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Daily Policy Update

Policy Updates

By One United Lancaster - July 23, 2020

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

 

Governor:

 

State Government:

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

 

Dept of Ag:

 

Dept of Drug & Alcohol:

 

Dept of Labor & Industry:

 

Dept of Health:

 

Washington Post:

The latest

  • Can you get coronavirus twice? Doctors are still trying to understand whether reinfection is possible as anecdotal reports mount. There are several things that could explain why some people think they've had it twice: a reemergence of the first infection, a different virus with similar symptoms, or initial tests that came back with a false positive. There's still not enough evidence or sufficient time since the virus first struck, health experts say, to draw firm conclusions about how people develop immunity to covid-19 or how long it might last. Here's what we know about whether people can be infected with coronavirus more than once. (Read more details in our reader Q&A below.)
  • Biotech companies Pfizer and BioNTech announced a $1.95 billion deal with the United States to distribute as many as 600 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine. The agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Defense Department begins with 100 million doses — or around $20 per dose — by the end of the year once it's proven effective, with the ability to acquire an additional 500 million after that.
  • More than 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths were reported in the United States on Tuesday, for the first time since June 2. The average number of daily deaths has been rising for most of July. Last night, in his first coronavirus briefing in three months, President Trump struck a far more pessimistic tone than usual, acknowledging that the pandemic is likely to “get worse before it gets better.” (Here are five takeaways from his first virus briefing in months.)
  • From the podium, Trump asked the American public to wear masks after weeks of resisting doing so himself in public. “Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact, they’ll have an effect, and we need everything we can get,” Trump said. This afternoon, D.C. officials said they would investigate the Trump International Hotel's compliance with city rules after the president was seen maskless in its lobby at a fundraiser Monday. Meanwhile, Republican governors in two holdout states — Ohio and Indiana — joined the growing momentum for mandating face coverings.
  • Former president Barack Obama and Joe Biden trolled Trump in a video that appears to be a new pandemic campaign tactic. In it, they expressed disbelief over how Trump has handled the crisis and has tried to avoid blame for his government’s failure to contain it. “Can you imagine standing up when you were president and saying ‘it’s not my responsibility. I take no responsibility.’ Literally. Literally,” Biden says. Obama’s response: “Those words didn’t come out of our mouths when we were in office.” Watch the video here.
  • Congress and the White House agree that the U.S. needs another infusion of cash to dampen the economic impact of the pandemic, but they are still in near-total disagreement on what to include. To pass the future bill, Republicans will need Democrats to get on board. From extra unemployment benefits to forcing schools to reopen in the fall, these are the seven major flash points lawmakers are debating.

Other important news

 

Recurring Resources:

 

 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

 

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/.

 

Joining Forces for Children

  • Joining Forces for Children’s Family Advocate is now accepting referrals! A brief description of services, eligibility, and a link to submit a referral on the attached PDF.

 

DON’T FORGET:

  • Lancaster Cares COVID grants are still being accepted!

 

One United Lancaster

One United Lancaster is an independent, nonpartisan source of Lancaster County community news, founded and sponsored by United Way of Lancaster County.

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