Pittsburgh, PA  (April 2, 2020) –  Allegheny Health Network (AHN)  will take an important new step today in the system’s efforts to prepare for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic surge that is expected to hit the western Pennsylvania region in the coming weeks.  AHN will transform the Highmark Health Penn Avenue Place auditorium into a COVID-19 test kit production center with a goal of creating 6,000 new kits by the end of this week, and thousands more in the weeks ahead.  The effort is another example of AHN thinking out-of-the box in its pandemic response strategy to meet the community’s health needs at this challenging time, including the increasing demand for more COVID-19 test kits on the front lines.

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Resumes Limited E-commerce Sales, Deliveries through www.FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com

Harrisburg – Beginning today, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board resumed limited sales from www.FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com, accepting a controlled number of orders per day with plans to increase order capacity as fulfillment capacity increases.

Customers will be limited to purchasing up to six bottles per transaction from a reduced catalogue of about 1,000 top-selling wines and spirits.  All orders must be shipped to home or non-store addresses, and only one order per address will be fulfilled per day.

“We understand the public wants to have access to wines and spirits during these unprecedented times, but we have a responsibility to mitigate community spread of this virus to every extent possible and make sure our employees and our customers are as safe as they can be,” said Board Chairman Tim Holden. “We believe that re-opening FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com in a controlled manner will allow us to provide access to consumers while also protecting our employees and consumers from unnecessary risk.”

Access to www.FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com will be randomized to avoid overwhelming the site with high traffic, prevent order abuse and prolong access throughout the day, so that order availability isn’t exhausted in seconds or minutes each day.

“We expect consumer interest and site traffic to exceed what we’ll be able to fulfill, at least initially, so we ask that customers be patient and understand that the PLCB Is doing the best it can under extraordinary circumstances to balance consumer demand and public health,” said Holden.

The PLCB will be fulfilling orders from various facilities and is implementing public health best practices like facility sanitation, social distancing, and limiting the numbers of employees working in any facility at a time in an effort to protect its employees. As order fulfillment capacity increases, the PLCB will consider increasing the number of orders it takes each day.

The PLCB is not considering reopening stores at this time, although the agency continues to monitor the situation in consultation with the Wolf Administration and public health officials.

Consumers are reminded that the sale of alcoholic beverages without a license is strictly prohibited under Pennsylvania law.

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates nearly 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits – totaling nearly $18.5 billion since the agency’s inception – are returned to Pennsylvania’s General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania’s schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit lcb.pa.gov.

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Community and Economic Secretary Dennis Davin announced that the exemption application process for businesses created in response to Governor Tom Wolf and Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine’s orders to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, will close on Friday, April 3, 2020 at 5:00 PM.

“With just a few days remaining to apply for an exemption, we encourage businesses who think they may be applicable to look at our Life-Sustaining Business FAQ and file before the end of the day Friday,” said Sec. Davin. “We appreciate the cooperation of businesses making sure they are operating appropriately during this time. As the business exemption period ends this week, our staff continues to work tirelessly to organize and assess the data associated with submissions.”

Per the governor’s and Dr. Levine’s orders, businesses that are non-life sustaining were ordered to close their physical locations on March 19. Businesses that determine from DCED’s business guidance that they are non-life sustaining but may provide a life-sustaining service have been able to seek an exemption, which is available online.

At the end of the day March 31, 2020, DCED received 32,474 requests for exemptions from Pennsylvania’s businesses, and DCED staff are working to process them as quickly as possible. DCED asks that businesses do not apply for a waiver more than once or because they have not received a response from a prior submission.

A team of professionals at DCED will review each request and respond based on the guiding principle of balancing public safety while ensuring the continued delivery of critical infrastructure services and functions. Those requesting an exemption will be notified via email if their operations may re-open. Businesses applying for an exemption must remain closed until a decision is made about their application.

In addition to the Frequently Asked Questions, DCED offers guidance for other business types about operations that are authorized to continue.

Helpful resources available include:

• Life-sustaining v. non-life-sustaining guidance
• Stay-at-home guidance
• Business guidance
• Employee and worker guidance

Businesses seeking further guidance and clarification from DCED can also contact its customer service resource account at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov.

To help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis, funding information and resources are available on DCED’s Funding and Programs page.

Fears, infection thin staff at nursing home with 2 deaths

By MARK SCOLFORO and CLAUDIA LAUER Associated PressA Pennsylvania nursing home where two dementia patients died over the weekend after contracting COVID-19 is struggling to contain the spread with staff thinned by suspected infection and fears for their own safety. Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver says 34 of its 458 residents have tested positive and that seven tests are pending. One licensed practical nurse assigned there by a staffing agency says she didn’t return to work last week out of concern for her children. She says about 20 nurses either walked out or decided to not come back for shifts. Brighton says there’s been no “mass exodus.”

Harrisburg, PA – Today, on National Census Day, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin reminded all Pennsylvanians to be a good neighbor and respond to the 2020 Census.

“We’re committed to working together to make sure all Pennsylvanians are counted in the Census. said Sec. Davin. “Now more than ever, our representation and billions of dollars of funding for critical resources depend on an accurate count of all Pennsylvanians, no matter who they are or where they live.”

Today marks the 22^nd National Census Day, and this year marks the first time in history that responses can be filled out online. It has never been easier for Pennsylvanians to respond online, by phone, or by mail.

The Census questionnaire is simple and confidential, with questions that include your name, address, sex, race, ethnicity, age, and whether you own or rent your home. The Census Bureau will never ask about your citizenship status, or for sensitive information like your social security number, bank accounts, or payments/donations. The Census Bureau will never reach out to you on behalf of a political party. Your responses to the Census are protected by law and cannot be shared with, or used by, any other government agencies. Answers cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or to determine eligibility for government benefits or immigration enforcement.

The United States Constitution requires a Census count once every 10 years and counts every person living in the United States once and only once. The results of the 2020 Census will help provide fair representation when determining congressional districts, policy, decision-making, and distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding that impacts the daily lives of Pennsylvanians over the next 10 years.

For more information about the U.S. Census, visit the PA Census website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

(Ellwood City, Pa.) 10 th District Pa. State Representative Aaron Bernstine hosted a Press Conference Wednesday April 1, 2020 to discuss the feasibility of using equipment and or the former Ellwood City Hospital for patients of the COVID-19 Corona Virus Patients.  The US Army Corp of Engineers did a study and sent a report to PEMA on Tuesday March 31, 2020 and there is no time frame for results and if in fact the equipment or use of the facility will occur.

Ellwood City Borough Manager David Allen and Ellwood City Mayor Tony Court spoke during the press conference.

Borough Manager Allen discussed what has transpired over the last few days (press play to hear)

Allen then discussed what will happen if PEMA decides to use the Facility: (press play button to hear)

Mayor Court then spoke about how they have emphasized the importance of the Facility from the beginning and that the Borough of Ellwood City is willing to do whatever is necessary to make this happen: (click the play button to hear)

Rep. Bernstine then went on to talk about the opportunity that this presents: (press the play button to hear)

Allegheny Technologies to shutter steel plant, cites tariffs
MIDLAND, Pa. (AP) — Allegheny Technologies Inc. has announced plans to shut down a western Pennsylvania plant at the end of June, citing steel tariffs imposed on imports by the Trump administration. The company said Tuesday that about 70 employees, most represented by the United Steelworkers union, would lose their jobs at the Midland plant in Beaver County. Officials said Allegheny Technologies has been seeking a tariff exclusion since March 2018, but one request was rejected and a second received no response. The Midland plant imports steel slabs from Indonesia and turns them into stainless steel sheets used in a variety of products.

All of Pennsylvania now under orders to stay home
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
Gov. Tom Wolf has placed all of Pennsylvania under an order to stay at home, dramatically expanding the geographic footprint of the quarantine as state officials combat the coronavirus pandemic. Wolf added 34 counties to his stay-home edict. That means residents of all 67 of Pennsylvania’s counties must now stay home as much as possible to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Coronavirus infections are continuing to rise dramatically in the state. There have been nearly 1,000 new confirmed cases reported Wednesday. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania State Police will no longer respond in person to some types of calls.

Census Day arrives with US almost paralyzed by coronavirus
By MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Census Day arrives Wednesday with a nation almost paralyzed by the spread of the novel coronavirus. April 1 is the date used to reference where a person lives for the once-a-decade count. The virus’s spread has forced the U.S. Census Bureau to suspend field operations for a month, from mid-March to mid-April. That’s when the hiring process would be ramping up for tens of thousands of temporary census takers. It also has delayed the start of counts for the homeless and people living in group quarters and has pushed back the deadline for wrapping up the head count to mid-August.