Pa Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 6/19/20: Beaver County Up Three Cases and Death Toll Remains at 77

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 526 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 80,762

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., June 19, that there are 526 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 80,762. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

There are 6,399 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 38 new deaths. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

“With more than half of the state now in the green phase of the process to reopen, it is essential that we continue to take precautions to protect against COVID-19,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The commonwealth’s careful, measured approach to reopening is working as we see case counts continue to decline even as many other states see increases. But the virus has not gone away. Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently. Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”

Mask wearing is required in all businesses in yellow and green phases of reopening. The importance of masks even in counties in the green phase could have lasting effects as a COVID-19 surge is possible this fall.

There are 630 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 556,456 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

  • Nearly 1% are ages 0-4;
  • 1% are ages 5-12;
  • 2% are ages 13-18;
  • 6% are ages 19-24;
  • Nearly 37% are ages 25-49;
  • Nearly 25% are ages 50-64; and
  • Nearly 28% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 16,895 resident cases of COVID-19, and 3,012 cases among employees, for a total of 19,907 at 651 distinct facilities in 47 counties. Out of our total deaths, 4,345 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 6,141 of our total cases are in health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the yellow or green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, June 18:

  • Provided the latest CMU metrics.

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 for a life-sustaining reason, please wear a mask.

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

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

Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate At 13.1 Percent in May

Department of Health Applies for $301 Million Federal Grant to Strengthen COVID-19 Response, More Than $100 Million for Local Health Departments

Department of Health Applies for $301 Million Federal Grant to Strengthen COVID-19 Response, More Than $100 Million for Local Health Departments

Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced that the Department of Health has applied for a more than $301 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen state and local public health capacity in Pennsylvania.

“This funding is essential to our future response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “In our application, we earmarked about a third of that funding, more than $100 million, to bolster county and municipal public health departments’ response. We intend to use the balance of the grant funding to expand our testing efforts, case investigating and contact tracing and our data infrastructure to improve our response.”

The Department will also continue its close collaboration with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, who separately received more than $92 million to assist their work from CDC.

Throughout Pennsylvania, there are six county health departments and four municipal health departments, who have primary responsibility for public health efforts inside their jurisdiction.

The funding will support six primary strategies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. These include continuing work to develop a robust testing and contact tracing strategy, supporting local health departments and investing in public health surveillance and laboratory infrastructure. The grant submission focused on ensuring minority and underserved communities are targeted for testing, outreach and we have improved demographic data collection. Here is a breakdown of these six strategies and the corresponding funding:

  1. Strengthen Laboratory Testing: $96,407,366

· Stand up regional hub and spoke testing network to ensure testing is available and accessible across the commonwealth.

· Partner with vendors to deliver testing at long term care facilities, community-based testing sites and other locations with a focus on minority communities.

· Purchase necessary supplies and equipment for the PA DOH’s state laboratory to increase testing capacity at the state level, prioritized for long term care and other congregate care settings. This includes supplies and equipment for both diagnostic and antibody testing.

  1. Advance Electronic Data Exchange at Public Health Labs: $3,133,542

· Implement an IT solution to enhance and expand laboratory results information infrastructure, to enable faster and more complete data exchange and reporting for public health data.

  1. Improve Surveillance and Reporting of Electronic Health Data: $5,048,277

· Implement IT solutions to enable comprehensive, automated, daily reporting to the CDC and others in a machine-readable format. This includes hiring a vendor to populate missing demographic information to ensure state has a complete picture of impact of COVID-19 by race and ethnicity.

  1. Use Laboratory Data to Enhance Investigation, Response and Prevention: $84,815,746

· Develop a robust investigation and contact tracing infrastructure for in depth case investigation and contact tracing including nurses, contact tracers, outbreak response and IT solutions, including a mobile app for exposure notification.  Additionally, this strategy includes funding for six outreach specialists to serve as trusted messengers to reach traditionally underserved communities.

· Target $10 million of funding to research and address health disparities related to COVID-19 and ensure communities and systems are intentionally focused on ensuring a healthy Pennsylvania for all.

  1. Coordinate and Engage with Partners: $103,529,626

· Support the state’s county and municipal health departments (CMHDs) so they can bolster the infrastructure and workforce needed to address local public health needs now and in the future. Create and provide additional programs to LTCF to support response.

  1. Enhance Laboratory, Surveillance, Informatics and other Workforce Capacity: $8,102,129

· Build expertise to support management of the COVID-19 related activities within the commonwealth.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Diarrhea
  • Chills
  • Repeating shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.

As of 12:00 a.m., June 18, there were 80,236 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide in 67 counties and 6,361 confirmed deaths. Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 and older. More data is available here.

Pennsylvanians are reminded that mask-wearing is required when visiting businesses in both the yellow and green phases of reopening or in any setting outside the home where social distancing is difficult. Remember: My mask protects you; your mask protects me.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

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 for a life-sustaining reason, please wear a mask.

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

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.

The Show Goes On. Fireworks Shows Have Been Moved To Backyards. Aliquippa Company Steps In To Provide Fireworks.

Feature drone photo of actual A-Rocket Fireworks courtesy of Andrew LeDonne.

(Aliquippa, PA)  Even though Pennsylvania is coming out of the restrictive phases of the COVID-19 business and event shut down, most, if not all municipal fireworks displays have been postponed or cancelled due to  a continued measure of caution regarding virus containment.  A-Rocket Fireworks in Aliquippa sensed a need to help patriotic residents celebrate independence day, and wanted everyone to know that “The Show Goes On”.  Everyone can still enjoy fireworks this year. That’s because professional looking fireworks that can turn any backyard into a memorable celebration  are available at  A-Rocket Fireworks.  

Company spokesperson, Abby Unis, spoke to Mark Peterson from Beaver County Radio earlier about A-Rocket Fireworks:

 

Fireworks continue to be the traditional method to mark Independence Day, July 4th, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted in Phildelphia, PA.   Founding Father of our nation, John Adams, declared that the day would be remembered with  Parades, Bonfires, the firing of muskets and “illumination of the skies” all across the country.  Independence Day celebrations using fireworks started in 1777, on the first anniversary of  the historic occasion.

A-Rocket Fireworks is open seven days a week at 10 A.M. Call 724-375-3333. The store is located at 1 Constitution Boulevard, Aliquippa, PA 15001.  Click the photo to visit the A-Rocket Facebook Page.

Abby Unis poses next to a display of fireworks at A-Rocket Fireworks in Aliquippa.

CONGRESSMAN LAMB SUPPORTS INVESTMENT IN AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed H.R. 2, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act, which provides $494 billion over five years to make infrastructure investments in surface and rail transportation.  Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17), a member of the Committee, voted in support of the legislation.

“The millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, and the millions more young people looking for a start in life in the middle of this pandemic, deserve to see us come together in support of this infrastructure bill.  Building infrastructure is our most powerful tool to create jobs and improve the playing field for all businesses,” said Lamb.

“In Western Pennsylvania, our parents and grandparents left us a strong system of roads, rails, bridges, locks, dams, streetcars, and more – an investment that paid off throughout the twentieth century,” added Lamb.  “It now falls to our generation to rebuild and improve upon this system for the twenty-first century.  This bill is an important down payment, and its focus on American jobs and American steel could not come at a better time.”

Prior to the development and consideration of H.R. 2, Lamb sent a letter to the Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee outlining his priorities for inclusion in the INVEST in America Act.  In the letter, Lamb called for significant investment in rail, highways, structurally deficient bridges, public transit and research and innovation.  He also outlined the need for strong Buy America provisions as well as support for American workers.

In May, Lamb and Representative Bob Gibbs (OH-7) led a bipartisan letter to congressional leadership to ask them to provide $50 billion in immediate funds to state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in light of COVID-19’s impact on transportation and infrastructure projects.  H.R. 2 includes important additional FY2021 funds and flexibilities to help state DOTs meet the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Lamb successfully fought for the inclusion of multiple provisions in the final bill, including language that:

  • Ensures landslide stabilization projects are eligible for the pre-disaster mitigation program;
  • Ensures that autonomous vehicle developers, not just manufacturers, are included in the working group on autonomous vehicles;
  • Strengthens the domestic steel industry by requiring mill certifications for bus shells, to verify that they are made with domestic steel for purposes of Buy America enforcement;
  • Strengthens the domestic steel industry by ensuring imported buses cannot get Buy America domestic credit; and
  • Protects U.S. steelworkers by amending the definition of “highly skilled labor costs” for the Buy America provisions in the bill to close loopholes in the accounting of domestic labor costs.

The INVEST in America Act will:

  • Address the large backlog of roads, bridges, and transit systems in need of repair and replacement;
  • Build resilient infrastructure that will withstand climate change and extreme weather events;
  • Design streets that are safer for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists;
  • Put the U.S. on a path toward zero emissions from the transportation sector by prioritizing carbon pollution reduction, investing in public transit and the national rail network, building out fueling infrastructure for low and zero-emission vehicles, and deploying technology and innovative materials;
  • Sharply increase funding for public transit options to integrate technology and increase routes and reliability with tools such as bus-only lanes and priority signaling;
  • Make transformation investments in Amtrak in order to create a robust, reliable rail system, and to address long-neglected maintenance needs in the Northeast Corridor and throughout the country while also enhancing rail worker and passenger safety and helping communities address grade crossing issues; and
  • Improve access to federal funding to help communities around the country undertake transformative projects that are smarter, safer and made to last.

Following passage by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the bill now goes to the full House for consideration.  Click here to learn more about INVEST in America Act (H.R. 2).

Atlanta Police Call in Sick Over Charges in Fatal Shooting

Atlanta police call out sick over charges in fatal shooting
By KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta police officers have called out sick to protest the filing of murder charges against an officer who shot a man in the back. The interim chief told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that members of the force feel abandoned amid protests demanding massive changes to policing. Rodney Bryant said the department has sufficient staff to protect the city. It’s not clear how many officers have called out, but a union representative said just one officer showed up for work Thursday morning in one zone. Prosecutors brought felony murder and other charges against the white officer who shot Rayshard Brooks, who was black.

Line Painting Operations Continue Next Week on Rt. 65 and Broadhead Road

Line Painting Operations Continue Next Week in Allegheny and Beaver Counties

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that line painting operations on various roadways in Beaver and Allegheny counties will occur Monday through Friday, June 22-26, weather permitting.

Work to repaint lines will occur from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day in the following locations:

Beaver County

  • Route 65 in various municipalities
  • Route 3007 (Brodhead Road) in Center and Hopewell townships and the City of Aliquippa
  • Route 3016 (Green Garden Road) in Raccoon and Hopewell townships

Allegheny County

  • I-279 Parkway North between the I-79 split in Franklin Park Borough to Camp Horne Road exit (Exit 8) in Ohio Township
  • Route 837 in various municipalities
  • Route 19 in various municipalities in northern Allegheny County

PennDOT advises motorists to exercise caution and patience, and suggests allowing at least 250 feet (13 car lengths) behind line painting equipment to avoid damage.  Motorists should avoid passing the paint vehicles unless directed by a paint crew member or flag person to do so.  Passing too quickly can cause damage to fresh paint lines and may result in paint on the motorist’s vehicle.  Line painting vehicles normally pull over every two and one-half miles or when safety permits.  Recent technological advancements on the mix of formulas have produced fast dry paints that are dry to the touch within 2 to 3 minutes.  It is crucial to stay off these lines during the curing period.

Motorists who accidentally get paint on their vehicles should immediately wash the paint off with a high-pressure water stream and detergent.  Dried paint can be removed with de-natured alcohol and a soft cloth.  Generally, PennDOT is not responsible for paint on vehicles.

Roadway line painting is an important part of PennDOT’s highway safety initiatives. Paint lines provide direction, delineation, and guidance to motorists.

Glass beads applied on top of wet paint during the painting process provide retro reflectivity.  These small, spherical beads reflect light during dark hours and periods of low visibility.  As the glass beads become worn or wet, the reflectivity becomes greatly diminished resulting in reduced visibility during dark and wet hours.

Lines need repainting each year because of normal wear, tear, and weather. Winter maintenance activities such as plowing, spreading anti-skid materials, and studded tires are very abrasive to paint lines and can cause fading.  Normal weathering caused by snow, rain, and ice also contribute to line reflectivity reduction.

Motorists should use caution and be aware of changing traffic patterns when driving through the area.

Visit 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major roadways before traveling.

Juneteenth marks day last enslaved people freed

AP Explains: Juneteenth marks day last enslaved people freed
By TERRY TANG Associated Press
Juneteenth commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free 155 years ago. Now, with support growing for the racial justice movement, 2020 may be the year the holiday reaches a new level of recognition. Juneteenth is a blend of the words June and 19th. It’s the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the last enslaved black people they were free after the Civil War. Juneteenth celebrations began the next year in Galveston and eventually reached other states. While the coronavirus pandemic is moving many celebrations online, states, cities and companies are moving to make the day an official holiday.

Utility regulators keep moratorium on service terminations

Utility regulators keep moratorium on service terminations
By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission is rejecting an attempt to end its three-month-old moratorium preventing utilities from terminating service to non-paying customers while the state fights the spread of the coronavirus. Thursday’s 2-2 vote means the motion failed. Commissioner John Coleman sought to allow electric, water, sewer and telephone utilities to restart termination processes in July. Coleman says courts could end Wolf’s emergency disaster order at any time, and electric utilities are warning that customers are piling up large unpaid bills that will require “aggressive” collection efforts beginning in early August. The commission’s order halts terminations, but not collection activities.

10-month-old hurt in car-buggy crash dies from her injuries

10-month-old hurt in car-buggy crash dies from her injuries
HOPEWELL, Pa. (AP) — A 10-month-old girl who was critically injured when the horse-drawn Amish buggy she was riding in was struck by a car this week has died from her injuries, State police say the crash happened around 4 p.m. Tuesday in Hopewell, when a 56-year-old woman driving uphill rear-ended the slow-moving buggy. The girl and three other people in the buggy, a 3-year-old boy, a 20-year-old woman and another adult, were injured and taken to a hospital, but the car’s driver wasn’t hurt. The girl’s death was announced Thursday. The injured boy is expected to recover from his injuries, while the two adults were treated for undisclosed injuries and released.