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:

• “Gov. Wolf: Opioid Command Center Releases Strategic Plan, a Roadmap to Fight the Epidemic” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-opioid-command-center-releases-strategic-plan-a-roadmap-to-fight-the-epidemic/
• “Legislators Join Gov. Wolf in Call for Masking” : https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/legislators-join-gov-wolf-in-call-for-masking/

State Government:

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

Dept of Human Services:

• “Department of Human Services Extends Eligibility for Aftercare Services for Former Foster Youth to Age 23” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DHS_details.aspx?newsid=564

Dept of Health:

• “Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 995 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 91,299” : https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=898
  • 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: 4,623 cases
  • Confirmed: 4,524
  • Probable: 99
  • Negative: 32,935
  • Cases per 100,000: 850.50

National News:

Washington Post:

The latest

• The Trump administration has sent a letter to the United Nations withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization over its handling of the pandemic, a dramatic move that could reshape public health diplomacy and puts the U.S. at odds with traditional allies. It is not clear whether the president can pull the nation out of the organization and withdraw funding without congressional approval.
• Hospitalizations and deaths are climbing in some places, along with the new surge in confirmed cases, and states and cities are adding new restrictions — or shutting down again — in an attempt to control the spread and save lives.
• Arizona reported new highs for coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths Tuesday, and nearly 90 percent of the state’s intensive care unit beds were full as of Monday. Florida has seen its caseload soar past 10,000 a day, which has prompted new closures. The Trump administration said it will provide surge testing temporarily in Louisiana, Texas and Florida, where recent outbreaks have been particularly severe.
• Miami-Dade County authorities reversed course on a reopening plan, after beach closures and mask requirements that were implemented over the past two weeks. In West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice (R) announced that face coverings will be mandatory inside buildings. 
• Despite the alarming spread in the U.S., the Trump administration is pushing for all schools to reopen in the fall, arguing that they can do so with protections in place for particularly vulnerable students and staff.  “Nobody should hide behind CDC’s guidance” to avoid reopening schools, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday. In Florida, the state's top school official issued a sweeping executive order requiring all schools to reopen their buildings for in-person instruction in the fall. 
• A Pennsylvania nursing home gave some veterans a “covid cocktail,” including hydroxychloroquine, in conflict with guidance from the FDA, a Post investigation found. The regimen was routinely dispensed at the Southeastern Veterans’ Center for more than two weeks in April, often for patients who had not been tested for covid-19 and for those who suffered from conditions known to raise the risk of dangerous side effects.

Other important news

• You can now search our database to see who received small-business loans from the $660 billion coronavirus relief program, and how much. Since yesterday's newsletter, we learned that aid went to private-equity backed chains, members of Congress and the law practice that represented Trump.
• A new wave of infections prompted officials in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, to reinstate lockdowns.
• Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly minimized the coronavirus, said Tuesday that he has tested positive for covid-19. The U.S. ambassador to Brazil recently hosted Bolsonaro for a Fourth of July barbecue.
• International students must take classes in person to stay in the country legally this fall, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced. Some students fear being suddenly deported.
• States such as Texas are seeing massive losses in tax revenue. The downturn in that previously-strong economy is a warning sign about what's to come.

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
• 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.
    • https://www.lancastergeneralhealth.org/news/covid-19-data-for-lg-health

• WellSpan Health System:
  • WellSpan COVID-19 data dashboard.
    • https://www.wellspan.org/coronavirus/coronavirus-(covid-19)-data/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=alertbanner-datadashboard&utm_campaign=Coronavirus
• 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

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NEW

Summer Learning 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
  • Student registration link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020SLapp?fbclid=IwAR1GE2jsALuuNQrHr6XiaPXdgfMGV7vBWYRZjb4UMN5OWEUip7EsGF5hGK4
    • **Students who meet income eligibility requirements for technology are able to keep their laptops!
  • A community organization wants to sign their summer camp or daycare program up, that registration is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8CW7DN9

Eviction Prevention Network

• Rental assistance and eviction prevention services are available across the county through the Eviction Prevention Network in partnership with the city and county government and county redevelopment authority. There are two pathways for landlords and tenants to get help, detailed at http://www.lchra.com/rental-homeowner-assistance/.