Each day a summary of news and information that has been gathered from community partners and credible news sites will be posted.
Governor:
June 15:
- “Gov. Wolf Celebrates Supreme Court Recognition of LGBTQ+ Protections” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-celebrates-supreme-court-recognition-of-lgbtq-protections/
- “Gov. Wolf Announces $260 Million in Funding to Help People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism During Pandemic” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-announces-260-million-in-funding-to-help-people-with-intellectual-disabilities-and-autism-during-pandemic/
- “Gov. Wolf Announces 10 More Testing Sites in Areas with Limited Access” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-announces-10-more-testing-sites-in-areas-with-limited-access/
- “Pennsylvania Launches New Policies to Increase Diversity Among State Contractors” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/pennsylvania-launches-new-policies-to-increase-diversity-among-state-contractors/
June 14:
- “Wolf Administration Condemns Trump Administration Rule that Strips Health Care Rights of Americans Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/wolf-administration-condemns-trump-administration-rule-that-strips-health-care-rights-of-americans-based-on-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity/
June 12:
- “Gov. Wolf: Eight More Counties Going Green on June 19” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-eight-more-counties-going-green-on-june-19/
- “Gov. Wolf: State’s Measured, Phased Reopening Plan Succeeding as Other States See Cases Rise” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-states-measured-phased-reopening-plan-succeeding-as-other-states-see-cases-rise/
State Government:
General COVID resources: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-COVID-19/
Dept. of Health:
- “Department of Health Announces Additional Partnerships to Assist with COVID-19 Response” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=859
- “Department of Health Highlights May 2020 Nursing Home Inspection, Sanction Information Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=862
- “Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 323 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 79,121” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=861
- 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 Dept. of Health website- updated today at 12:00pm)
- Total Cases: 3,777 cases.
- Confirmed: 3,693
- Probable: 84
- Negative: 21,581
- Cases per 100,000: 694.90
National News:
Washington Post:
The latest
- Some governors are threatening to shut their states back down as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations climb. Mask-less New Yorkers gathered shoulder-to-shoulder outside bars and restaurants over the weekend as if they had entirely forgotten about social distancing. “Don’t make me come down there …” New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) tweeted in response to a video of one gathering. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said Monday morning he would consider closing his state again if similar behavior becomes popular in New Jersey. In Arizona and Florida, restaurants are re-closing to indoor dining after employees have tested positive.
- The increase in cases is not necessarily because of increased testing. In some places, cases and hospitalizations are on the rise even as testing rates fall. In six states, the seven-day average of new cases has increased since May 31 while the average number of daily tests being conducted has declined. In 14 others, the rate of new cases is increasing faster than the increase in the average number of tests. There are many warning signs in the data that the U.S. is entering a resurgence of the pandemic after states lifted restrictions.
- The Food and Drug Administration has revoked the emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for the treatment of covid-19, after numerous studies led the agency to conclude that it “is no longer reasonable to believe” they are effective.
- Volunteers are lining up to be willingly infected with the coronavirus in pursuit of a vaccine. The idea is simple in practice: researchers would inject healthy volunteers with an experimental vaccine, then expose them to the virus. If the vaccine prevents them from getting sick, then researchers can focus on that formula. But COVID-19 is potentially lethal, with no silver-bullet treatment, which means the experiments raise some of the most fraught ethical, scientific and philosophical issues in the history of medicine.
- The pandemic is changing fashion and beauty trends in very specific ways. Retailers — already saddled with a glut of unsold winter and spring merchandise — are scrambling to get a handle what consultants are saying will be long-term trends. Here are five changes in the fashion and beauty industries that are already taking hold.
Other important news
- After cases were traced back to a market over the weekend, Beijing rapidly tested hundreds of thousands of people.
- A homelessness crisis is expected in D.C. when the coronavirus emergency ends and evictions begin.
- Inspectors general warn that the Trump administration is blocking scrutiny of coronavirus bailout programs.
- It is now possible for high school seniors to apply to more than half of the Ivy League colleges without SAT or ACT scores. Could the pandemic force the end of the standardized test requirement?
- Retirees living abroad are still waiting for their stimulus payments.
- The 2021 Oscars will be delayed until April because of the 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
- 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
- Workplace Considerations & Compliance
- 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.
- 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
Recovery Lancaster:
- UPDATE: RecoveryLancaster.com Info
- RecoveryLancaster.com, a website stemming from the Economic Recovery Plan for Lancaster County by the Lancaster Chamber, the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County, and the County of Lancaster, is your hub for information to get your business back on track.
- Quick notes to keep you updated on this resource:
- Grant Opportunity Available Starting June 15 - Are You Prepared?
Are you a business with 20 employees or fewer? If so, you can apply for a grant starting next week. The grant is not first-come, first-serve. Grants are awarded based on a variety of criteria. Get the details and see what you have to do to prepare with our FAQ sheet and our What You Need To Know guide.
LEARN MORE - Get Your FREE PPE KIT NOW!
Are You A Business With 100 Employees or Fewer? You can now sign up for a free kit that includes a mix of personal protective equipment, as well as some cleaning and disinfecting materials. The sign up is simple, easy, and you will get the kit delivered within days of your order!
GET YOUR KIT - Best Practices Are Now Available
From restaurants to retail, to accommodations to construction, we are offering a variety of video and powerpoint resources to help walk through what your business needs right now to succeed.
EXPLORE THE HUB
- Grant Opportunity Available Starting June 15 - Are You Prepared?
PAVOAD:
- New CDC Guidance for large events
Follow this link to view the CDC’s Considerations for Events and Gatherings.
- More counties moving to Green on June 19
Eight more counties will move to the green phase of reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 19. These counties include Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike, and Schuylkill.
Read the full article here.
- Webinar: Future Planning for the Homelessness Response System: Lessons Learned from Seattle/King County. Los Angeles, and Houston
When: Wednesday, June 17 | 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Register here.
- State’s measured, phased reopening plan succeeding as other states see cases rise
As Pennsylvania continues to implement the Process to Reopen PA, the state is also among a select few with a steady decline in cases, a positive indicator that the state’s phased, measured reopening plan is working to balance public health with economic recovery.
Read full article here.