(Harrisburg, Pa.) The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 31, that there are 756 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 4,843 in 60 counties. The department also reported 14 new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 63. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here. All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.

Beaver County has increased from 44 to 52 cases and The Department of Health  is now reporting one confirmed death. The report does not include two deaths reported by Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Brighton Township on Monday.

“The continued rise in cases combined with our increasing deaths from COVID-19 reflects the seriousness of this situation,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We need everyone to listen to the orders in place and to stay calm, stay home and stay safe. We know that these prolonged mitigation effects have been difficult for everyone, but it is essential that everyone follows these orders and does not go out unless they absolutely must.”

There are 37,645 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Less than 1% are aged 0-4;
• Less than 1% are aged 5-12;
• 1% are aged 13-18;
• Nearly 10% are aged 19-24;
• Nearly 41% are aged 25-49;
• Nearly 29% are aged 50-64; and
• Nearly 19% are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date. More data is available here.

(Philadelphia, Pa.) — Senator Anthony H. Williams today announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow Pennsylvanians to voluntarily return their federal stimulus money. Returned funds would create a Pennsylvania Common Wealth account, providing funds for assistance programs.

“While many working Pennsylvanians are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing lost hours or even complete unemployment, others who find themselves in more fortunate circumstances have expressed a desire to help their fellow citizens by either donating to a local charity or patronizing local businesses,” wrote Senator Williams in a memo to his colleagues.

“By establishing the “Pennsylvania Common Wealth” restricted account, taxpayers could redirect all or a portion of their stimulus check to the state, which in turn would be authorized to direct those funds into programs which help the neediest Pennsylvanians – property tax & rent rebates, temporary assistance for needy families, CHIP or medical assistance,” he continued.

In past times of plenty, similar proposals have been made to accept additional voluntary tax revenues for high-income earners who believe their tax burdens to be too low.

“In times of crisis like this, it is my hope that such a fund would inspire Pennsylvanians to consider those who are not able to weather an economic shock like that which we are all facing,” said Williams.

Senator Williams is seeking cosponsors and will introduce the legislation shorty.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced today that it received waiver approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow schools to provide free meals to all children during statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Prior to receiving this waiver, schools that did not meet area-based free or reduced-price meal eligibility requirements were unable to offer free meals community-wide. This waiver eases those requirements and helps ensure all children have access to food.

“Schools and community organizations can now use recent and local economic data, including unemployment claims and business closures, to request approval from PDE to qualify as an open meal site,” said Vonda Ramp, PDE state director for Child Nutrition Programs. “Once approved, they can provide meals to all children in their community, age 18 and under, for free.”

Local education agencies (LEAs) – school districts, charter schools, intermediate units and career and technology centers – can operate their sites under the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). LEAs can begin applying to PDE for a waiver immediately, and the department is prepared to expedite reviews and approvals.

There are already approximately 1,600 food distribution sites across the state, which is expected to increase as a result of this waiver.

Since schools were closed earlier this month, the department has been providing ongoing guidance and information to school communities on its website. Last week the department added a map to help Pennsylvania families locate food distribution sites in their communities.

The waiver builds on the USDA approval announced Saturday for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to provide critical food supplies through the state’s network of food banks, food pantries, and pop-up distribution sites. The approval allows the Department of Agriculture and its partners to more efficiently distribute a variety of foods – including meats, vegetables, fruit, canned goods, cereal, rice, pasta, eggs, and more – to those most affected by the closure of non-life sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania.

Visit the commonwealth’s Responding to COVID-19 guide for the latest guidance and resources for Pennsylvanians or the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s dedicated coronavirus webpage for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.

For more information about Pennsylvania’s education policies and programs please visit the Department of Education’s website or follow PDE on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

White House turns to statistical models for virus forecast
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Like forecasters tracking a megastorm, White House officials are relying on statistical models to predict the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and try to protect as many people as possible. The public could get its first close look at the Trump administration’s own projections Tuesday at the daily briefing. High numbers of potential deaths estimated under different models have focused President Donald Trump’s attention. He’s dropped talk of reopening the country by Easter and instead called on Americans to stay home for another month and avoid social contact. Such models are a standard tool to control the spread of diseases.

US extends Iran nuclear cooperation sanctions waivers
By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is renewing several waivers on U.S. sanctions against Iran, allowing Russian, European and Chinese companies to continue to work on Iran’s civilian nuclear facilities without drawing American penalties. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed off on the waiver extensions Monday but couched them as continuing restrictions on Iran’s nuclear work. Officials familiar with the matter say Pompeo had opposed extending the waivers, which are among the few remaining components of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that the administration has not canceled. But they said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin prevailed in an internal debate on the subject by arguing that the coronavirus pandemic made the penalties less palatable.

Trump declares disaster as Wolf shuts schools indefinitely
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, MARK SCOLFORO and CLAUDIA LAUER undefined
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The president declared a major disaster in Pennsylvania on Monday night, capping off a day that saw nearly 700 new cases as Gov. Tom Wolf extended the closing of schools and nonessential businesses indefinitely. Wolf also added four more counties to a separate stay-at-home order and extended its duration by more than three weeks, through at least April 30. More than 10 million people, or 80% of the state’s population, have now been instructed to remain in their homes. The Democratic governor says he knows the extended shutdown of businesses, schools and big swaths of daily life “isn’t easy to hear,” but is necessary to save lives and keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

(Beaver Pa.) Beaver County has seen its first two deaths from the COVID-19 Coronavirus after two residents from Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center nursing home died after being diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, while 25 other residents are living in quarantine bringing the total to  31 residents that are either confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19. Thirteen residents have tested positive and are at the facility; an additional four who tested positive are receiving treatment at Heritage Valley Beaver. Eleven residents are quarantined while waiting for test results, and results for an additional patient were inconclusive.

Two patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 died while receiving hospice care.

No staff have tested positive at this time.

Wolf closes schools, nonessential businesses indefinitely
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, MARK SCOLFORO and CLAUDIA LAUER undefined
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf says all schools and nonessential businesses will remain closed indefinitely as Pennsylvania reports nearly 700 new cases of the coronavirus. Wolf also added four more counties to a separate stay-at-home order and extended its duration by more than three weeks, through at least April 30.  More than 10 million people, or 80% of the state’s population, have now been instructed to remain in their homes. The Democratic governor says he knows the extended shutdown of businesses, schools and big swaths of daily life “isn’t easy to hear,” but is necessary to save lives and keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

Pittsburgh – PennDOT District 11 is announcing guide rail repair work on westbound I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway) in Potter Township, Beaver County will occur Tuesday, March 31 weather permitting.

 single-lane restriction will occur on westbound I-376 between the Monaca/Shippingport (Exit 39) and the Beaver/Midland (Exit 38) interchanges from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.  Crews from Penn Line Services, Inc. will conduct guide rail repair work.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 950 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Trump defends extending virus guidelines as spread continues
By ZEKE MILLER and JILL COLVIN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has told the nation’s governors that modeling on the coronavirus projected substantially more deaths if the nation did not incorporate social distancing. Dr. Deborah Birx, the coronavirus task force coordinator, was also on the call Monday. She told governors it’s “several weeks away from the peak of the curve for the United States.” Earlier Monday, Trump defended his decision to reverse course and extend restrictive social distancing guidelines through the end of April. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, says the U.S. could see between 100,000 to 200,000 deaths from the pandemic.