Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 921 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, January 4 through Thursday, January 7 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social distancing, masking, and other health and safety requirements of the liquor code.
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health today highlighted that Pennsylvania is above the average national testing rate as noted in the White House Task Force Weekly Report dated January 3.
According to the report, Pennsylvania was at the yellow level for number of tests performed per 100,000 people for the previous week. The yellow level is 2,000 to 2,999 tests per 100,000 population.
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Tuesday, January 12, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Bradford, Clarion, Fulton, Lancaster and Pike counties. The counties with testing sites will continue to change weekly over the next seven weeks so that 61 counties will eventually be covered by dedicated pop-up testing sites over a 12-week period.
Harrisburg, Pa. – The Pennsylvania departments of Health (DOH) and Education (PDE) today provided school administrators and school boards with updated recommendationsOpens In A New Window as to which instructional models they should consider using based on the changing levels of community transmission of COVID-19 in their counties.
Until now, the county designations aligned to three recommended instructional models: fully in-person, blended/hybrid, and fully remote. Starting January 25, the departments are providing a second recommendation for elementary schools in substantial level counties. In addition to remote learning, now there is an option for blended/hybrid learning for elementary students.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 7, that there were 9,698 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 693,087.
There are 5,613 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,120 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, in Pennsylvania. The confirmed case is in Dauphin County. This variant is the same one that was first discovered in England in December.
This individual tested positive after known international exposure. A case investigation and contact tracing were performed to identify, inform and monitor anyone who was in close contact with this individual. The individual had mild symptoms, which have since been resolved while they completed their isolation at home.
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today recognized the unshakeable commitment of commonwealth employees whose service and sacrifice have protected the lives, health and safety of individuals receiving care at Pennsylvania’s state hospitals, state centers and juvenile justice facilities during a public-health crisis that has disproportionately affected individuals in congregate-care settings and the essential workers who support them.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 6, that there were 9,474 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 683,389.
There are 5,684 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,148 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from December 28, 2020 through January 3, 2021. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants, including masking of employees offering carry-out, delivery and curbside pick-up services, and reflect the temporary order prohibiting dine-in service from December 12, 2020 until 8:00 AM January 4, 2021.
Wolf Administration Director of Testing and Contact Tracing, Michael Huff, and Special Assistant on Contact Tracing for the Department of Health, Lindsey Mauldin, today presented an update on the state’s COVID-19 testing and contact tracing efforts, emphasizing the need for continued testing as Pennsylvania begins vaccine rollout.
“To date over 8.3 million test results have been received in Pennsylvania,” Huff said. “Our COVID-19 testing provider, AMI, continues to offer regional testing in five counties each week. Last week, the regional sites tested approximately 4,000 individuals. This week, sites are in Crawford, Dauphin, Lehigh, Somerset and Union counties, and will conclude on Friday.”
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Dec. 27 through Jan. 3.
With the high number of COVID cases across the commonwealth, the Department of State is continuing with compliance enforcement as it relates to the regulated boards and commissions. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for the licensed professions, including social distancing, masking and occupancy limits. These numbers include actions taken during routine inspections and investigations prompted by consumer complaints.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 5, that there were 8,818 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 673,915. Due to technical maintenance to the data server on Sunday, case counts today include data from the time the server was down on Sunday. This technical maintenance did not impact the death reporting system as the death data comes from a different server.
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health today shared its weekly update on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing data and encouraged Pennsylvanians to download the COVID Alert PA app, as more than 731,000 have already done to aid in contact tracing efforts. All 67 counties have substantial COVID-19 transmission rates.
“We have learned many things throughout this past year and now we all know our role in the fight against COVID-19. We know that we must answer the call when a public health professional calls, we know to wear a mask, social distance and wash our hands frequently,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “As we go into the new year, we need to continue using the tools we have built throughout 2020 like the COVID Alert PA app and the Connect & Protect Form, so we can help stop the spread of COVID-19 right in its tracks.”
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,091 licensed liquor establishments from Thursday, December 31, 2020 through Sunday, January 3, 2021 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements, including the suspension of in-person service from December 12, 2020 until 8 a.m. on January 4, 2021, as outlined in the limited-time mitigation order.
Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard, highlighting a seven-day case increase of 40,407, a statewide percent positivity of 15.0% and all 67 counties with substantial transmission status.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 4, that there were 3,226 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 4,579 new cases reported Sunday, January 3 for a two-day total of 7,805 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 665,097. The case counts today are atypically low as a result of technical maintenance to the data server on Sunday. This technical maintenance did not impact the death reporting system on Sunday or Monday as the death data comes from a different server.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., January 2, there were 9,253 new cases, in addition to 7,714 new cases reported Friday, January 1 for a two-day total of 16,967 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 657,292.
There are 5,624 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 1,172 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 31, that there were 8,992 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 640,325.
There are 5,962 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, near double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,178 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.
Annville, PA – Today the Wolf Administration released the independent investigative Report on the Southeastern Veterans’ Center’s (SEVC) early handling of COVID-19. The review was conducted by an outside law firm to independently assess the SEVC’s and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ pandemic response efforts during the first half of 2020. The report is redacted in certain instances to protect confidential information, including the identities of certain employees. Individuals whose identities could not be concealed were given the opportunity to respond to the report prior to today’s release and to have their responses published with the report.
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 694 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, December 28 through Wednesday, December 30 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements, including the suspension of in-person service from December 12, 2020 through January 4, 2021, as outlined in the limited-time mitigation order.
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Monday, January 4, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Crawford, Dauphin, Lehigh, Somerset and Union counties. The counties with testing sites will change each week over the next eight weeks so that 61 counties will eventually be covered by dedicated pop-up testing sites over a 12-week period.
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine today announced the launch of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, now available on the department’s website. The dashboard includes information on the number of vaccinations administered by county, as well as demographic information about the people being vaccinated.
“Each day, more and more Pennsylvanians are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, which means we are another step closer to beating this virus,” Dr. Levine said. “The COVID-19 vaccine dashboard will help us visualize how many individuals have received the vaccine to date and help us work to vaccinate everyone who wishes to receive a vaccination.”
The time-limited mitigation orders put in place on Dec. 12 have helped to begin flattening the curve of new cases following the post-Thanksgiving surge in Pennsylvania. As a result, today Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that the time-limited orders as written will expire at 8 a.m., Jan. 4 as planned.
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program has begun vaccinating residents and staff at 126 Pennsylvania skilled nursing facilities using the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
“Vaccinating residents and staff at skilled nursing facilities is critical to protecting these vulnerable populations,” Dr. Levine said. “As our federal partners work to coordinate vaccinations for this critical population, we remind Pennsylvanians to remain calm and patient as we continue to rollout our phased distribution.”
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today signed an order directing that a percentage of all vaccine distributions to hospitals, health systems, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and pharmacies be designated for health care personnel within Phase 1A, including those health care personnel working in Emergency Medical Services, that are not affiliated with a hospital or health system. This order goes into effect January 6, 2021.