said schools and colleges can open safely. They argue that the risks of keeping students at home outweigh any risks tied to the coronavirus and that students need access to meals and mental and behavioral health services. But the bright outlook was met with skepticism from some outside the White House.

Rising infections in southwest Pennsylvania prompt concern
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Renewed pandemic restrictions appear likely in southwestern Pennsylvania as virus infections in Pittsburgh and its border counties surge, driven in part by people frequenting bars and restaurants. Already, Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located and the recent spike in new infections is centered, is in the midst of a one-week ban on in-person service at bars and restaurants as health officials there try to contain the spread. There are indications that restrictions could be reimposed in surrounding counties that are also reporting rising infection numbers. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania on Tuesday reported its highest single-day caseload of new infections since early May, although the state Department of Health says that a significant portion are backlogged or delayed test results.

(Beaver County, Pa.) Gov Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine are set to announce that by order of Pa. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine all bars and restaurants in Beaver County will be closing for Dine-in service for a period of two weeks due to the COVID-19. They will still be able to have take out and delivery service. It is not known if they will  be allowed outdoor dinning still.   The Beaver County Commissioners were informed by the Health Department this afternoon that Beaver County will be included along with four other local counties,Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland and Washington counties . When this will go into effect and for how long is unknown at this point.  Beaver County Radio’s Frank Sparks talked with the commissioners office and it was confirmed that the Beaver County Commissioners have no say in this and it will be a decision by the State Health Department that must be followed by law. Stay tune Beaver County Radio for more information  on this and if the Commissioners will have a statement.

Beaver County has been on the uptick in positive cases adding 28 more positive cases since yesterday’s numbers came out. Beaver County has increased by 92 positive cases of the COVID-19 since July 1, 2020. The county has seen only one death in the same time frame.

Protective gear for medical workers begins to run low again
By GEOFF MULVIHILL and CAMILLE FASSETT Associated Press
The personal protective gear that was in dangerously short supply during the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is running low again. That’s according to doctors, nurses and some lawmakers. The new shortages come as the virus resumes its rapid spread and the number of hospitalized patients climbs. Deborah Burger is president of National Nurses United. She says there are shortages of gowns, hair covers, shoe covers, masks and N95 masks. Democratic members of Congress want the Trump administration to devise a national strategy to acquire and distribute gear in anticipation of the crisis worsening into the fall.

How risky is dining out during the COVID-19 pandemic?
By The Associated Press undefined
How risky is dining out during the COVID-19 pandemic? There is some risk, but health officials say you can take precautions to minimize your exposure to the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says ordering takeout or delivery poses the least risk if you want restaurant food. If you do decide to eat at a restaurant, the agency says it’s best to sit outside where seating capacity is reduced and tables are at least 6 feet apart. Dining inside a restaurant that hasn’t reduced its capacity or safely distanced tables poses the most risk.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Wolf Administration highlighted recent research studies that further point to the importance of wearing masks to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“The recent uptick in cases in southwest Pennsylvania have been traced to people not wearing masks in public places such as bars and restaurants,” Gov. Wolf said. “Research tells us that masks, while not perfect, make a difference in the spread of COVID-19 and are a simple and effective way to help protect ourselves and others.”

According to a recent, comprehensive study published in The Lancet and funded by the World Health Organization, which identified 172 observational studies across 16 countries and six continents, face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection from COVID-19, in particular when combined with social distancing.

A study by a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. The findings were published in the PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). According to the study’s findings, “not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus.”

And a recent modeling study by the Royal Society A notes that wearing masks in public could have a major impact toward reducing the spread of COVID-19. According to the modeling, “Under certain conditions, when lock-down periods are implemented in combination with 100% facemask use, there is vastly less disease spread, secondary and tertiary waves are flattened, and the epidemic is brought under control. The effect occurs even when it is assumed that facemasks are only 50% effective at capturing exhaled virus inoculum with an equal or lower efficiency on inhalation.”

“Study after study indicates the effectiveness of mask-wearing to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to keep the curve of cases flattened,” Gov. Wolf said. “That’s why we are requiring masks when in public. It is the most simple, effective way to protect yourself and others during our ongoing efforts to mitigate COVID-19.”

Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order mandating mask-wearing on July 1. It remains in effect. Frequently Asked Questions about the mask-wearing order can be found here.

Gov. Wolf Announces $53 Million in Additional Support for Child Care Providers

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf visited the child care center at PSECU headquarters in Harrisburg today to announce $53 million in additional financial support for child care providers that have suffered during COVID-19.

“This funding will help child care providers bridge the gap until their clientele returns,” Gov. Wolf said. “It will also help them with any increased costs that have been incurred due to the pandemic – things like cleaning and sanitization, which will help keep the 386,000 children who attend our licensed child care facilities safe, as well as the workers who do so much to care for them.”

The governor was joined at the announcement by Teresa Miller, secretary of the Department of Human Services; George Rudolph, president and CEO of PSECU; and Tonya Bastinelli, director of the Bright Horizons child care center at PSECU.

In June, the Wolf Administration distributed $51 million in CARES Act Child Care Development Funds to eligible child care providers. The $53 million announced today is also from CARES Act funding and will be distributed this month. Another $116 million from Act 24 will be distributed in the coming months, bringing the total sum of financial support to $220 million.

The funding is distributed through the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), which licenses child care providers in the state and is working with Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs on an impact study to understand challenges for child care providers reopening and resuming operations during COVID-19.

OCDEL has 7,017 licensed child care providers as of June 24 and 65 have permanently closed based on the February 2020 license list. Based on participation in the June CARES Act distribution, slightly more than 100 additional providers have declined funds indicating they intend to remain closed.

The Penn State study highlights the various operational and financial impacts child care providers have endured and will continue to endure throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the preliminary findings of the study, distributing stimulus funds in July is critical to ensure adequate capacity is available in the future. Data collected through this study will be used to help determine allocation of the remaining $116 million.

“While we do not know how this pandemic will look in a week, a month, or a year, we know that a healthy, robust child care system will be critical to weather the economic recovery ahead,” DHS Sec. Teresa Miller said. “This study will capture experiences and challenges child care providers have endured since COVID-19 arose in Pennsylvania and will allow us to direct additional funds how and where our child care providers need them most. This industry is vital to both a healthy economy and our children’s futures, and we will not abandon our child care providers who dedicate their lives to our youngest Pennsylvanians, often at low pay and now, a risk to their health. We will be with you through the challenges to come.”

“Fortunately, we’ve been able to keep our childcare center open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said George Rudolph, president and CEO of PSECU. “This is so important because many of the parents who use this service are essential workers. By keeping the doors open, we’ve been able to provide a valuable service to our local heroes that has allowed them to continue working. For PSECU, this childcare center represents one of the many ways that we’re able to support the strength and well-being of our members and the local community.”

“Stable, affordable, high-quality child care is an important piece of our workforce development,” Gov. Wolf said. “In fact, my Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center identified it as one of the biggest hurdles to getting more Pennsylvanians into the workforce. As we continue to recover economically from this pandemic, we will need child care available so parents can resume working, or so they can attend training programs or job interviews. And, of course, it is crucial to continue providing high-quality care during critical early years when children are rapidly learning.”