The Rogers Community Flea Market in Ohio has made several changes in lieu of the pandemic, including:
The full list of changes can be found at their website.
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 1,751 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 19,979
Harrisburg, PA-The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., April 10, that there are 1,751 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 19,979. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania now have cases of COVID-19. The department also reported 78 new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 416. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here. All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.
Locally in Beaver County there are 139 cases an increase 0f 10 from yesterday. Beaver County Still remains at 13 deaths from the COVID-19.
“Now more than ever, as we continue to see COVID-19 cases and deaths rise in Pennsylvania, we need Pennsylvanians to take action,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Those actions should be to stay calm, stay home and stay safe. If you must go out, please limit it to as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and our healthcare workers and frontline responders.”
There are 93,040 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:
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.
All non-life-sustaining businesses are ordered to be closed and schools are closed statewide for the remainder of the academic year. Currently the entire state is under a stay-at-home order.
Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, April 9:
For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.
The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics
All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts
Small earthquake reported in eastern Pennsylvania community
WYOMISSING, Pa. (AP) — A small earthquake struck in an eastern Pennsylvania community this week, though officials said it was unlikely many people felt it, The U.S. Geological Survey reports the 1.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Berks County community of Wyomissing. The USGS says it has not received any reports from anyone who may have felt the earthquake, and no injuries or property damage was reported.
Pennsylvania moves ahead with plan to free some inmates
By MARC LEVY and MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf is issuing an executive order Friday to authorize the early release of up to 1,800 inmates from Pennsylvania state prisons in an effort to minimize the spread of the new coronavirus. The governor’s office said that releases to halfway houses or home confinement could start as early as Tuesday. The plan is similar to what other states and some Pennsylvania counties have undertaken. It allows the release of inmates serving time for nonviolent offenses who are within nine months of scheduled release, or within 12 months for those considered at heightened risk from the coronavirus.
AG Shapiro Releases Rights & Resources Guide for Pennsylvanians During COVID-19 Emergency
HARRISBURG― Attorney General Shapiro today released a new guide advising Pennsylvanians of their rights, protections, and supportive programs available to the over one million recently unemployed Pennsylvanians who have been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.
“My office is working to protect the health, safety, and financial security of all
Pennsylvanians during this public health and economic emergency,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “With the intense amount of information and misinformation out there, we wanted to help individuals impacted by this crisis, know the facts, their rights, and what they are entitled to during these uncertain times.”
The rights and resources guide details benefits available to Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 emergency, including:
The guide is available to Pennsylvanians, and contains information about who to contact for each of the benefits and protections it discusses.
Gov. Wolf: Department of Corrections to Establish Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration
Harrisburg, PA – Under the authority granted to him by the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Emergency Management Services Code, Governor Tom Wolf today ordered Department of Corrections officials to establish a Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration to help aid the department in the transfer of qualifying individuals to community corrections facilities or home confinement amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Wolf Administration continues to take every possible action – and asks all Pennsylvanians to do the same – to help stop the spread of COVID-19. These actions, including those in the state corrections system, will save lives, help stop the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming our already-burdened health care system.
“We can reduce our non-violent prison population and leave fewer inmates at risk for contracting COVID-19 while maintaining public safety with this program,” Gov. Wolf said. “I am pleased to direct the Department of Corrections to begin the process to release vulnerable and non-violent inmates at or nearing their release dates in an organized way that maintain supervision post-release and ensures home and health care plans are in place for all reentrants.”
The Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration Program only applies to state prison inmates who have been identified as being non-violent and who otherwise would be eligible for release within the next 9 months or who are considered at high risk for complications of coronavirus and are within 12 months of their release.
“Just as everyone in the community is dealing with COVID-19, the state prison system is doing the same,” Corrections Sec. John Wetzel said. “We must reduce our inmate population to be able to manage this virus. Without this temporary program, we are risking the health, and potentially lives, of employees and inmates. We can safely release individuals to the community to reduce their vulnerability and allow the department to successfully manage COVID-19.
“Without any current legislation, we are moving forward with the understanding that future legislation could further advance these efforts.”
As of this morning, there are 11 COVID-19 cases at one prison, SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County, but concern for cases spreading to other facilities is another reason for the expedited release of eligible inmates.
Under the temporary reprieve program, approximately 1,500 to 1,800 inmates would be eligible, although given the reentry challenges of ensuring connection to the health care and behavioral health system, housing and food security, the number will likely be less than the eligible pool.
Vulnerable inmates will include inmates aged 65 or older; anyone with an autoimmune disorder; pregnant inmates; anyone with a serious, chronic medical condition such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, bone marrow or organ transplantation, severe obesity, kidney disease, liver disease,[and] cancer; or another medical condition that places them at higher risk for complications of coronavirus as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The releases could begin as early as Tuesday, April 14.
Sec. Wetzel stressed that a thorough reentry component has been developed to ensure inmates will be successful.
“While we need to release inmates to protect them and to allow us space to mitigate the impact of the virus in our system, we also know that we need to prepare inmates for release,” Sec. Wetzel said. “Our reentry plans will include several days of release planning with the inmate, preparing and connecting the inmate to treatment programs in the community, release transportation and a complete medical screening to ensure that we are not releasing sick inmates. We’ll also provide them with an appropriate medication supply and connect them to medical providers in the community.”
While on temporary reprieve, individuals will be monitored similarly to parolees and will be supervised by parole agents. Upon expiration of the order, individuals would be returned to prison to complete any remaining portion of their sentences.
A copy of the governor’s order can be found as a PDF here or on Scribd.
Find the latest information, including a daily dashboard, on the DOC’s COVID-19 efforts here.
Rochester Manor has released an update in regards to their first known case of COVID-19. Beaver County Radio news correspondent Sandy Giordano has details:
Hours after the shutdown of schools for the remainder of the year in Pennsylvania, the state’s Secretary of Education spoke to the media about some of the new changes. Beaver County Radio news correspondent Sandy Giordano has details:
Though progress has been made by Duquesne Light, there’s still houses in Beaver County without power this morning. Beaver County Radio news correspondent Sandy Giordano has the latest numbers:
In a test of faith, Christians mark Good Friday in isolation
By JOSEPH KRAUSS Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — Christians are commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion without the solemn church services or emotional processions of past years, marking Good Friday in a world locked down by the coronavirus pandemic. A small group of clerics held a closed-door service in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. The torch-lit Way of the Cross procession in Rome has been canceled, and Pope Francis will preside over a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square with only around a dozen people. Also, folk rituals featuring real-life crucifixions have been called off in the Philippines.