Daily Policy Update

Each day a summary of news and information that has been gathered from community partners and credible news sites will be posted.

Governor:

“Wolf Administration Outlines Impacts of Ending Disaster Declaration” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/wolf-administration-outlines-impacts-of-ending-disaster-declaration/
“Wolf Administration Provides Guidance to Resume High School and Other Summer Sports” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/wolf-administration-provides-guidance-to-resume-high-school-and-other-summer-sports/
“Gov. Wolf: Updated Business Guidance on Outdoor Recreation Available for Yellow and Green Phases of Reopening” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-updated-business-guidance-on-outdoor-recreation-available-for-yellow-and-green-phases-of-reopening/

State Government:

General COVID resources: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-COVID-19/

Dept. of Education:

“Human Services Extends Emergency Assistance Program, Help with Home Energy Crisis Funding and School Meals Available” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Education-Details.aspx?newsid=878

PEMA:

“Wolf Administration: Prepare for Severe Summer Weather During Global COVID-19 Pandemic” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/PEMA-Details.aspx?newsid=140

Dept. of Health:

“Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 410 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 76,846” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=855
- 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
Lancaster Stats: (According to DOH website- updated today at 12:00pm)
- Total Cases: 3,600 cases.
- Confirmed: 3,522
- Probable: 78
- Negative: 19,905
- Cases per 100,000: 662.30

National News:

Washington Post:

The latest

A new study shows that widespread use of face masks could push transmission of the virus to a manageable level and prevent a “second wave” of infections. Researchers found that wearing a face mask in public at all times is twice as effective in curbing the spread of the virus as wearing a mask only after symptoms appear. The study's authors wrote: “These analyses may explain why some countries, where adoption of face mask use by the public is around 100%, have experienced significantly lower rates of COVID-19 spread and associated deaths.” (More mask guidance is below in the Q&A)
COVID-19 hospitalizations in at least nine states have been on the rise since Memorial Day, disproving the notion that spikes in cases are solely because of the continued increase in testing. Texas, for example — which was one of the first states to relax stay-at-home orders — reported record-breaking hospitalizations Monday and Tuesday.
Months into the pandemic, states are still wrestling with how to expand testing. The federal government has offered little guidance on how to test more people, leaving state officials with difficult questions about how to measure the spread and make decisions about reopening their economies.
Voting day in Georgia was chaos. Lines snaked out the doors, poll workers struggled with new machines and voters furiously demanded to know why so much had gone wrong. It could be a preview of how the pandemic and new voting technology could affect the presidential election in November, at a time of deepening partisanship around voting, with President Trump and his GOP allies inaccurately attacking mail-in voting as prone to fraud.
Vaccine researchers have a new problem: Outbreaks in former hot spots such as New York City, China and Britain are getting too small to quickly test whether a vaccine works. The decline in cases in those regions is good news, of course, but developers need enough numbers of infected people, with and without symptoms, to test whether the vaccine protects volunteers when they are exposed. If the volunteers don't have a high enough chance of being exposed to the virus, researchers might have to chase down new outbreaks, which would delay a vaccine.

Other important news

Federal Reserve leaders predict that U.S. unemployment will fall to 9.3 percent by the end of the year, signaling the start of an economic recovery.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin loosened restrictions on small business loans to ease forgiveness, but says he does not plan on releasing the names of borrowers to the public.
See photos from New Zealand's coronavirus success story, from lockdown to reopening.
Some airlines are requiring passengers to complete health assessments before they fly.
Bowing to public outrage and a court order, the Brazilian government has resumed publishing case and death counts that show how devastating the outbreak is there.
Federal health officials announced a new round of financial help for safety-net health-care providers in the coronavirus pandemic.

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
- “Moving Forward to Yellow Phase” : https://www.lancasterchamber.com/Apps/Pages/page-slug-92504?formEntryId=21971
- INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS/TRAINING:
  - Workplace Considerations & Compliance
    This webinar featured Steve Matzura and Austin Wolfe of McNees Wallace & Nurick as they discussed workplace safety measures, employer mandates related to building safety, cleaning measures and employee requirements, and OSHA guidance and compliance.
    ACCESS NOW
  - Workplace Considerations: Practical Strategies for your Workplace and Workforce
    Learn more about change management, how to create new norms, develop effective communication strategies, tips & tricks for outfitting your space and workforce and how to navigate new realities and challenges of the workplace in alignment with CDC and State guidelines as Pennsylvania prepares to reopen.
    ACCESS NOW
  - Maintaining A Compliant Workplace & Workforce Under COVID-19 Restrictions
    This webinar will cover steps employers are taking to comply with the Governor's orders and the implications to the workplace and workforce. It will specifically address: 1) what do employers need to do to maintain a safe working environment; 2) what are the OSHA, whistleblower, and workers' compensation considerations; and 3) what are the employees rights from a non-union and union perspective (e.g. protected concerted activity)
    ACCESS NOW

Local Government:
- 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.
  - https://www.lancastergeneralhealth.org/news/COVID-19-data-for-lg-health