Each day a summary of news and information that has been gathered from community partners and credible news sites will be posted.
Governor:
- “Gov. Wolf: ‘Wear a mask, Pennsylvania’” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-wear-a-mask-pennsylvania/
- “Reopening Phase Orders Updated to Include Last County Moving to Green on July 3” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/reopening-phase-orders-updated-to-include-last-county-moving-to-green-on-july-3/
- “Gov. Wolf: More Than $2 Million in Grants for Employment Services for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-more-than-2-million-in-grants-for-employment-services-for-individuals-with-opioid-use-disorder/
- “Wolf Administration: Life Science Company Expansion to Bring New Jobs to Chester County” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/wolf-administration-life-science-company-expansion-to-bring-new-jobs-to-chester-county/
State Government:
General CoVid resources: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/
Dept of Education:
- “Education Department: New Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced School Meals Announced for the 2020-21 School Year” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Education-Details.aspx?newsid=898
Dept of Human Services:
- “State Assistance Available When Federal $600 Weekly Unemployment Benefit Ends July 25” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DHS_details.aspx?newsid=562
Dept of Labor & Industry:
- “State Assistance Available When Federal $600 Weekly Unemployment Benefit Ends July 25” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Labor-and-Industry-Details.aspx?newsid=468 (yes I know this is the same as above, it’s important!)
Dept of Revenue:
- “Department of Revenue Offering Assistance to Tax Filers Ahead of July 15 Filing Deadline” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Revenue-Details.aspx?newsid=320
Dept of Health:
- “Wolf Administration Urges Pennsylvanians to Avoid Large Gatherings, Wear Masks Over Holiday Weekend” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=893
- “Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 832 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 88,074” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=892
- 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: 4,504 cases
- Confirmed: 4,411
- Probable: 93
- Negative: 30,840
- Cases per 100,000: 828.60
National News:
Washington Post:
The latest
- The United States added 4.8 million jobs in June, according to a government survey, prompting President Trump to say the economy was “roaring back” from the coronavirus recession. But the nominally massive jobs number is undercut by context, The Post's business desk wrote.
- More than 14 million people have not been rehired after losing their jobs this year, leaving the official unemployment rate higher than at any point during the Great Depression. The survey was conducted in mid-June, before infection rates began to spike again, forcing several states to abruptly halt their economic reopening plans and sending many workers back home. Last week, 1.4 million people filed new unemployment claims.
- Federal Reserve officials raised concerns that a new wave of infections could trigger an even deeper recession, according to newly released notes from the central bank's meeting in early June. The country's daily rate of new infections has more than doubled since that meeting was held.
- And the Congressional Budget Office predicted Thursday that the unemployment rate will stay above pre-pandemic levels through 2030.
- About 8,300 more people died of heart problems during the first three months of the pandemic than would have died in a typical spring, according to a Post analysis of federal data from five hard-hit states. The analysis suggests that many people avoided hospitals for fear of catching covid-19, and consequently died of something else.
- Despite emerging evidence that the coronavirus may have mutated into a more contagious form since it began to spread, the director of the National Institutes of Health told senators Thursday that vaccines now in development should work against it. “It’s a fairly well-behaved virus that we think we ought to be able to tackle effectively with a vaccine strategy,” Francis Collins said.
- Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said on “Good Morning America” that the country is on track to have a working vaccine by year's end or early 2021 — a target many health experts have said is overly optimistic.
Other important news
- Florida reported a single-day high of 10,000 new coronavirus infections Thursday, approaching the national record set by New York earlier in the pandemic.
- Brazil's virtually unchecked coronavirus outbreak, second-worst in the world, is making the country an attractive proving ground for researchers racing to find a vaccine.
- Insiders at Moderna, the biopharmaceutical company leading the U.S. race for a vaccine, have sold hundreds of millions of dollars in stock since the company secured a government partnership.
- As cases spike in California, some are second-guessing the state's decision to reject testing help from a Chinese company.
- Trump's poorly attended, virus-adjacent campaign rally in Tulsa last month created a cascade of problems, including sick staffers, quarantined Secret Service agents and accusations of irregular testing procedures.
- Trump is again insisting that the virus will eventually just “disappear.” It may, The Post's Philip Bump wrote in an analysis — the same way a nuclear bomb disappears after it explodes.
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
- “Let’s Go Strong Into Going Green” : https://www.lancasterchamber.com/Apps/Pages/page-slug-92504?formEntryId=22781
- 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 Med/LGH:
- 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?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW
Teachers Needed for Virtual Summer Program
- Online Learning - July 9, 2020 - August 7, 2020
- This summer learning enrichment program is designed to offer virtual academic skill-building in math and literacy to approximately 600 Lancaster County students PreK through Grade 8 using a high-quality curriculum and engaging instructional materials developed by BellXcel. This program, offered through the Lancaster Partnership for Learning Equity, is committed to providing learners with the digital access and support needed to prevent academic slide over the summer and to prepare them to participate fully in virtual learning opportunities in the future.
-
- There is a student registration link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020SLapp?fbclid=IwAR1GE2jsALuuNQrHr6XiaPXdgfMGV7vBWYRZjb4UMN5OWEUip7EsGF5hGK4
- And if a community organization wants to sign their summer camp or daycare program up, that registration is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8CW7DN9
PA 211
- PA211 has recently purchased a new software system. One of the advantages in this new software is the ability of any agency to go into the system and submit any changes/additions to their data at any time. No need to wait for that annual request anymore !
If you have not yet received your unique user ID and password, please email Trish Houser, our 211 East Database Manager, at houser@uwlanc.org
She will be happy to get that out to you and answer any questions you may have as well.
It is always our goal to provide the most current and accurate data as possible, however we do need your help to do this.
PAVOAD:
- Extension of Paycheck Protection Program
On Tuesday night, the US Senate passed by unanimous consent a five-week extension of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Yesterday, the House followed suit and the bill is expected to soon be signed into law. The bill extends the deadline date for small businesses and nonprofits to apply for PPP funding from June 30 to August 8. To date, the US Small Business Administration has approved nearly 4.9 million forgivable loans (de facto grants) for a total of more than $520 billion. - COVID-19 tools and guidance from Harvard
Harvard Global Health Institute, Harvard's Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Rockefeller Foundation, CovidActNow, Covid-Local, CIDRAP and many others join forces, launch new COVID Risk Level map and COVID suppression guidance for policy makers and the public. Key documents include the following:
