December 21, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today announced as of 12 PM, December 21, 22 additional hospitals have received 30,255 does of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and will begin distributing it to health care workers as outlined in the state’s interim vaccine distribution plan. This brings the total to 109 hospitals to date that have received vaccine.
“Each day, hospitals will be shipped vaccine directly from Pfizer and will begin administering it to health care workers at the hospital,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The hospitals receiving shipments enrolled to be COVID-19 vaccine providers. The federal government has determined the amount of vaccine and when the vaccine is distributed. Hospitals receiving the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine must be able to handle the ultra-low temperature storage requirements.”
December 21, 2020
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 707,000 have already done, to aid in contact tracing efforts. All 67 counties have substantial COVID-19 transmission rates.
“Each and every day, public health professionals across the state are committed to reaching as many new cases as soon as they can in order to determine where they went or who they were in close contact with while infectious,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “As we add more resources and tools for Pennsylvanians to support those efforts, we ask for residents to use them. Please download the COVID Alert PA app and answer the call when a public health professional is calling you. By participating in the outreach of our public health staff and using the tools in our toolbox, Pennsylvanians play their part in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”
December 21, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 799 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, December 18 through Sunday, December 20 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.
December 21, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Health today unveiled a new digital case investigation tool, called the Connect & Protect Form, for Pennsylvanians 19 through 64 who reside in a county without its own county or municipal health department.
“Launching this tool allows public health professionals to connect with more Pennsylvanians in record time to learn where people went and who they were in close contact with while infectious in order to further protect loved ones and neighbors across the commonwealth,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We are eager to continue adding tools to our toolbox to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Residents that are diagnosed with COVID-19 will still receive a call from a public health professional, but if they are between 19 and 64, they will be asked to provide their email address to receive the Connect & Protect Form to complete as soon as possible.”
December 21, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 21, that there were 7,887 new cases in addition to 7,213 new cases reported Sunday, December 20 for a two-day total of 15,100 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 563,589.
There are 6,074 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,230 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.
December 21, 2020
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 57,098 cases, a statewide percent positivity of 15.8% and all 67 counties with substantial transmission status.
December 21, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) responded to nearly 5,000 complaints and inquiries about financial transactions, companies, or products in fiscal year 2019-2020 according to its recently released Consumer Services Annual Report.
The department saw an 18 percent increase in inquiries over last year, largely a result of consumers impacted by COVID-19, including questions about mortgage forbearance, payment deferrals, and scams, highlighted in the report. Of the 4,970 inquiries, the most common (28 percent) complaint or inquiry was related to bank account/services, especially withdrawals, and the second most prevalent complaint (20 percent) was mortgage issues, especially with processing and underwriting. On average, department staff helped resolve consumer issues in fewer than five days. The report also highlights aspects of financial caregivers’ fiduciary responsibility and increased activity with social payments.
December 19, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 19, that there were 9,834 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 548,489.
There are 6,147 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,232 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.
December 18, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,324 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, December 14 through Thursday, December 17 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.
December 18, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 18, that there were 9,320 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 538,655.
There are 6,209 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,246 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.
December 17, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Health issued a press release encouraging colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education to consider delaying bringing students back to campusOpens In A New Windowto prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The alarming increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is expected to worsen in January when students normally return to campus, by delaying students’ return to campus, these institutions can play a critical role in slowing the spread of the virus, helping local businesses to remain open, and protecting our strained regional health care systems from becoming overwhelmed.
December 17, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 17, that there were 9,966 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 529,335.
There are 6,346 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,238 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.
December 17, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Dec. 6 through Dec. 13.
With COVID cases increasing 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.
December 16, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today announced as of 12 PM, December 16, seven additional hospitals have received a shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and will begin distributing it to health care workers as outlined in the state’s interim vaccine distribution plan. This brings the total to 16 hospitals to date that have received vaccine.
“Each day, hospitals will be shipped vaccine directly from Pfizer and will begin administering it to health care workers at the hospital,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The 87 hospitals receiving shipments this week enrolled to be COVID-19 vaccine providers. The federal government has determined the amount of vaccine and when the vaccine is distributed. Hospitals receiving the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine must be able to handle the ultra-low temperature storage requirements.”
December 16, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from December 7 through December 13, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants including social distancing, masking, and occupancy limits.
These numbers include actions taken during routine food safety inspections and inspections prompted by consumer complaints.
December 16, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Friday, December 18, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Cambria, Franklin, Mercer, Montour, and Luzerne counties. The counties with testing sites will change each week over the next 10 weeks so that 61 counties will eventually be covered by dedicated pop-up testing sites over a 12-week period.
December 16, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 16, that there were 10,049 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 519,369.
There are 6,295 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,264 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.
The trend in the 14-day moving average of number of hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 5,100 since the end of September.
December 16, 2020
Last Thursday, Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced time-limited mitigation measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. These mitigation measures went into effect on Saturday, December 12, to protect Pennsylvanians from this devastating virus. Education, labor and health care advocacy organizations and other groups are showing their support for the plans.
December 16, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – With only 15 days remaining before the federal CARES Act expires, Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier today again urged Congress to act immediately to pass an extension to the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs. Without an extension, next week will be the final week more than 500,000 Pennsylvanians can file claims for these two critical pandemic unemployment programs.
December 15, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today announced as of 12 PM, December 15, seven additional hospitals have received a shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and will begin distributing it to health care workers as outlined in the state’s interim vaccine distribution plan. This brings the total to nine hospitals to date that have received vaccine.
December 15, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – In the November 2020 report, Pennsylvania Department of Health nursing home surveyors conducted 395 inspections of 236 unique nursing homes, including 312 complaint investigations. Of these, 173 were COVID-19-specific compliant investigations. Six sanctions were finalized against nursing care facilities in the last month, including one provisional 1 license, one provisional 2 license and the issuance of civil penalties totaling $52,250.
December 15, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today began distribution of the 10th allotment of COVID-19 antigen test kits provided by the federal government to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified institutions in the remaining 20 counties that have not yet received a shipment. All 67 counties have now received shipment of antigen tests.
“Antigen test cards are a timely, quick and easy-to-use tool for communities to receive rapid COVID-19 testing,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “These test kits, provided by the federal government and being distributed to areas in need by the Wolf Administration, will further help communities struggling with the spread of COVID-19. Antigen tests look for pieces of proteins that make up the SARS-CoV-2 virus and are less sensitive than PCR tests for detecting COVID-19 infections. After this week, all 67 counties will have received antigen test cards.”
December 15, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today urged Pennsylvanians to take COVID-19 and food safety precautions as they plan household celebrations during the upcoming holidays.
“We know that one of the best parts of the holiday season is spending time with those we love, but this year, we must rethink what that looks like,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “This holiday season, choose to celebrate with the people in your household and virtually connect with your loved ones. It is essential that we all follow the orders in place and do all we can to limit the spread of COVID-19 to protect our health system and our hospitals.”
December 15, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 15, that there were 9,556 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 509,320.
There are 6,026 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, double the peak in the spring. Of that number, 1,249 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.
December 14, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced that Pennsylvania is slated to receive 97,500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 66 counties, with Philadelphia County receiving its own allotment of 13,650 doses, for a total of 111,150 doses for health care workers identified in the state’s vaccine distribution plan.
Today, Monongahela Valley Hospital and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh received vaccine. Eighty-five additional hospitals will receive shipments by Monday. Dec. 21.
