Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer ruled last night that the cause of death of Curtis Flowers, 19 of Aliquippa on Tuesday afternoon was a perforating gunshot wound to the head. The death was ruled a homicide .
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine today updated the travel order issued on November 17, to clarify testing and quarantine requirements for people entering the commonwealth or returning home.
“This update keeps in place the need for people visiting and returning to Pennsylvania to have a negative test or quarantine for 14 days upon arrival,” Dr. Levine said. “We still recommend that Pennsylvanians do not travel, and the stay at home advisory I issued earlier this week remains in effect. I know that it is hard not to travel during this holiday season, but it is the right thing to do to protect one another from this devastating virus.”
The amended order requires travelers over the age of 11 entering Pennsylvania from locations outside the commonwealth, as well as Pennsylvanians returning home, to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or place themselves in travel quarantine for 14 days upon entering. If they receive a negative test result during the travel quarantine period, they can leave travel quarantine.
The order also clarifies that in addition to the exemptions in the previous order, people returning to the commonwealth after leaving the state for less than 24 hours and individuals complying with a court order, including child custody, are exempt from the testing and quarantine requirements.
In addition, the order clarifies the difference between a travel quarantine and isolation and quarantine when someone tests positive for COVID-19 or is exposed to a positive case. Travel quarantine means that people quarantining after travel who have not been identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 are permitted to end quarantine once they receive a negative test result.
Individuals are permitted to enter the commonwealth if they are awaiting a test result but must travel quarantine until a negative test result is received, even if they are asymptomatic.
The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Department of Community of Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin encouraged Pennsylvanians to support local businesses safely this year by only shopping virtually and utilizing curbside pickup options.
“Black Friday is enjoyed by both consumers and retailers alike and is a tradition that we encourage people to celebrate in the safest way this year,” said Sec. Davin. “With the recent additions of Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, shoppers now have a vast array of options this holiday season to safely support their favorite retailers—including e-commerce platforms, ordering by phone, purchasing downloadable gift certificates, and picking up products curbside. This year, to keep Pennsylvanians safe and healthy, those options are more important than ever.”
COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air by coughing or sneezing; through close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; and by touching an object or surface with the virus on it—all vehicles for transmission when individuals are gathered in groups, crowds, or public settings. While masks are required at all times in all retail establishments in the commonwealth, by shopping virtually and using curbside pickup, Pennsylvanians can limit their risk of contracting and spreading the virus.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf is rejecting bills on firearms during the pandemic or other emergencies and about the regulation and plugging of conventional oil and gas wells. All three bills had passed the politically split General Assembly with mostly Republican support and mostly Democratic opposition. Wolf announced his vetoes on Wednesday. Two of the vetoed bills would have allowed people to carry guns during an emergency proclamation and to keep open gun and ammunition related businesses during an emergency. Wolf also signed a couple dozen bills into law, including measures on organ donation, parole of violent offenders, recycling and broadband.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden is summoning Americans to overcome their divisions and join in common purpose against the coronavirus pandemic and the raw divisions left by the election. In a Thanksgiving-eve address to the nation, Biden put the surging pandemic front and center, pledging to tap the “vast powers” of the federal government and to “change the course of the disease” once in office. But for that to work, he said, Americans also must step up for their own safety and that of their fellow citizens. President Donald Trump was not on board with unity. He made a futile call “to turn the election over.”
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(Beaver, Pa.) The Beaver County Commissioners via a press release are asking the public to not go to county offices including the courthouse unless it is absolutely necessary. The Press release stated: As a result of the recent resurgence of COVID–19 cases in our region, and as part of an effort to continue providing a safe working environment for our employees and the public at large, the Beaver County Courthouse and other facilities continue to remain open, but the County is attempting to limit the need for the public to enter the facilities.
The public is strongly encourage if they have business with any County Department, to contact that Department by phone before proceeding to go there in person. Many Departments are providing services remotely, by way of appointment only, or are utilizing a drop–box. The phone numbers for the particular Department can be found at the County‘s website, www.beavercountypa.gov.
Picture of US economy is worrisome as virus inflicts damage
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER and PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gripped by the accelerating viral outbreak, the U.S. economy is under pressure from persistent layoffs, diminished income and nervous consumers, whose spending is needed to drive a recovery from the pandemic. A flurry of data released Wednesday suggested that the spread of the virus is intensifying the threats to an economy still struggling to recover from the deep recession that struck in early spring. The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose last week for a second straight week to 778,000, evidence that many employers are still slashing jobs more than eight months after the virus hit.
Pennsylvania judge orders halt to further vote certification
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania appeals court judge ordered state officials on Wednesday to halt any further steps toward certifying election results. The ruling comes a day after Gov. Tom Wolf said he had certified Democrat Joe Biden as the state’s winner of the presidential election. It wasn’t immediately clear if the order from Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough could hold up the certification of state and local contests on the ballot or interrupt the scheduled Dec. 14 meeting of the state’s 20 electors. Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly and others are challenging approximately 2.5 million mail-in ballots that were predominantly cast by Democrats.
Defying warnings, millions in the US travel for Thanksgiving
By LISA MARIE PANE and SOPHIA TULP Associated Press
Millions of Americans are taking to the skies and hitting the road ahead of Thanksgiving at the risk of pouring gasoline on the coronavirus fire. They are disregarding increasingly dire warnings that they stay home and limit their holiday gatherings to members of their own household. Those who are flying are witnessing a distinctly 2020 landscape at the nation’s airports: plexiglass barriers in front of the ID stations, rapid virus testing sites inside terminals and paperwork asking them to quarantine upon arrival.
Ravens-Steelers game moved from Thursday night to Sunday
By The Associated Press undefined
The Thanksgiving night game between the Ravens and Steelers has been switched to Sunday because of coronavirus issues with Baltimore. The NFL announced the move Wednesday, but did not specify a time of game nor which network would televise it. Previously, it was scheduled for NBC’s prime-time telecast. Baltimore placed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee on the reserve/COVID-19 list, joining running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins and defensive tackle Brandon Williams. The Ravens also have been doing team work virtually.