Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Wolf Administration outlined the potential impact of ending the March 6 disaster declaration while clarifying that the legislature cannot end it unilaterally. The disaster declaration aids in speeding up the state’s response to the pandemic and provides protections for businesses, workers and residents. Importantly, ending the disaster declaration would not end any orders issued by the Secretary of Health that set guidelines for business operations.

Last night, the General Assembly voted to end the disaster declaration with many members claiming their actions ended the business guideline orders. That is not true. Not only does any concurrent resolution need to come to the Governor for approval or disapproval, but the disaster declaration is separate from the orders signed by Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine under the Disease Prevention Act that include provisions for business reopening and for worker and building safety. Those orders remain in place. The legislature did nothing to end those.

Rather, the legislature chose to attempt to end the disaster declaration – a measure that would ostensibly end protections passed for businesses, workers, and residents.

If the declaration were to end, these protections would go away:

• Burdensome eligibility requirements for more than a million Unemployment Compensation claimants would immediately go back into effect, and employers across the commonwealth would no longer receive relief from charges.
• Certification requirements under the public-school code and child protective services law would end.
• A school meal eligibility waiver, which has allowed more than 300 meal sites to open for distribution of food to school-age children in need, would end.
• Telehealth and other health care services provided by out-of-state providers for Pennsylvanians would end.
• Utility assistance for thousands of families and individuals would end, leaving people without water or electricity.
• Hospitals and alternative care sites would no longer be able to add capacity or repurpose facilities (i.e., beds) without having to abide by the 60-day notice requirement.
• License renewal and training requirement suspensions for health care professionals, child care workers, direct care workers, direct support professionals, among other professional groups who provide life sustaining services to our children, seniors, and vulnerable residents would end, meaning all of these workers would need to choose between not returning to work until those credentials could be renewed or trainings completed and the option of returning to work with the understanding that they are practicing out of compliance with Pennsylvania law and regulation, very well opening themselves up to personal liability.
• PennDOT waivers for commercial motor vehicle weight limitations and permitting requirements for the transport and delivery of agricultural feed, food, and dairy products, fuel, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies to assist in supply chain challenges would end and motor carriers would be restricted in their ability to directly assist in supporting emergency relief efforts necessary to respond to the pandemic.
• Mortgage foreclosure and eviction moratoriums that offer protection to vulnerable Pennsylvanians at risk of losing their homes during the pandemic would end.

In addition to these immediate waiver and legislative enactments being removed, ending the disaster declaration also would remove many practical aspects of the state’s response to this disaster, including the authority to activate the National Guard to help with nursing homes; deploying commonwealth personnel, services and distributing supplies and equipment; implementing emergency funding; suspending rules and regulations that would hinder or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency; and using all available resources of the commonwealth government and its political subdivisions to deal with the emergency.

The state could also lose federal public and individual disaster assistance, and any additional state funding sources available through transfer of unused General Fund dollars.

During a state of emergency declared by the governor, commonwealth agencies and departments may implement their emergency assignments without regard to procedures required by other laws pertaining to performing their work, entering into contracts, purchasing supplies and equipment, and employing temporary workers.

Click play button to hear part of Gov Wolf’s statement:

Audio Courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services

How to participate

A livestream for people with smart devices or computer access will be online at https://access.live/PAlabor. Those without internet access can listen by calling 1-833-380-0719, however access is limited so we ask that they be reserved for individuals who need them.

Participants will be able to ask questions live during the town hall. At the beginning of the event, the moderator will explain how to submit questions. To protect participants’ personal confidential information, questions about individual claims cannot be answered during the town hall.

Pennsylvania recently implemented all of the new programs under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – for self-employed, gig workers, contractors and others not normally eligible for UC.
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – additional 13 weeks of benefits to people who exhaust their regular UC.
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – extra $600 per week for anyone receiving unemployment benefits.

Unemployment Benefits Statistics

Since mid-March, nearly $14.2 billion in benefits has been paid to claimants:

• $7.7 billion from regular UC
• $5.4 billion from FPUC
• $993 million from PUA
• $69 million from PEUC

UC Claim Statistics

Since March 15, 2.5 million total unemployment compensation claims have been filed:

• 2 million for regular UC
• 526,000 for PUA

Improving Customer Service

• L&I UC staff has worked more than 110,000 overtime hours since mid-March.
• UC service center staffing levels have also increased 80 percent since March 15:
  • We’ve added 312 new employees, bringing the total of UC service center staff to 1,491.
  • We’ve added 358 additional state employees who have been reassigned from other offices/agencies to assist in UC.
• 220,000 calls have been answered by IBM Watson, an automated virtual phone assistant that answers many common UC questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Regular UC
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Recordings of prior public town halls are available here. Additional unemployment benefits information is available on L&I’s website, Facebook or Twitter.

Stocks turn lower…Consumer prices down for third month…Mall deal is off
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are lower on Wall Street as traders turn cautious ahead of a policy announcement on interest rates later Wednesday from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 was down in the early going. The index has staged a huge comeback since its late March low and is now within just 5% of the all-time high it reached in February, before the coronavirus lockdowns started happening. Global markets were mixed after the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said the coronavirus crisis has triggered the worst global recession in nearly a century. Bond yields fell.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer prices dropped in May for the third straight month as the coronavirus pandemic pushed the American economy into a recession. The Labor Department said Wednesday that its consumer price index fell 0.1% last month after tumbling 0.8% in April and 0.4% in March. Excluding food and energy prices, which bounce around from month to month, so-called core inflation fell 0.1%, falling for the third consecutive month for the first time ever. The pandemic and the quarantines meant to contain it pushed the U.S. economy into recession. Weaker demand from customers pushes prices down.
NEW YORK (AP) — The nation’s biggest mall owner is backing out of a $3.6 billion deal to buy a major rival as the coronavirus pandemic shakes the retail economy. It is the second major retail deal signed just before the pandemic began to spread in the U.S. that has crumbled. Last month, a deal to sell Victoria’s Secret to a private equity group fell apart. Simon Property Group said it would buy Taubman Centers in early February, just weeks before the CDC said a California patient was being treated for coronavirus, the first known case in the U.S.
UNDATED (AP) — Ford expects to have its U.S. factories humming at pre-coronavirus levels by July 6. Chief Operating Officer Jim Farley told a Deutsche Bank autos conference that the company hit 96% of its production targets in the first three weeks after it reopened factories on May 18. Many plants reopened working two shifts and have since added production with workers on overtime. He said the company plans to go to three shifts per day at some plants. Most of the U.S. auto industry reopened last month. Ford initially had trouble restarting in Chicago and Dearborn, Michigan due to employees testing positive for the virus or due to parts shortages.
UNDATED (AP) — Starbucks took a virus-related revenue hit potentially exceeding $3 billion in its third quarter. The brewer said in a regulatory filing Wednesday that the virus outbreak also slashed its operating income between $2 billion and $2.2. billion as the virus raged. Starbucks was forced to close its stores to customers, but continued to operate pick-up and other services in most locations.

Facing electoral headwinds, Trump brings back his 2016 team
By JONATHAN LEMIRE Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump in recent days has signed off on bringing a number of veterans of his 2016 campaign back for his reelection campaign. It’s a reenlistment of loyalists that follows the return of others from his original team to the West Wing. Trump is a creature of habit who demands loyalty and trusts few. Trump has moved to recreate the magic of his original team five months before he faces voters again. But 2020 isn’t 2016, and Trump’s advisers are increasingly worried about the state of the campaign as the Republican president faces multiple crises.

Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild Set Opening Days for Summer 2020

Enhanced cleaning and sanitation measures key as parks readies to welcome guests for first time this year

WEST MIFFLIN, PA – Western Pennsylvania’s premier places for family fun, Kennywood Park, Sandcastle Waterpark, and Idlewild & SoakZone, are getting ready to welcome guests once again in early July.

Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild will open in phases, starting with a Friends & Family Day on Monday, July 6, followed by several dates exclusively for Season Passholders. The three parks will open to the general public on Saturday, July 11.

The experience at Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild will be different from any other season in their combined 295 years of operation, as each park strives to deliver a fun, family experience while ensuring the health and safety of Guests and Team Members. Each park will build upon their longstanding emphasis on clean, safe environments with a series of measures following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and best practices within the amusement and attractions industries.

“The health and safety of our Guests and Team Members continues to be our top priority as we work to reopen in this new environment,” said Kennywood Assistant General Manager Rob Henninger. “We will continue working in step with local leaders, health experts and our industry colleagues to ensure best practices are in place at Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild.”

The most important elements of the Southwestern Pennsylvania parks’ new safety measures include:

• Limiting Capacity
• Pre-Entry Temperature Checks
• Face Coverings and Personal Protective Equipment
• Social Distancing
• Adding Sanitizing Stations
• Enhancing Cleaning Measures
• Educating Guests & Team Members

The changes will be apparent even before visiting America’s Most Thrilling Historic Landmark and its sister parks. Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild will limit capacity not only in the parks, but on each ride, pool, slide, restaurant and building to ensure compliance with recommended social distancing standards. In order to accomplish this, all Guests will need to RSVP for the day they wish to visit, in addition to having a pre-purchased ticket or Season Pass. The parks will only sell tickets and Season Passes online. Walk-up sales will not be available this summer, and all sales by third parties, such as schools and community groups, will be conducted online. The online RSVP systems will be available by Wednesday, June 17.

Upon arrival at each park, Guests will find signage reminding all of the importance of social distancing, utilizing markers placed on the ground throughout the parks, parking lots and entrance areas. All Guests and Team Members will be required to have their temperature checked before entering Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild, with any person exhibiting a temperature at or above 100.4° Fahrenheit (or displaying other symptoms related to COVID-19) denied entry.

Face masks will be required for all Team Members and Guests, except children under three years of age. Guests must remove their masks while swimming and on water attractions. Team Members will also wear additional personal protective equipment, including gloves and face shields, while performing select work activities. Hundreds of sanitizing stations have been added all around the parks, and thorough cleaning will be conducted at regular intervals throughout the day at high-traffic locations.  All of these cleaning and safety measures will be reinforced through instructional signage and additional staff training, and visitors will be able to purchase masks and hand sanitizer at retail locations in each park.

“We will serve our Guests safely and effectively by limiting capacity, verifying all entrants do not have a temperature at or above 100.4° F and are wearing proper facial coverings, as we follow the state and CDC recommendations on cleaning, social distancing and sanitizing,” said Idlewild & SoakZone General Manager Brandon Leonatti. “With our parks spread across dozens of acres, we have the space to effectively distance our visitors and provide the good, clean fun we have delivered to families for generations.”

To show appreciation for our patrons’ patience and support, all 2020 Season Passes now include the 2021 Season as well. Season Passholders will get the first opportunities to experience Kennywood, Idlewild & SoakZone and Sandcastle Waterpark this summer, as July 7-10 will be reserved for those most loyal visitors. Given the disruptions and continuing adaptations this summer, some attractions may not be available on each park’s respective opening day, and some may remain closed all this year. Kennywood is open daily through August 25, and open weekends until November 1. Idlewild & SoakZone and Sandcastle are open daily through August 23, with Sandcastle being open on weekends until Labor Day and Idlewild through October 25.

Kennywood, Idlewild and Sandcastle are all also eagerly looking to hire hundreds of Team Members for all departments to help make Southwestern Pennsylvania’s rich amusement park tradition come to life this summer.

“We know how important these parks are to the people of this region, and will do what’s needed to keep people safe when visiting us,” said Sandcastle General Manager Tom Radovic. “We thank our guests for their patience and support, and our Team Members for their tireless efforts through these challenging times.”

For more information on each park’s specific plans, please visit the Kennywood, Idlewild and Sandcastle websites.

Pittsburgh, PA – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will reopen to the public on Sat., June 13 with its all-new Summer Flower Show: Back in Bloom.

As a home to beauty and inspiration in Western Pennsylvania since 1893, Phipps is monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on the community and has instituted new safety protocols, including the following:

• RESERVE ALL TICKETS IN ADVANCE: All tickets must be purchased in advance in order to prevent crowding. Guests will able to enter by showing an electronic or printed copy of their receipt to our guest services team
• WEAR A MASK: Masks are required for all staff and guests ages 2 and up at all times. Guests with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask may visit visit our ticketing website to learn about special accommodations.
• MAINTAIN A SAFE DISTANCE: Signs have been placed on the floors throughout the conservatory to remind guests what a six foot distance looks like. Phipps has created a one-way experience through the conservatory to minimize interactions with other guests.
• WHEN IN DOUBT, DO NOT TOUCH: In order to minimize contact with surfaces, Phipps has temporarily eliminated hands-on play areas and activities.

Phipps is taking the following additional steps to provide a safe environment:

• Enhanced Cleaning Protocol: Hourly cleaning of surfaces that may be touched, including elevator buttons, handrails, kiosks and door handles.
• Hand Sanitizer: Touchless stations are located throughout the facility for your use.
• Facemasks for All Guests and Staff: All guests and staff are required to wear facemasks while onsite.
• Limiting Number of Guests: Number of tickets sold will be limited to ensure visitors can observe social distancing.

Tickets are available for reservation now at phipps.conservatory.org/tickets. In order to enter Phipps, all guests must reserve their tickets in advance, including members.

Department of Health Orders Further COVID-19 Protections for Hospital Staff

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today issued an order requiring that all hospitals take additional steps to further protect their staff and patients from COVID-19. The order requires all hospitals to develop, implement and adhere to safety measures by Monday, June 15.

“Across Pennsylvania, nurses and other front-line workers are treating patients around the clock in hospitals fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine. “Many hospitals are already taking steps to protect their staff from this dangerous virus as much as possible. I have heard from nurses and staff, and this Order responds directly to many of their safety concerns. It ensures that the necessary steps are in place to deliver a safer environment so these workers can continue providing high-quality care during these extraordinary times.”

The Order addresses several concerns raised by nurses and other front-line workers. It requires hospitals to develop, implement and adhere to the following policies and procedures that provide for the safety of the hospital staff and patients by:

• Notifying hospital staff members who have been in close-contact with a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case within 24 hours of the known contact and provide instruction for quarantine and work exclusion.
• Testing symptomatic and asymptomatic hospital staff members who have received notice of a close contact with a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case upon request.
• Procuring and distributing nationally approved respirators to the hospital staff member when the staff member determines the mask is soiled, damaged or otherwise ineffective.
• Requiring universal masking for all individuals entering the hospital facility except for people for whom wearing a mask would create a further health risk or individuals under age 2.

These safety policies and procedures must be developed in consultation with the medical and nursing staffs, including front-line professional and auxiliary nursing staff members, including bed-side nurses, and must be implemented by June 15.  In addition to medical and nursing staff, hospital staff members include therapeutic services, social services, housekeeping services, dietary services, and maintenance.

If a patient, family member or staff member at a facility is concerned about the safety at a facility, an anonymous complaint can be filed with the department. All complaints filed are confidential and the department will protect the anonymity of those who report concerns. Any hospital staff who report concerns about worker safety should not be retaliated against.

The department investigates every complaint received. If there is a complaint about a healthcare facility, including a nursing home, please contact us at 1-800-254-5164 or fill out this online form.