Pennsylvania Waives Spay/Neuter Requirement for Adoptions, Conserves PPE for Human Healthcare Professionals

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced today that in an effort to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) for human healthcare workers, the Pennsylvania Dog Law that requires shelters and rescues to spay/neuter dogs and cats prior to adoption would be waived for pets adopted during active COVID-19 mitigation efforts in Pennsylvania.

“This waiver is not something we take lightly; but it’s a matter of weighing the costs,” said Agriculture Secretary Redding. “Waiving the requirement to spay or neuter prior to adoption allows us to conserve critical PPE supplies and also limit the risk of exposure for veterinarians.”

The waiver comes with a contingency: shelters must keep a list of adopters to follow up with post-pandemic and provide a copy of all contracts to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. Once the pandemic is in the past, shelters would be required to follow up on all pets adopted during COVID-19 mitigation. Adoptive pet owners will have up to 120 days from the time of adoption – timeframe to be re-evaluated as necessary – to have the procedure completed and come into compliance.

With approval from the department, shelters and rescues can continue adopting pets out to Pennsylvanians even during Stay at Home orders. This is essential in order to ensure that shelters are not overly full of animals with short staff numbers. Shelters and rescues continuing to operate and adopt pets are advised to follow guidance for virtual, limited contact adoptions from the Humane Society of the United States. Rescues and shelters should also follow guidance issued from the department to protect their workforce and continue operations.

“The Humane Society of the United States has been monitoring state laws that impact the ability for shelters and rescues to adjust to COVID-19 and provide services to pet and their families,” said Kristen Tullo, Pennsylvania State Director for The Humane Society of the United States. “We thank the Department of Agriculture for extending the timeframe to comply with spay/neuter laws to maximize social distancing and decrease the risks to animal shelter and veterinary staff, while reducing the use of PPE in non-essential procedures.”

Before adopting, Pennsylvanians should consider if they’re able to provide for all the pets’ needs during COVID-19 mitigation and follow the department’s Guidance to Pet Owners.

For information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to Health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn reminded Pennsylvanians that being outdoors is good health care and self care, but recommendations for social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus still apply.

“During this time of significant changes to our daily routines it’s clear that our need for and appreciation of nature is greater than ever,” Dunn said. “Outdoor activities are a great idea to relieve stress and as immunity boosters, but they should not include exposure to high-touch surfaces or other groups of people — we need to spread out.”

Dunn noted the best advice to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to stay at home. Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking, or running is allowed if social distancing is maintained.

Some tips for avoiding groups of people outdoors include:

• If you have a yard, spend time there outdoors every day.
• If possible, take a walk around your neighborhood with the people in your family, as long as you can stay six feet away from neighbors.
• If you decide to leave your neighborhood, plan for several alternate locations, so if you arrive at your first one and there are crowds, you can move on.
• Choose a less busy time of day, such as early morning.
• Find a local park or trail that offers enough space for social distancing. Pennsylvania has more than 6,000 local parks that are identified on an interactive map.
• Some municipalities have closed local parks to protect visitors and employees, so check the status of the park before you go. If the park is open, bathrooms and water fountains likely will not be, so plan ahead.
• There also are more than 12,000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, most of which remain accessible during this period. Find a nearby trail at trails.dcnr.pa.gov.

State and local parks, state forests, and trails are seeing record numbers of visitors, with more anticipated as the weather turns warmer and fishing season begins.

From March 17 to 25, Presque Isle State Park in Erie saw an average 165 percent increase in visitation from the same dates last year.

State park and forest facilities such as restrooms, playgrounds, and all overnight accomodations are closed, and staff is limited. The public can access lands and trails.

Be respectful of natural places by practicing Leave No Trace ethics:

• Avoid crowded parking lots and trailheads – find a different spot.
• Use the bathroom before you visit.
• Bring a bag and carry out your trash.
• Take your trash home with you, as there is limited staff emptying trash cans.
• Clean up after pets and carry out the bags.

Pennsylvania has 121 state parks, and 20 forest districts.

Shell’s construction company has applied to the Department of Community and Economic for a waiver to resume some work at the Potter Twp. site here in Beaver County, Shell is asking for an allowance of  limited construction with 400 to 800 workers returning if the waiver is approved.

A dozen local community organizations sent an open letter to Shell Chemicals on Thursday urging the company to protect plant workers and the Beaver County community during the COVID-19 pandemic by not re-opening the plant.

Some union officials and elected leaders feel the plant shouldn’t be approved for the waiver due to the risk of employees contracting the Covid-19 Noval Coraona virus. In recent weeks before the current shut down Shell has been accused of not protecting their employees by having them ride on crowded buses, attend a daily meeting in a large group, and lunchrooms that were crowded.  On March 18, Shell temporarily suspended construction activities at Beaver County’s ethane cracker plant to help control the spread of COVID-19 amid public pressure.

Memo: Some in US may not get stimulus checks until August
By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government expects to begin making payments to millions of Americans under the new stimulus law in mid-April, but some people without direct deposit information may not get checks until mid-August or later. That’s according to a memo obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The document from the House Ways and Means Committee says the IRS will make about 60 million payments to Americans through direct deposit in mid-April, likely the week of April 13. The IRS has direct deposit information for these individuals from their 2018 or 2019 tax returns. Paper checks will be issued, starting May 4, but could take up to 20 weeks.

What you need to do to get your government stimulus check
By SARAH SKIDMORE SELL AP Personal Finance Writer
As many Americans prepare to receive their economic impact checks from the government, the IRS has rescinded a recommendation that Social Security recipients file a tax return to get paid. Some other groups _ low income individuals, some veterans and people with disabilities _ will still have to file an abreviated tax return if they do not receive Social Security. The Treasury Department says checks should be in people’s hands in the next few weeks. The payments are part of the $2.2 trillion rescue package signed into law last week by President Donald Trump. Most people don’t need to do anything to get the money.

Democrats delay nominating convention amid virus concerns
By BILL BARROW Associated Press
The Democratic National Committee is delaying its convention until the week of Aug. 17. The move comes after prospective nominee Joe Biden said he didn’t think it was possible to hold a normal convention in July because of the coronavirus. The viral pandemic is forcing Democrats and Republicans to take a close look at their summer conventions, which typically kick off the general election season. Republicans are expressing confidence they can pull off their convention as scheduled in late August. The Democrats’ change presents massive logistical issues for the tens of thousands of delegates, activists, party leaders and media who planned to descend on Milwaukee in July.

Beaver County Chamber President Helen Kissick’s April Message
Who would have thought that a change that is so disruptive to every part of American life would occur, shifting everyone’s focus from routine life and planning for the future to the survival of our businesses and the health and safety of our employees and families. Our world and business climate have come to a significant detour for many, and a screeching halt for others, all due to COVID-19 (also known as the Coronavirus).
So, how do we deal with it. First of course, we need to protect our people. Second, we need to go into triage to keep our organizations afloat so we can help our members and our communities remain viable during this crisis. Third, we need to provide information resources so that our members and community can survive until longer time help arrives. And finally, we need to be there to help others who are not able to deal with this crisis as effectively as others. The Beaver County Chamber of Commerce and others in the business support and economic development community are committed to provide support for our businesses through this crisis and after it is over. We are in constant contact with our public and private sector partners at the local, state and federal level in monitoring and communicating programs and initiatives
to help business and industry impacted by COVID-19. Our website (www.bcchamber.com) home page now includes a red bar at the top of the page with this message: Beaver County Chamber COVID-19 Update – Click Here to provide easy access to resources. Check back periodically as the resources are changing frequently.
While our physical Chamber office is closed, we remain fully ‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS’. We encourage members and non-members alike to call the Chamber’s office at 724 775 3944 for questions regarding doing business in this challenging environment. We stand ready to serve, and will continue, especially under these circumstances, to stay focused in our quest to foster the best environment in Beaver County to live, work and do business. You can also reach Chamber staff via email at info@bcchamber.com. Like so many other businesses, our staff is working from home offices now. We’re finding our way in our new reality, and it is our sincere hope that our members continue to reach out to us and each other in support.

The impact of COVID-19 on our many local small businesses is, no doubt, going to be significant. I’m personally fielding many calls from business owners as to how to operate in this environment. There are several key messages I would like to share with you. The first one is that we, together, can continue to make a positive difference in small but significant ways. The graphic below summarizes it well.

Second, our Chamber will be notifying its members through routine electronic communications of upcoming webinars and other information sharing forums. Our aim is for members to be able to pick and choose topics relevant to them in this complex business environment. For small business owners especially, they don’t always have access to expert guidance in a way that is convenient for them, so our
aim is to overcome that hurdle. Topics and presenters will vary, for example, this week we had:

• Make remote work secure, convenient and stress free
• Coronavirus Labor and employment updates
• COVID-19 Resources & Relief for Small Businesses
Our Chamber is well known for hosting a number of high quality, productive, in-person networking events. We’ve been forced to adapt our approach, and as such will not offer face-to-face networking through at least the end of April.

Specific changes include:
• Annual Gala & Auction – postponed from March 14th to August 29th

• Annual Congressional Breakfast, April 7th – canceled
• Spring Luncheon, April 16th – canceled
• Leadercast, May 7th – canceled

• Breakfast club and lunch-and-learns – canceled through end of April 

We will continue to provide information during this ever-evolving situation as we adjust our events offering.  Stay tuned on further updates via our Chamber website (www.bcchamber.com) or via communications direct with to our membership.  

I’ll close in saying we are your friends and your neighbors, all in this together.  Stay safe and healthy!  

COVID-19 Not Transmissible through Food, Supply Chain is Secure

Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Agriculture Food Safety Director Jeff Warner today assured Pennsylvanians that there is no evidence that human or animal food or food packaging is associated with transmission of COVID-19. Redding also reviewed the department’s recommendations to retail food and agriculture operations for continuity of business, inhibiting transmission, and maintaining a healthy workforce to ensure continuous access to food during COVID-19.

“I want to assure Pennsylvanians and ease their fear: food is safe,” said Warner. “There is no evidence of COVID-19 being transmissible through food or food packaging.”

Grocery stores, food manufacturers, and distributors have been provided guidance to protect their workforce and consumers from COVID-19. This includes the following CDC and FDA recommendations:

• Enforce social distancing in lines, separate customers and employees by six feet whenever possible.
• Implement visual cues, such as tape on the floor every six feet, to help customers keep a six-foot distance from others whenever possible.
• Install floor markings to require customers to stand behind, until it’s time to complete the transaction.
• Consider limiting the number of people in the store at one time. Implementing a maximum capacity and assigning staff to manage the number of people entering.
• Consider setting special hours for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or immuno-compromised. Recommend allowing these populations to enter the store earliest in the day to reduce chances of exposure and ensure access to inventory.

Guidance was also provided for sanitization and employee protection, to further inhibit transmission in manufacturing environments and grocery stores. Some recommendations include:

• Do not allow symptomatic (fever of 100.4° F or greater, signs of a fever, or other symptoms) or ill employees to report for duty.
• Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces to limit employee contact and increase frequency of cleaning and sanitizing of common touch points (door handles, touch-screens, keypads).
• Consider altering store hours to allow for increased cleaning and re-stocking without customers present.
• Cross-train employees and rotate staff between cashier, stocking, and other duties, to limit mental fatigue in adhering to social distancing measures.
• Consider installing sneeze-guards at cashier stations.
• Schedule handwashing breaks every 30-60 minutes. Employees should wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-95% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
• Assign a relief person to step in for cashiers so they can wash their hands with soap for a full 20 seconds. Provide hand lotion so workers’ hands don’t crack.
• Consider providing hand sanitizer at cash registers for staff and customer use in between transactions.
• Consider only operating every other register or check-out lane to create more social distance.

“Pennsylvania’s grocery stores, food banks and pantries, food manufacturing and agriculture industry have a heavy responsibility right now: to provide continuous access to food, safely, during the most challenging crisis most have ever experienced,” said Secretary Redding. “We’ve worked hard to impress upon these truly life-sustaining businesses that just because they are essential, this is not business as usual. The guidance we’ve provided is what they must implement to protect their workforce; it’s what they must implement to save Pennsylvanians and provide for them at the same time.”

Following a brief pause in support of the national, “15 Days to Slow the Spread” initiative, effective April 1, 2020, the Department of Agriculture re-deployed the state’s food safety inspectors to ensure continued protection of Pennsylvanians and prevent foodborne illness.

“It’s time to put our boots back to the ground and resume food safety inspections and offering in-person guidance to these essential businesses,” added Warner. “We’re going to do our best to help Pennsylvania businesses provide the safest food possible to consumers. Pennsylvanians need to know their food is safe, something we can only ensure through proactive inspections.”

For a complete list of guidance documents and information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to Health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.