Senator Jim Brewster’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Senator Brewster Hosts a Telephone Town Hall to Discuss the Coronavirus
Department of Health Resources
LIVE daily briefings from the PA Department of Health:
pacast.com/live/doh or www.governor.pa.gov/live/ or watch on Facebook
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
Businesses
- List of Business Types That Mayo Continue Physical Operations in PA, per Gov. Wolf
- Life-Sustaining Business Frequently Asked Questions
- Request a Waiver to Business Closure
- Westmoreland County COVID-19 Business Resources
Economic Resources
- COVID-19 Business Resources
- U.S. Small Business Administration: COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- Hebrew Free Loan Association’s Coronavirus Financial Bridge Loan Program
Recursos federales
- COVID-19 Community Preparedness and Procedures Materials
- Department of Health
- Department of Health: Interim Guidance on Visitation in Nursing Facilities During COVID-19 (3/12)
- Department of Education: School Guidance/Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- Labor & Industry: COVID-19 Unemployment Compensation Guidance & Resources
- Department of State: COVID-19 Information, Guidance, and Contact Information
- PennDOT
- PHEAA
- PA Manufacturers’ Assocation
Recursos del condado
- Allegheny County Department of Health (24/7 hotline with United Way: 1-888-856-2774)
- Allegheny County Information for Residents
- Allegheny County’s Information for Specific Groups
- Allegheny County Intermediate Unit
- Banco Comunitario de Alimentos de Pittsburgh
- Banco de alimentos del condado de Westmoreland
- Autoridad Portuaria del Condado de Allegheny
- Pittsburgh International Airport
Mail-In Ballot Applications
Últimas noticias
Department Of Health: Resume Use Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Following FDA/CDC Recommendation
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today notified all COVID-19 vaccine providers that the pause in administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine has been lifted. The move follows updated guidance announced today by the...
Department Of Health Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard To Highlight Race And Ethnicity Data By County
Harrisburg, PA - Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam today announced the latest update to the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard that provides demographic data such as race, ethnicity, gender and age of individuals who have been vaccinated by...
Department Of Health: Over 7.7 Million Vaccinations To Date, More Than 3 Million Fully Vaccinated, First Doses Of Vaccine To 45.3% Of Population, 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., Abril 23, there were 4,188 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,126,850. There are 2,808 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Gov. Wolf Visits See-Right Pharmacy to Discuss COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Efforts
Governor Tom Wolf today visited See-Right Pharmacy in Harrisburg to learn more about how the local, neighborhood pharmacy is vaccinating community members and to talk about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Pennsylvania. “Local, community vaccine providers are essential...
Department Of Education Launches Program To Help Schools Address Learning Loss Due To The Pandemic
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) launched the next phase of an initiative that helps school leaders and educators address students’ learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new toolkit and professional learning series,...
Department Of Health: Over 7.5 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 44.7% Of Population, 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., Abril 22, there were 4,192 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,122,662. There are 2,842 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Gov. Wolf Visits the Guthrie Clinic to Talk Vaccine Progress, Hesitancy and Rural Reach
Governor Tom Wolf today visited the Guthrie Health vaccine clinic in Sayre, Bradford County today to tour this clinic providing vaccines to a large swath of rural residents and to talk about progress in vaccinating Pennsylvanians now that eligibility is open to all...
Department Of Health: Over 7.4 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 43.9% Of Population, PA Ranks 11th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., Abril 21, there were 4,602 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,118,470. There are 2,833 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
L&I Acting Secretary Urges $12 Minimum Wage Increase With A Path To $15 To Benefit Pandemic Frontline Workers In Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier was joined by Rep. Kyle Mullins, Rep. Marty Flynn and Scranton homecare worker Dominick Cutro today to call for an increase to Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $12 per...
Department Of Health Offers Update On COVID-19 Investigations, Contact Tracing, Monitoring Efforts
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health (DOH) today shared a weekly update on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing data, encouraging Pennsylvanians to download the COVID Alert PA app, as more than 873,000 have already done, to aid in...
Department Of Health: Over 7.2 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 43.4% Of Population, 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., Abril 20, there were 4,577 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 1,113,868. There are 2,705 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update For Abril 9 – 15
Harrisburg, PA - Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam 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...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Abril 9 – 15
Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam 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 24,394 cases, a...
Gov. Wolf Awards More Than $13 Million for Homelessness Assistance and Prevention
Governor Tom Wolf announced more than $13 million in funding awards to assist in mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on families and individuals experiencing homelessness and to prevent future homelessness across the commonwealth. “While the effects of the COVID-19...
Department Of Health: Over 7.1 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 43.2% Of Population, 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., Abril 19, there were 1,914 additional positive cases of COVID-19, in addition to 3,761 new cases reported Domingo, Abril 18, for a two-day total of 5,675 additional positive...
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.
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.
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,
Essential Businesses for a Safe Food Supply
Updated Marzo 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.
- Farms and On-Farm Deliveries (distribution networks should follow on-farm delivery guidance)
- Food Processors and Manufacturers
- Farmers Markets and On-Farm Markets
- Dairy Guidance
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.
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 Viernes, 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.
As part of the CARES Act, unemployment benefits are being expanded to provide an additional $600 per week beginning the week ending Abril 4, 2020, through the week ending Julio 25, 2020. This temporary emergency increase in benefits is referred to as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program.
On Viernes, Labor & Industry issued the first $600 payments. All eligible claimants that filed biweekly claims for the week ending Abril 4 and who received their regular UC payment should expect to see the additional money either today or Miércoles. 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 Enero 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 Diciembre 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 Marzo 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.