Senator Jim Brewster’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

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Senator Jim Brewster’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The spread of COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. Below, please find links to federal, state, regional, and local sites that can help you navigate health recommendations, closures, and resources.

A Guide: Responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania

Local Government COVID-19 FAQs

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Latest News

Department Of Health: Over 9.3 Million Vaccinations To Date, 52.7% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 45.6% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 11, there were 2,385 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,177,072. There are 1,798 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...

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Department Of Health: Over 9.2 Million Vaccinations To Date, 52.6% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 45.3% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 10, there were 1,023 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 1,376 new cases reported Sunday, May 9, for a two-day total of 2,399 additional positive cases...

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Department Of Health: Over 9.1 Million Vaccinations To Date, 51.9% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 44.1% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 8, there were 2,610 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,172,288. There are 2,012 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...

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Department Of Health: Over 8.9 Million Vaccinations To Date, 51.6% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 43.4% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 7, there were 2,986 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,169,678. Please note, one lab is still getting caught up with backlogged data...

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Department Of Health: Over 8.9 Million Vaccinations To Date, 51.2% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 42.7% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 6, there were 2,476 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,166,692. Please note, one lab is still getting caught up with backlogged data...

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Department Of Health: Over 8.8 Million Vaccinations To Date, 50.9% Of Entire Population Received First Dose, 42.2% Of Pennsylvanians Age 18 And Older Fully Vaccinated, PA Ranks 10th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., May 5, there were 2,597 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,164,216 There are 2,172 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...

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Federal Stimulus Package – ‘Putting Workers First‘

A bipartisan, robust third COVID-19 bill that will immediately bolster our health care response and our economy.

Unemployment Insurance: ($260 billion)

A massive investment in the UI program as well as critical reforms to make the program more effective for workers. In the wake of the economic recession caused by the coronavirus the UI program is an essential a long-term lifeline for millions of workers during this crisis.

  • Full Paycheck Replacement: $600 increase for every American, which equates to 100 percent of wages for the average American without a paycheck struggling through the Crisis
  • Waiving Waiting Weeks: Gets money in people’s pockets sooner by providing federal incentives for states to eliminate waiting weeks.
  • Extension of Benefits: An additional 13 weeks of federally-funded unemployment insurance benefits are immediately be made available.
  • Expanding Access: Allow part-time, self-employed, and gig economy workers to access UI benefits.

Marshall Plan For Our Health System ($150 billion)

An unprecedented and historic investment for our health care system in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The new $150 billion fund is widely available to all types of hospitals and providers most affected by COVID-19, and it will be available to fund whatever is needed to defeat this virus.

This includes:

  • Equipment and Infrastructure: Personal and protective equipment for health care workers, testing supplies, increased workforce and training, new construction to house patients, emergency operation centers and more.
  • Enhanced Health Investments: Additional funding is also dedicated to delivering Medicare payment increases to all hospitals and providers to ensure that they receive the funding they need during this crisis, and new investments in our country’s Strategic National Stockpile, surge capacity and medical research into COVID-19.

Robust Worker and Transparency Protections on Government Loans

  • No stock buybacks or dividends for the length of any loan provided by the Treasury plus 1 year.
  • Restrictions on any increases to executive compensation.
  • Protect collective bargaining agreements.
  • Real-time public reporting of Treasury transactions under the Act, including terms of loans, investments or other assistance to corporations.
  • Prohibition on businesses controlled by the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and heads of Executive Departments getting loans or investments from Treasury programs.
  • Creation of Treasury Department Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery to provide oversight of Treasury loans and investments and a Pandemic Response Accountability Committee to protect taxpayer dollars. • Creation of a Congressional Oversight Commission to enhance legislative oversight of pandemic response.

 

Small Business Rescue Plan ($377 billion)

  • $350 billion in loan forgiveness grants to small businesses and non-profits to maintain existing workforce and help pay for other expenses like rent, mortgage, and utilities.
  • $10 billion for SBA emergency grants of up to $10,000 to provide immediate relief for small business operating costs. • $17 billion for SBA to cover 6 months of payments for small businesses with existing SBA loans.


Protected Over 2 Million Aviation Industry Jobs

  • Democrats secured direct payroll payments to keep millions of airline workers on the job and receiving paychecks.
  • Airline companies will be prohibited from stock buybacks and dividends for the entire life of the grant plus one year.
  • Collective Bargaining Agreements negotiated by workers will be protected.


Increased Direct Payments to Working Americans

  • Democrats fought to double cash payments to the working class Americans from $600 to $1,200
  • An additional $500 cash payment is available per child.
  • The full payment is available for individuals making up to $75,000 (individual) and $150,000 (married).
  • The value begins decreasing and then phases out completely for those making over the full payment income cap.

State and Local Coronavirus Expenditures Fund ($150 billion)

To assist States, Tribes, and local governments that must pay for new expenses related to COVID-19 response.

  • $150 billion, with a small-state minimum of $1.25 billion
  • Tribal set-aside of $8 billion

Emergency Appropriations ($330 billion, including $100 billion for hospitals and providers mentioned above)

  • $16 billion to replenish the Strategic National Stockpile supplies of pharmaceuticals, personal protective equipment, and other medical supplies, which are distributed to State and local health agencies, hospitals and other healthcare entities facing shortages during emergencies.
  • $1 billion for the Defense Production Act to bolster domestic supply chains, enabling industry to quickly ramp up production of personal protective equipment, ventilators, and other urgently needed medical supplies, and billions dollars more for federal, state, and local health agencies to purchase such equipment.
  • $4.3 billion to support federal, state, and local public health agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus, including for the purchase of personal protective equipment; laboratory testing to detect positive cases; infection control and mitigation at the local level to prevent the spread of the virus; and other public health preparedness and response activities.
  • $45 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, more than doubling the available funding, to provide for the immediate needs of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as private non-profits performing critical and essential services, to protect citizens and help them recover from the overwhelming effects of COVID-19. Reimbursable activities may include medical response, personal protective equipment, National Guard deployment, coordination of logistics, safety measures, and community services nationwide.
  • $30.75 billion for grants to provide emergency support to local school systems and higher education institutions to continue to provide educational services to their students and support the on-going functionality of school districts and institutions.
  • $25 billion in aid to our nation’s transit systems to help protect public health and safety while ensuring access to jobs, medical treatment, food, and other essential services.
  • $10 billion in grants to help our nation’s airports as the aviation sector grapples with the most steep and potentially sustained decline in air travel in history.
  • $3.5 billion in additional funding for the Child Care Development Block Grant to provide child care assistance to health care sector employees, emergency responders, sanitation workers, and other workers deemed essential during the response to the coronavirus.
  • More than $7 billion for affordable housing and homelessness assistance programs. This funding will help low-income and working class Americans avoid evictions and minimize any impacts caused by loss of employment, and child care, or other unforeseen circumstances related to COVID-19, and support additional assistance to prevent eviction and for people experiencing homelessness
  • More than $6.5 billion in Federal funding for CDBG, the Economic Development Administration, and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to help mitigate the local economic crisis and rebuild impacted industries such as tourism or manufacturing supply chains.
  • $400 million in election assistance for the states to help prepare for the 2020 election cycle, including to increase the ability to vote by mail, expand early voting and online registration, and increase the safety of voting in-person by providing additional voting facilities and more pollworkers. • $2 billion in funding to strengthen response capacity and support tribal governments: o $1.03 billion to the Indian Health Service to support tribal health care system response efforts; o $100 million more for the USDA Food Distribution Program for Indian Reservations; o $453 million to assist tribes through the Bureau of Indian Affairs; o $69 million to help tribal schools, colleges and universities through for the Bureau of Indian Education; and o $300 million more to the HUD Indian Tribal Block Grant program. • $1 billion to recapitalize Amtrak after steep ridership declines related to the outbreak. This will keep thousands of Amtrak employees employed, and ensure America’s intercity passenger rail stays on track, continuing service in the Northeast and nationwide.

Student Loan Relief

  • To alleviate the pressure of student loan costs during this crisis, Senate Democrats fought for the inclusion of tax relief encouraging employers to implement student loan repayment programs. This provision will exclude up to $5,250 in qualifying student loan repayments paid by the employer on behalf of the employee from income for income tax purposes.

Some helpful links to understand the Federal Stimulus Package:

Status of your stimulus check

Most Americans can expect to start seeing their stimulus checks from the coronavirus relief bill in about three weeks, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Singles who have adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 would get $1,200 and married couples who file taxes jointly and earn less than $150,000 would get $2,400. Singles who earn less than $99,000 and married couples who earn less than $198,000 would get a partial benefit.

The checks will be sent based your 2019 or 2018 adjusted gross income on your tax return. If you haven’t filed a tax return, you should file a tax return quickly if you can. The IRS will also access information from Social Security to send the payments.

But what if the IRS can’t track you down to send you a stimulus check?

All is not lost. Just delayed.

If you don’t receive your check, you’ll see the benefit as a tax refund when you file your return in 2020.

That’s because the funds from the stimulus check are actually an advance on a credit you will be able to take on your 2020 tax return.

So while the funds are meant to give relief now, if you don’t get it, you can still take the credit on your 2020 return and you’d get the stimulus amount in the form of a tax refund, said Garrett Watson, senior policy analyst for The Tax Foundation..

Still not sure if you qualify? Use the stimulus check calculator to see what benefit you can expect.

(Source:  https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/03/heres-what-you-need-to-know-if-your-stimulus-check-doesnt-arrive.html)

 Some helpful links to understand the Federal Stimulus Package:

Emergency Food Assistance

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is committed to making sure all of our neighbors have access to enough food during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank continues to monitor the development of COVID-19 and we’re taking proactive steps to protect the neighbors we serve, our Food Bank team, and our supporters. As the situation continues to rapidly evolve, our priority remains focused on providing food and resources to those in need — a demand we anticipate will increase significantly over the coming weeks.

In coordination with Feeding America and Feeding Pennsylvania, the Westmoreland County Food Bank is actively monitoring developments related to COVID-19(coronavirus). We are taking proactive measures to protect the health and well-being of our staff, volunteers and recipients as we continue to serve our community. 

Our Food Bank is open and it is safe to volunteer with us. In fact, we may need your help more than ever.

US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service 

USDA Food and Nutrition Service intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.

412 Food Rescue

We value your shared commitment to reducing food waste and food insecurity in our communities, and there is so much need now, more than ever.

With many businesses shutting their doors, we are beginning to see a spike in new donations. Additionally, access to food has never been more difficult for many members of our community. Whether it’s students who have been isolated from their only meals of the day, elders in our community who are at-risk every time they leave home, or the many who have recently lost their jobs due to this crisis, we are seeing an unprecedented need.

But also unlike any other time, we are faced with equally heightened need for safety. A balance we didn’t imagine we would need to strike – the need to be there FOR each other more than ever, with the need to ensure we are distanced FROM each other.

We evaluate the situation HOURLY, please watch for communication from us.

We appreciate you and want to send another email to let you know how much impact you are making and to also remind you of some guidelines and precautions:

We ask that if you are able, please set your app notifications to ON, and claim any rescues that you can. In coordination with our food donors and nonprofit partners, we would like to share a temporary adjustment to our operational procedures:

  • For weekly rescues, CALL FOOD DONORS to ensure that there is an available food donation.
  • CALL THE NONPROFIT or receiving location when you are on your way to arrange a no-contact drop-off. This location should be somewhere that the food will be safe and covered.
  • Deliveries DO NOT require signatures at drop-off.
  • DO NOT go on food rescues if you and/or someone that you have been in contact with is not feeling well or believed to have or been exposed to the Coronavirus.

Please visit https://412foodrescue.org/covid19/ for continuing updates.

If you have any questions or experience any trouble on the road, please call our dispatch team at 412.277.3831. We are standing by.

Again, we are going to communicate with you often, please watch for our messages on email, text and social media.

We can’t thank you enough,

412 Food Rescue

 

Essential Businesses for a Safe Food Supply

Updated March 17

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognizes the critical role production agriculture, agribusinesses, food processors and manufacturers, retailers, and the entire distribution and support network from farm to table play in assuring a safe, reliable food supply. 

The PA Department of Agriculture has developed the following guidelines for essential businesses to help ensure a safe and accessible food supply during the COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Examples of essential businesses for a safe food supply include farms, greenhouses and vegetable plants, orchards, pest management services, feed mills and ag supply businesses, agricultural equipment sales and service, animal feed and supply distribution network, transportation system from farm to retail, food and meat processors and manufacturers, veterinary services and supplies, pet food manufacturers and distributors, distribution and transportation system from processors and manufacturers to retailers, retailers to include grocery stores and farmers markets, grocery delivery services, and laboratories and inspectors that ensure food safety.

We encourage food production and distribution facilities to continue operations but the decision for essential businesses to stay open or voluntarily close during the COVID-19 mitigation phase is a business-by-business decision. All essential businesses that choose to remain open should review and adjust standard operating procedures to minimize risk, take measures to protect their employees, send home sick employees, and minimize or eliminate congregate settings or groups of more than 10 people whenever possible. The PA Department of Agriculture has developed the following voluntary guidance and recommendations for various businesses throughout the food supply chain.

Unemployment Compensation

Mitigation efforts related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania have required everyone to work within rapidly changing, complex circumstances which create a variety of unique situations and conditions for workers, businesses, employers and communities. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry is committed to providing workers and business communities with ongoing guidance, resources, and information. This page is updated regularly.

Use our Keep Yourself Safe at Work During a COVID-19 Pandemic one-pager for safety information and resources.

Workers impacted by COVID-19 can also visit our Information for Pennsylvania Employees Impacted by COVID-19 page for the latest updates.

COVID-19 Guide: Scenarios & Benefits Available Chart (PDF)

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides payment to workers not traditionally eligible for unemployment benefits (self-employed, independent contractors, workers with limited work history, and others) who are unable to work as a direct result of the coronavirus public health emergency.

Covered:

  • Diagnosed with COVID-19 or with COVID-19 symptoms and seeking diagnosis
  • Member of household has been diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Providing care for family or household member diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Primary caregiver for child unable to attend school or another facility closed due to COVID-19
  • Unable to reach place of employment due to an imposed quarantine or because advised by medical provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19
  • Scheduled to commence new employment and cannot reach workplace as direct result of COVID-19
  • Became major breadwinner because head of household died from COVID-19
  • Quit job as a direct result of COVID-19
  • Place of employment closed as a direct result of COVID-19
  • Self-employed / Independent Contractors / 1099 filers / Farmers – and affected by COVID-19
  • Seeking part-time employment but affected by COVID-19
  • With insufficient work history and affected by COVID-19
  • Otherwise not qualified for regular or extended UI benefits and affected by COVID-19

Not Covered:

  • Individuals that can telework with pay
  • Individual receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits (regardless of meeting a category listed above)

Important Links:

Federal CARES Act

On Friday, Governor Wolf announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry is implementing new federal unemployment compensation benefits provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The COVID-19 relief package temporarily provides an additional $600 per week, makes self-employed, independent contractors and gig workers eligible for benefits and extends unemployment compensation (UC) benefits for an additional 13 weeks. The federal benefits are in addition to Pennsylvania’s regular unemployment benefit, which is about half of a person’s full-time weekly income up to $572 per week for 26 weeks.

Federal CARES ActAs part of the CARES Act, unemployment benefits are being expanded to provide an additional $600 per week beginning the week ending April 4, 2020, through the week ending July 25, 2020. This temporary emergency increase in benefits is referred to as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program.

On Friday, Labor & Industry issued the first $600 payments. All eligible claimants that filed biweekly claims for the week ending April 4 and who received their regular UC payment should expect to see the additional money either today or Wednesday. For other eligible claimants who have not yet received a regular UC payment, they will receive the extra $600 the week after receiving their first UC payment.

It is very important to note that anyone who currently has federal withholding tax taken out of their benefits will see the same 10% reduction in the FPUC payment, resulting in a $540 payment. For information about changing your withholding election, visit L&I’s Taxes on Benefits page.
The $600 is paid separately from the biweekly UC benefit, and residents do not need to apply.
Visit the department’s FPUC frequently asked questions for more information.

The CARES Act also temporarily makes unemployment compensation available to self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and others not normally eligible for the benefit. The program is referred to as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). These workers cannot apply through the department’s UC online system at this time. The U.S. Department of Labor requires that PUA be tracked separately from regular UC. For this reason, Pennsylvania must build a new online platform to process PUA benefits.

Eligible individuals should be able to start applying for PUA benefits within the next two weeks. Eligible claimants will receive backdated payments to January 27, 2020, or the first week they were unable to work due to COVID-19, whichever of the two dates is later. The PUA benefit will end December 31, 2020. The department will announce when the PUA benefit application is available. Please visit L&I’s PUA frequently asked questions for more information.

The CARES Act provides an additional 13 weeks of unemployment compensation, including for workers who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits. Claimants will be eligible for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) from the week beginning March 29, 2020, through the end of the year. The department is awaiting additional federal guidance about the program and will provide an update when information is available.

Additional Information for workers impacted by COVID-19:

If your job has been affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible to receive unemployment compensation benefits. You can apply online to get started.

Please note that the waiting week has been suspended. Eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed. Previously, claimants were not eligible for benefits during their first week of unemployment.

Work search and work registration requirements have been temporarily waived for all claimants. Claimants are not required to prove they have applied or searched for a new job to maintain UC benefits. Claimants are also not required to register with PA Career Link.