Each day a summary of news and information that has been gathered from community partners and credible news sites will be posted.
State Government:
General COVID resources: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/
Dept. of Agriculture:
- “Wolf Administration Advocates for Senior Feeding Program Flexibilities, Congressional Action Needed to Protect Vulnerable Populations” : https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=923
- “Department of Agriculture Outlines Order of Restaurant Enforcement Actions, Urges Compliance” : https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=922
Dept. Drug & Alcohol:
- “Wolf Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians Struggling with Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder that Help is Available” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DDAP_details.aspx?newsid=146
Dept. of Education:
- “Wolf Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians to Respond to 2020 Census” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Education-Details.aspx?newsid=854
- “Pennsylvania’s Second Annual 1-4-3 Day Takes on New Meaning During COVID-19 Crisis” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Education-Details.aspx?newsid=855
Dept. of Human Services:
- “Wolf Administration Launches LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program to Ease Utility Costs for Pennsylvanians Affected by COVID-19 Crisis” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DHS_details.aspx?newsid=537
Dept. of Health:
- “Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 938 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 59,636” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=809
- Link to Statewide map of testing sites: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Symptoms-Testing.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0q72qATsxBX9zL0KMErYO_OQZutSgVMY1I4fEEa8-3zcHN_7WixZ-VFAY
- COVID-19 Data: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx (now available at zip code-level data)
- Lancaster Stats: 2,364 cases. 10,730 negative tests. 183 deaths. (According to DOH website- updated today at 12:00pm)
- Daily Press Briefings:
- Sec Levine summary: “Stay Calm. Stay Home. Stay Safe.”
- As of 12am this morning, 938 new cases bringing statewide total 59,636 cases in all 67 counties. This number includes 4,217 positive cases in healthcare workers and includes 12,677 among residents of 549 long-term care living facilities. 4,218 deaths- all have been adults.
- Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been difficult for parents to get their children to the pediatrician for well-child visits and immunizations. It is very important for parents to continue with these check-ups because of the important vaccines children receive, especially those required for children to return to school in the fall. Unlike COVID-19, infectious diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough, chicken pox, and polio already have reliable, effective, and safe vaccines. Vaccines not only protect children, they protect our community, especially those with compromised immune systems who cannot get vaccinated.
- Sec Levine summary: “Stay Calm. Stay Home. Stay Safe.”
I know parents are concerned about their children’s safety when visiting the doctor - pediatricians and health care providers have made changes to the way they see patients and families to ensure that they are getting the necessary care as the pandemic continues. This includes scheduling well-visits and sick visits at different times of the day, separating those with sick visits in different areas of the primary care office or another location, and collaborating with other providers in the community to identify even separate locations for providing well visits for children.
Most importantly, we want to make sure we don’t have a secondary health crisis because we have had a delay in vaccinations. These are very real threats. Last year, during the measles outbreak of 2019, we saw the most cases of measles in the United States in over a decade.
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- If you, or someone you know, needs mental health resources please contact the mental health crisis line by texting “PA” to 741741 or call the statewide support and referral helpline at 1-855-284-2494
- If you, or someone you know, is suffering from an addiction you can call the Dept of Drug and Alcohol Programs helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
- Please remember to wear a mask if you are going somewhere in public and will be around other people.
- Reporters’ Questions:
- Why has the state not withdrawn those who tested positive for COVID and been cleared under the protocol, from a county’s number of cases? Or at least provide a number of people who have recovered in each county. Is this something the state would consider doing?
- Yes it is. It is challenging to determine an exact number of recovered patients. But we realize this is important to the public and our epidemiologists are working on a way to estimate the number of recovered patients in PA and are hoping to have that sometime next week.
- Is there currently any mechanism in place for counties to argue their case for moving to the Yellow phase if they feel they meet the standard for doing so? If not, how often are groups of counties considered for progression to the yellow phase?
- So as we know last Friday 24 counties moved from Red to Yellow and tomorrow 13 more counties are moving from Red to Yellow, so we are looking at our data now and the different metrics and modeling that we look at and will be having discussions. In terms of counties that have questions in terms of their status, we are always pleased to speak with them as is our Dept. of Intergovernmental Affairs through the Governor’s office.
- CVS just announced that they will be opening drive-through, self-swab testing sites in PA- what will the criteria be for who is able to get a test?
- We are so pleased that CVS will be doing more testing, we are looking to roll out more testing throughout PA. We are prioritizing testing patients who are symptomatic, who have some symptoms they do not have to be severe symptoms, but I know Rite Aid, for instance, will test asymptomatic people. I don’t exactly know CVS’ specific criteria, I believe there is a website to go onto to register for testing or maybe a phone call to check with CVS about their testing.
- As we await tomorrow’s announcement on the next set of counties to move to the Yellow phase, are you pleased with the results of last weeks’ Yellow counties and have there been any concerning data spikes in those Yellow phase counties?
- So there have not been specific concerning data spikes, but you have to remember that it’s been now 6 days since the first counties went to Yellow and the average incubation period of the virus is 5 days but it can be up to 14 days. So we are going to continue to be looking really closely, now and in the future, at all of the counties of course but particularly the counties that go from Red to Yellow.
- When will you know the criteria for the counties to move from Yellow to Green and what can we expect?
- It’s a very important question and we have been asked this several times, again it’s been 6 days since any counties went from Red to Yellow, but we are going to start to look at that next week.
- There was a spike in deaths today - your reports on Tuesdays and Wednesdays usually have these due to a lag in reporting, is the spike for the same reason or is it indicative of counties who are now in the Yellow phase?
- This is part of the continued reconciliation process that we talked about. We have been working very closely and successfully with the Philadelphia county health dept in terms of reconciling our data on a daily basis, we are still working on reconciling our two data systems. Today there were 44 new deaths reported overnight and the remaining 231 were as a result of that reconciliation and that is deaths over the last number of weeks.
- In your professional opinion, is it safe to plan on attending in-person summer camps this year? Has the state made a decision yet whether summer camps will be open or closed for the summer?
- We are working on that now with the Governor’s office and other departments and I expect a decision and reports to go out soon.
- Have you received any updates on whether PA has any cases of the childhood inflammatory condition linked to COVID?
- We are making those calls to the 6 fantastic children’s hospitals in PA today and I hope to have more info tomorrow.
- Do you think the country has an adequate system in place to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine once it’s available?
- I think that it will be a challenge. We will be working within PA, and I am sure within the nation, for the distribution of that vaccine. Of course, physicians and other healthcare personnel give vaccines regularly, our fantastic FQHC’s give vaccines, in fact vaccines are given under the Vaccines for Children Act at our health centers in the counties, as well as in the county municipal health centers. But in terms of giving a vaccination program for the population at large, it will be something we will need to work on when that vaccine is available and we will be working on it now.
- Why has the state not withdrawn those who tested positive for COVID and been cleared under the protocol, from a county’s number of cases? Or at least provide a number of people who have recovered in each county. Is this something the state would consider doing?
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National News:
Washington Post:
The latest
- A Trump administration vaccine expert, who says he was removed from a key role for raising concerns about the government’s response and its promotion of unproved drugs, testified Thursday before Congress. Lawmakers asked questions on a range of topics from the vaccine timeline to the Trump administration's handling of the outbreak. Here are five takeaways from Rick Bright's testimony, where he said, “lives were lost” because of government “inaction” and unheeded warnings.
- The Wisconsin Supreme Court last night struck down Gov. Tony Evers's stay-at-home order extension, which threw the state into chaos. “We're the Wild West,” Evers, a Democrat, told MSNBC. Right after the court's conservative majority issued the 4-to-3 ruling, the Tavern League of Wisconsin instructed its members to feel free to “OPEN IMMEDIATELY!” And open they did. Mask-less barhoppers crowded into pubs to cheer the reopening, while others worried from home that the decision would spread the virus even further.
- The simple act of speaking can emit small droplets that linger in the air for at least eight minutes and potentially much longer, according to a new study. This could help explain why COVID-19 cases cluster in places with poor air circulation, such as nursing homes, households and cruise ships. It also shows why face coverings are so important to prevent the spread. Read about the study and what scientists are saying about its implications for covid-19.
- The rapid-result coronavirus test used by the White House failed to detect infected samples in a large number of COVID-19 cases that were caught by a rival firm, a preliminary study found. At times, the Abbott test missed more than 48 percent of positive cases. The study has not yet been peer reviewed, but it raises questions about the accuracy of the test and the safety of those using it, including in the Oval Office.
- The standard coronavirus tests, which require a swab way up the nose, are unpleasant for some and painful for others. But one firm secured emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to use saliva tests that people can perform at home. Read about the benefits of a saliva test, and what it could mean for scaling up testing in the United States.
- France is angered by the suggestion that the U.S. would get first access to a vaccine in development by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. The outrage came after the company's chief executive told Bloomberg News that “the U.S. government has the right to the largest preorder because it’s invested in taking the risk.” Prime Minister Edouard Philippe tweeted that a COVID-19 vaccine “should be a global public good. Equal access for everyone to the vaccine is not negotiable.”
Other important news
- Fact Checker: McConnell’s claim that Obama left behind no “game plan” for the coronavirus outbreak.
- Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) is stepping aside as Intelligence Committee chair following the seizure of his cellphone by FBI agents investigating his stock sales before the outbreak.
- New data reveal 8 terrifying things (and one hopeful one) about the coronavirus economy.
- There's been lots of talk — but so far no action — about a second $1,200 stimulus check for U.S. households.
- Aspen Institute reverses course and decides to return $8 million in small business funds.
Recurring Resources:
- OneUnitedLancaster.com
- United Way of Lancaster County has launched a new website, OneUnitedLancaster.com. This digital source of information for our community works in tandem with United Way's 2-1-1 resources to connect people and resources during this time of upheaval.
- The Asset Map is a county-wide resource for all to utilize. If you need to add/update/delete information please follow the link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UWMAP20
- Lancaster Chamber:
- Website updated daily: https://www.lancasterchamber.com/Apps/Pages/coronavirusnews
- Past webinars are listed on the Chamber’s site listed above!
- Ask an Attorney: Workplace & Workforce Considerations [WEBINAR]
May 15, 2020
This session is part of a series to give employers an opportunity to hear more about what they should be considering as it relates to re-opening for business, while also providing an opportunity to have questions answered. This webinar will focus on three key topics: 1) On-site screening/testing and EEOC considerations; 2) return to work unemployment challenges and considerations; and 3) furlough call-back considerations. Following a brief overview on those, we will have time for Q&A with the attorney panel.
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- Work Wisdom Series: Authentic Communication In The Remote Era [Virtual Event]
WHEN: Wednesday, May 27
Authentic Communication is the make or break factor for leaders, teams and organizations during the remote era. During this interactive workshop, Kedren and Sarah will teach three remote communication techniques to enable you and your teams to practice Authentic Communication to foster efficiency, psychological safety and joy. Join us to learn how to mitigate zoom exhaustion, select the proper medium for communicating, and techniques for co-creating clear, realistic expectations.
REGISTER NOW
- Work Wisdom Series: Authentic Communication In The Remote Era [Virtual Event]
- Letter from the Chamber about the “reopening” of Lancaster ahead of the Governor’s orders: https://www.lancasterchamber.com/Apps/Pages/page-slug-92504?formEntryId=20521
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- Local Govt.:
- Mayor Danene Sorace is hosting daily briefings on Facebook every night at 5pm
- The County has a COVID site to keep up to date with their response: https://co.lancaster.pa.us/1296/Coronavirus-Disease-COVID-19
- Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health:
- Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health COVID-19 Data: online dashboard with COVID-19 testing and patient data. The site is accessible from the LGHealth.org homepage (click “data” in the top red banner), or at the link below. Data is updated each morning.
- WellSpan Health System:
- Meals: Hunger Free Lancaster
- Hunger Free Lancaster County: https://hungerfreelancaster.org/resources/important-resources-during-covid-19/
- Childcare:
- Resource to find childcare providers with waivers: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Providers/Pages/Coronavirus-Child-Care.aspx
Tenant Forum
- Attached you will find a flyer for a countywide tenant forum (you may recall there was just recently a landlord forum) that is scheduled for May 20 5-6pm.
The event is free and people can sign up using this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/558330058431548/