New COVID-19 cases down again in PA, though disease fatalities remain high

May 23, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

An image from the PA Department of Health lab in Exton

Newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases dipped again in PA, though fatalities from the disease have now topped 5,000.

The state Department of Health reported 725 new positive cases for the period ending at midnight, compared to 866 cases yesterday. This marks 13 days straight with new case numbers below 1,000 in Pennsylvania.

With the additional cases, 66,983 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

New daily cases in PA peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 cases, but have shown a gradual, relatively steady decline since, despite greater levels of testing for the virus over that time period.

Of the new cases today, 195 are in residents of nursing and personal care homes.

Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:

Adams County: 222 cases (yesterday, 214)
Cumberland County: 584 cases (yesterday, 572)
Dauphin County: 1,061 cases (yesterday, 1,049)
Franklin County: 711 cases (yesterday, 697)
Lancaster County: 2,790 cases (yesterday, 2,736)
Lebanon County: 900 cases (yesterday, 892)
Perry County: 45 cases (yesterday, 43)
York County: 904 cases (yesterday, 895)

Overall, 17.2 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.

The health department also reported another 112 fatalities, meaning that 5,096 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March. Of the newly reported fatalities, 74 were residents of nursing or personal care homes.

Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:

Adams County: 6 deaths (yesterday, 5)
Cumberland County: 46 deaths (yesterday, 43)
Dauphin County: 62 deaths (yesterday, 57)
Franklin County: 29 deaths (yesterday, 28)
Lancaster County: 279 deaths (yesterday, 272)
Lebanon County: 24 deaths (yesterday, 24)
Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
York County: 22 deaths (yesterday, 22)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 17,208 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 6,464 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,217 and 633, respectively.

“As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.

So far, the state has moved 49 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties into the less restrictive yellow phase. On Friday, eight more counties are slated to enter the yellow phase, including Dauphin and Lebanon counties. By June 5, the entire state will exit from the red phase to either yellow or green, according to the state’s current plans.

Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 3,349, or 65.7 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 14,486 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,437 cases among employees, for a total of 16,923 at 589 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, 5,064 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 388,452 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 321,469 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 379,001 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
Nearly 2 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 6 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
25 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 29 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

“We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our healthcare workers and our first responders,” Levine said. “I am proud of the work that Pennsylvanians have done so far, but we cannot stop now, we must continue to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from COVID-19.”

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

May 22, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Dave Houseal as a Harrisburg firefighter, 1985.

The coronavirus pandemic continued to dominate news coverage for yet another week. What made our headlines? We have all of our coverage for the week listed and linked below for your reading convenience.

Art in the Wild demonstrated that the show must go on, as it debuted for the season
in Wildwood Park. The outdoor exhibit is now on display along the 3.1-mile trail, which prompted a blog feature from our arts writer.

Artsfest is going virtual this weekend, as the pandemic scrubbed the annual live arts and entertainment event. Harrisburg is trying to make the event as close as possible to the riverfront festival. Get the details from our online story.

COVID-19 cases continued to grow in PA this week, though the rate of growth has been declining. At the same time, fatality data remained high. Each day, we wrote an update, and the most recent can be found here.

COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating toll on the commonwealth’s elderly and ill. The state began issuing data this week breaking down coronavirus cases by age and pre-existing conditions. Our online story showed the grim results of this analysis.

Dauphin County is slated to enter the “yellow phase” of reopening next Friday, May 29, joining much of the rest of south-central PA. What does that mean? Our online story offers the latest on the commonwealth’s phased reopening plan.

Dave Houseal has been a fixture around the Harrisburg Fire Bureau for decades and now is the department’s resident historian. What makes him such a fount of firefighting facts? Our magazine profile shows that it’s all in the blood.

Friends of TheBurg turns a month old this weekend, so our editor wanted to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to community members for their tremendous response. His blog post explains what has happened over the past month as the community rallied around TheBurg by joining our new membership program.

Harrisburg school district is debuting a new cyber option for students, the Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy. Our online story explains why it was started and when it will be available.

Harrisburg University officials know that we are living in an important historical period. To capture this unique time, they’ve launched a history project to show how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all aspects of university life. Our online feature details what they’re up to.

PA Department of Health released long-awaited data on COVID-19 cases in the state’s nursing homes, including for the Harrisburg area. Our online story reflected this sobering report, which showed the devastation within these congregant care facilities.

Pride of the Susquehanna is appealing for donations as the COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out its early sailing season. Even when it finally takes to the water, the iconic Harrisburg riverboat will face other problematic issues, as our online story explains.

Sara Bozich is still at home, but that hasn’t stopped her usual list of things to do over the long weekend. Check out her suggested options for virtual activities, accompanied by some takeout.

School district receiver Janet Samuels approved a preliminary budget for the 2020-21 academic year that contains a large budget deficit but does not raise taxes. Our online story explains the district’s situation, which has been impacted by the pandemic.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our daily digest of news and events delivered right to your email inbox? If not, subscribe here!

Become our newest Friend of TheBurg! What’s that? Click here for information on our exciting new membership program.

Dauphin, Lebanon counties to move to “yellow” phase next week, as PA moves to fuller reopening

May 22, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Gov. Tom Wolf (right) at his press briefing today.

Most of the Harrisburg area will enter the less-restrictive “yellow” phase of the state’s reopening plan next week, as Dauphin and Lebanon counties are slated make the move on May 29.

PA Gov. Tom Wolf announced late today that these counties are among eight that will transition to the yellow phase next Friday, May 29. The others are Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Schuylkill counties.

“I want to thank all Pennsylvanians who have made tremendous sacrifices since this virus emerged in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “I want to remember and honor all of those who we lost, and I want to give solace to their families and loved ones. The last two months have been trying, and they have tested each of us.”

Wolf credited the policies of the state government for helping to cut the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. Cases peaked in early April at around 2,000 new cases a day and gradually have fallen to fewer than 1,000 new cases a day.

“We know not only that we succeeded in slowing case growth, but that our actions, our collective decisions to stay at home and avoid social contact–we know that saved lives,” Wolf said. “My stay-at-home order did exactly what it was intended to do: It saved lives and it bought us valuable time.”

Most of the rest of south-central PA moved into the yellow category today, including Cumberland, Perry, Adams and York counties, leaving only Lancaster County locally in the red phase.

Wolf said today that he expects the rest of the state, including the hard-hit Philadelphia metro area, to move to the yellow category on June 5.

The state government uses a tri-color red/yellow/green system to guide re-openings in the commonwealth.

Under the red phase, people are supposed to observe strict “stay-at-home” orders, and “non life sustaining” businesses cannot operate from their physical locations. Under yellow, these restrictions are eased, but limits remain in place. For instance, schools must remain closed, bars and restaurants are stilled banned from offering sit-down dining, and gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited (see chart).

Wolf today also announced that a large swath of PA will enter the least-restrictive “green” phase on May 29. These 17 counties are mostly in the rural northwest and north-central parts of the state and were among the first to move into the yellow phase on May 8. They have continued to show low levels of COVID-19 cases.

Under green, most restrictions are lifted, though the state has yet to issue detailed guidance for business operations in green zones.

Around the midstate, Dauphin, Lebanon and Lancaster counties have shown the greatest per-capita cases of COVID-19, though case numbers have been decreasing recently relative to the number of tests, which has been increasing. Also, many of the new cases have occurred in nursing homes and other long-term care settings.

In related news, the state Department of Health today said that it would close its northeast drive-in testing site at the Mohegan Sun Pocono Arena on May 29. Most of the counties in the northeast have already or will transition to the yellow phase soon.

According to the state, 2,048 people have been tested at the site to date, with about 7 percent testing positive for COVID-19.

“We are very pleased with the success of the site and that we were able to provide necessary testing to citizens of northeast Pennsylvania,” department Secretary Rachel Levine said. “However, it is time we redirect these resources to other areas of our state that are in need of assistance in this pandemic.”

Latest PA data shows flattening case curve, elevated mortality from pandemic

May 22, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

An image from the state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.

The COVID-19 pandemic in PA ended the week much as it started, with a flattening number of new cases, but a relatively high fatality rate.

The state Department of Health today reported 866 newly positive cases for the period ending at midnight. This marks 12 days straight with new case numbers below 1,000 in Pennsylvania.

With the additional cases, 66,258 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

New daily cases in PA peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 cases, but have shown a gradual, relatively steady decline since, despite greater levels of testing for the virus over that time period.

In fact, today’s report shows one of the highest levels of testing yet, with 10,095 new tests recorded.

Of the new cases today, 178 are in residents of nursing and personal care homes.

Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:

Adams County: 214 cases (yesterday, 204)
Cumberland County: 572 cases (yesterday, 565)
Dauphin County: 1,049 cases (yesterday, 1,034)
Franklin County: 697 cases (yesterday, 677)
Lancaster County: 2,736 cases (yesterday, 2,690)
Lebanon County: 892 cases (yesterday, 887)
Perry County: 43 cases (yesterday, 43)
York County: 895 cases (yesterday, 883)

Overall, 17.4 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.

The health department also reported another 115 fatalities, meaning that 4,984 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March. Of the newly reported fatalities, 41 were residents of nursing or personal care homes.

Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:

Adams County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
Cumberland County: 43 deaths (yesterday, 43)
Dauphin County: 57 deaths (yesterday, 52)
Franklin County: 28 deaths (yesterday, 28)
Lancaster County: 272 deaths (yesterday, 269)
Lebanon County: 24 deaths (yesterday, 24)
Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
York County: 22 deaths (yesterday, 21)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 17,057 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 6,366 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,196 and 619, respectively.

“As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.

So far, the state has moved 49 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties into the less restrictive yellow phase. Today, several area counties, including Cumberland, York, Perry and Adams counties, entered the yellow phase.

Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 3,275, or 65.7 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 14,291 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,377 cases among employees, for a total of 16,668 at 578 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, 4,969 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 379,001 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 312,743 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 368,906 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
Nearly 2 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 6 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 26 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 29 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Burg Blog: Thank You!

May 21, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Late last month, we launched our new membership program, Friends of TheBurg, and had no idea what to expect.

We had done some informal polling and even hosted a focus group. Nonetheless, around the office, I began referring to this as our big “experiment.”

A month in, I’m delighted to report that our big experiment has met with big success.

Since our formal launch on April 24, more than 160 people and businesses have become members, with more joining each day.

All I can say is–wow. We’re stunned and humbled by your support, kindness and generosity.

Truly, we’ve been overwhelmed by the response and by the incredible love that we’ve been shown in the process. Many of you included such kind and warm words as you signed up for membership. A few have even written us long notes, telling us how much TheBurg means to you.

“My wife and I are relatively new to Harrisburg (moved here mid-2015), and TheBurg has been indispensable to us in learning about and appreciating our city and the region,” wrote Kent Hurst of Harrisburg.

“I’m a Lancaster resident, but my partner, Anne, and I come to Harrisburg at least a few times a month for dinner and other cultural events,” said Jason Mundok of Lancaster. “We both believe that TheBurg is the best local news/cultural events info source in the region, and we’re jealous that our community doesn’t have anything that even comes close.”

“I think I’m your biggest fan,” said Renee Cronister of Susquehanna Township. “I just love TheBurg, from the paper it’s printed on to the goodness that flows forth.”

“I appreciate reading TheBurg even though I’m displaced from living in the city and working downtown,” wrote Carl Hursh of Mechanicsburg. “I especially enjoy the tone of each month’s editorial.”

Well, I could go on and on. There are dozens of examples.

I also wanted to share a few fun tidbits from the first month of “Friends of TheBurg.”

- - Our very first friend wasn’t even from the Harrisburg area, but from Gaithersburg, Md. In addition, she joined before we even officially announced the program—just after our “Friends of TheBurg” page went live on our website.
  - As of this writing, Friends of TheBurg includes 77 people at the “member” level, 63 households, 17 small businesses and six “community pillars”—all joining within less than a month.
  - Our membership seems about equally split between people who live in Harrisburg city, who live on the west shore and who live on the east shore outside of the city. This aligns almost perfectly with our magazine readership.
  - We’ve received several suggestions on how to improve the program, including having a “sustaining” monthly level and being clearer about being able to sign up through the regular mail. These are great ideas, and we appreciate the feedback.
  - Many people complimented our print publication, which we often hear. But many also said that they appreciate our daily, online-only news coverage, especially during the pandemic. Despite our very limited resources, we’ve been working hard to increase our online content, so we enjoyed hearing that we’re making progress.

In the end, hearing from you—getting to know our readers, friends and fans better—may be the greatest benefit that has come from launching Friends of TheBurg. Your wonderful words and your support have helped us get through this very difficult time, since like many small businesses, the revenue side of TheBurg is suffering tremendously due to the pandemic.

From the staff of TheBurg to you—THANK YOU!

Visit the Friends of TheBurg page to learn more about the program, which includes some great benefits for members.

Daily new COVID-19 infections remain just below 1,000 in Pennsylvania

May 21, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

An image from the PA Department of Health lab in Exton

New COVID-19 cases stayed below 1,000 in PA today, but nearly breached that long-standing ceiling.

The state Department of Health reported 980 newly positive cases for the period ending at midnight. This marks 11 days straight with new case numbers below 1,000 in Pennsylvania.

With the additional cases, 65,392 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

New daily cases in PA peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 cases, but have shown a gradual, relatively steady decline since, despite greater levels of testing for the virus over that time period.

In fact, today’s report shows one of the highest levels of testing yet, with 11,250 new tests recorded statewide.

Of the new cases today, 166 are in residents of nursing and personal care homes.

Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:

Adams County: 204 cases (yesterday, 197)
Cumberland County: 565 cases (yesterday, 545)
Dauphin County: 1,034 cases (yesterday, 1,012)
Franklin County: 677 cases (yesterday, 662)
Lancaster County: 2,690 cases (yesterday, 2,599)
Lebanon County: 887 cases (yesterday, 885)
Perry County: 43 cases (yesterday, 42)
York County: 883 cases (yesterday, 872)

Overall, 17.7 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.

The health department also reported another 102 fatalities, meaning that 4,869 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March. Of the newly reported fatalities, 62 were residents of nursing or personal care homes.

Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:

Adams County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
Cumberland County: 43 deaths (yesterday, 43)
Dauphin County: 52 deaths (yesterday, 51)
Franklin County: 28 deaths (yesterday, 27)
Lancaster County: 269 deaths (yesterday, 266)
Lebanon County: 24 deaths (yesterday, 24)
Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
York County: 21 deaths (yesterday, 19)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 16,840 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 6,268 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,178 and 607, respectively.

“As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.

So far, the state has moved 37 counties in the northern and western portions of the state into the yellow phase. On Friday, 13 more counties, including Cumberland, York, Perry and Adams counties, will enter the yellow phase.

Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 3,234, or 66.4 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 14,113 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,306 cases among employees, for a total of 16,419 at 570 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, 4,871 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 368,906 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 303,514 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 357,656 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
Nearly 2 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 6 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 26 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 29 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

May 21, 2020 | by Sara Bozich

Calendar check — It’s Memorial Day weekend! What? Yup. OK, for starters, Artfest has gone virtual, and we have some great Memorial Day cookout kits available for pick-up from local restaurants (be sure to check ordering deadlines). Ready to do it yourself? Get your burger patties, steaks, chicken, and more at R.G. Hummer Meats + Cheese. You’ll also wanna stock your fridge with local beer and wine.

Top Picks:

Weekend Texas BBQ at ABC – Mechanicsburg (Preorder Thursday; pick-up Saturday)
Bonus: Brewery Blowout Sale at ABC Mechanicsburg with $8 crowlers + $13 growlers
3 Crowlers for $15 at Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works (Thursday and Sunday)
Check out Midtown Cinema’s full list of on-demand films!
Open Stage Digital Content
- Storytime Theatre – 12 p.m. Thursday/Friday/Saturday
- Thank You, Ten – 7 p.m. Thursday/Friday
- ADD NEW

More ideas

Bikes & Beers Social Distancing Ride to support local breweries (ongoing)
If you’re missing live music, Jason Carst is doing live stream performances daily. Follow him on Facebook for updates.
Boozy Bingo Livestream! (Thursday)
Wyndridge Farm Store Drive-Thru (Thursday/Friday/Saturday)
Ted’s Midtown Virtual Trivia (Thursday)
Virtual Happy Hour with Mount Gretna Craft Brewery (Thursday)
Socially Distant Self-Guided Mural Tour of Harrisburg with Sprocket Mural Works (Daily)
Coffee & Connections with Harrisburg Regional Chamber (Friday)
Weekend Dessert & Wine To Go at The Hotel Hershey (Friday)
Dinner with Banfi – Virtual Event with Ad Lib Craft Kitchen + Bar (Friday)
Live Stream: “Best of” 21st Moviate Underground Film Festival (Friday-Monday)
Virtual Happy Hour with Beer Busters & Ethan Moore Music with Mount Gretna Craft Brewery (Friday)
Artsfest 2020 Goes Virtual #VirtualArtsFestHBG (Saturday/Sunday/Monday)
Saturday Dinner & Wine To Go at The Hotel Hershey (Saturday)
River Bend Delivery to Flinchy’s (Saturday)
Wine and BBQ To-Go w/Blazing Swine with Cassel Vineyards of Hershey (Saturday)
Chill’n and Grill’n – Virtual Event with Ad Lib (Saturday)
Open Local Wine on May 22nd with Allegro Winery (Saturday)
Cristiano Winery Wine Pick-up (Saturday)
- More way to get local wine
Stock’s on Second Facebook Live Cooking Demo at 6 p.m. (Saturday)
- Pre-order your ingredients by Thursday to follow along!
Panel Discussion: The Booksellers documentary with Midtown Cinema (Sunday)

Top picks to-go/delivery

Memorial Day Packages to-go – available here.
Need wine? Click here.
Need booze? Click here.
Need beer? Click here.
Need cocktail? Yeah, I got that too.
Brunch? For serious. Click here.
Wait, what about coffee, kombucha, tea, juice? Got you!
Find Carry-Out options here
Ways to give back

Boneshire Brew Works 4-packs and growler sales 4-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 12-4 p.m Saturday Order online Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works Food, to-go beer, spirits, canned cocktails – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Order online Appalachian Brewing Co. – Mechanicsburg Food take-out only 4-8 p.m Monday-Thursday; 12-8 p.m. Friday-Sunday Beer + spirits take-out only – 12-8 p.m. Daily at the Mechanicsburg location Call 717-221-1080 to order View menu Ploughman Cider Take-out cider a the Taproom 12-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday Online cider sales now available. HOLLA Spirits Spirits available to order online 20% of all sales go to U.S. Bartenders’ Guild COVID-19 Relief Program and other virus relief funds – Read more MoMo BBQ Co. Open for take-out and limited delivery, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Family meals available. View menus on Facebook. Call 717-550-7995 R.G. Hummer Meats & Cheese OPEN during Broad Street Market Hours (See more below) Shop in-person or Call-ahead pre-orders 717-232-4150 Fresa Bistro Open for take-out and limited call-in delivery Call 717-216-8754 or use GrubHub Broad Street Market Open mostly normal hours; limited customer entry; some vendors closed – BUT – many offering online delivery

Raising the Bar Bakery – delivery available; order online
Sweet717 – delivery available; order online (local delivery is free!)
JB Kelly Seafood – open normal hours; delivery available
Radish & Rye – curbside pickup ONLY – Tuesday-Sunday
Full list of open vendors – Check individual stores/retailers for online/curbside/delivery options

Cornerstone Coffeehouse 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for carryout Limited food menu available There are more and more restaurants doing pick-up/delivery — check-in with your favorites.

Culture + Chill

Check out our Culture Vulture series – ways to experience life outside while, ahem, inside.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore Shop online here, plus SAVE 10% on used books with code SCHOLARSALE Shop new books through affiliate BookShop Enjoy virtual author events Midtown Cinema Purchase a gift card or renew your membership now to keep them going, then reap the benefits of your purchase once they reopen! Secure a future movie night for two – with two tickets, two small popcorns, two small sodas, and two bags of candy! Stash Vintage Shop online via Etsy All local orders free pickup or free delivery (over $35) Save 25% off your purchase of 2 or more items online, plus look for flash sales

Stay home + stay healthy!

New COVID-19 cases in PA follow long-term trend, but fatalities remain high

May 20, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

An image from the state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.

COVID-19 data in PA continued a weeklong trend today, with new cases flattening but fatalities still elevated.

In a late-day update, the state Department of Health reported 746 newly positive cases for the period ending at midnight. This marks 10 days straight with new case numbers below 1,000 in Pennsylvania.

With the additional cases, 64,412 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

New daily cases in PA peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 cases, but have shown a gradual, relatively steady decline since, despite greater levels of testing for the virus over that time period.

Typically, the department issues its daily report publicly at noon, but the report today was over six hours late due to “technical issues with the statewide surveillance data system,” according to the department.

Of the new cases today, 134 are in residents of nursing and personal care homes.

Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:

Adams County: 197 cases (yesterday, 194)
Cumberland County: 545 cases (yesterday, 540)
Dauphin County: 1,012 cases (yesterday, 989)
Franklin County: 662 cases (yesterday, 644)
Lancaster County: 2,599 cases (yesterday, 2,593)
Lebanon County: 885 cases (yesterday, 880)
Perry County: 42 cases (yesterday, 41)
York County: 872 cases (yesterday, 866)

Overall, 18 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.

The health department also reported another 143 fatalities, meaning that 4,767 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March. Of the newly reported fatalities, 27 were residents of nursing or personal care homes.

Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:

Adams County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
Cumberland County: 43 deaths (yesterday, 42)
Dauphin County: 51 deaths (yesterday, 50)
Franklin County: 27 deaths (yesterday, 27)
Lancaster County: 266 deaths (yesterday, 259)
Lebanon County: 24 deaths (yesterday, 24)
Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
York County: 19 deaths (yesterday, 18)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 16,645 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 6,154 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,149 and 596, respectively.

“As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.

So far, the state has moved 37 counties in the western and northern portions of the state into the yellow phase. On Friday, 13 more counties, including Cumberland, York, Perry and Adams counties, will enter the yellow phase.

Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 3,172, or 66.5 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 13,947 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,244 cases among employees, for a total of 16,191 at 559 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, 4,751 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 357,656 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 293,244 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 349,700 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
Nearly 2 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 6 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 26 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 29 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Artsfest goes virtual this weekend, as pandemic forces annual festival online

May 20, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

A scene from last year’s Artsfest in Riverfront Park

The art world is known for being inspired, original, innovative, and Harrisburg’s Artsfest captures that. But this year, festival organizers had to get even more creative.

For 52 years, the arts have been celebrated in the city through Artsfest, a three-day festival in Riverfront Park. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, it’s moving online.

“I’m really excited for Artsfest this year,” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “I think we did the right thing. I know it’s different, but it can still be a lot of fun for people.”

From May 23 to 25, the city will stream the experience free through Facebook. That includes the juried art show, as well as musical and theatrical performances and activities.

Although the physical experience of perusing the crafts at Artsfest is on hiatus, shoppers and art connoisseurs can browse an online marketplace. Handmade items from nearly 200 artisans will be available, including ceramics, furniture, jewelry, paintings, photographs and more. Many of these artists will demonstrate their creative processes during the festival.

Papenfuse sees this aspect of Artsfest as particularly important this year, as customers have the power to help keep artists in business during the crisis.

“We can really show off artists and hopefully generate sales,” he said. “It’s about sustaining artists so they can come back next year.”

To accompany the visual art, the public can enjoy video performances from over 10 bands and musicians or listen to the Artsfest playlist including the artists on Spotify.

Children and families are encouraged to join the virtual festival for educational activities revolving around the arts. The Popcorn Hat Players will present “Sleeping Beauty,” and Open Stage will show kids what it takes to act with a theater lesson. Whitaker Center will demonstrate a S.T.E.A.M. craft, and there will be painting and dance tutorials by local studios.

To round out the experience, chefs will give the public a taste of the art of cooking. Knead HBG, Sherri’s Crab Cakes and Stock’s on 2nd are selling meal kits and offering video cooking tutorials for making some of their favorite recipes at home.

“I love the cook-at-home concept,” Papenfuse said. “I love the idea of getting festival food at home.”

One of the more virtual-friendly aspects of Artsfest, Moviate’s “Underground Film Fest,” will continue this year with 12 short experimental and international films.

This is the first year that Harrisburg city organized the event in-house. It was previously hosted by the Greater Harrisburg Arts Council then taken over by the former arts group, Jump Street.

Papenfuse explained that the virtual Artsfest will likely last this year only for the safety of the community. The city looks forward to welcoming visitors back to Riverfront Park next year.

The city is not the only one making tough decisions in the art world. Habitat for Humanity decided to move its 15^th Art Builds Homes Annual Art Auction fundraiser online as well.

The silent auction will go live on May 29 with an option to preview the art on the May 24. Tickets are available on their website and proceeds go towards building affordable housing in the greater Harrisburg area.

To participate in Harrisburg’s Artsfest live on May 23 to 25, follow their Facebook event. To watch performances and activities beyond the festival dates, visit the city’s website.

For more information or to register for Habitat for Humanity’s Art Auction, visit https://event.gives/arthbg.

Pride of the Susquehanna still in dock, under financial stress, as pandemic grounds the riverboat

May 20, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The Pride of the Susquehanna last year, in happier times, at its dock on City Island.

Two years ago, the Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat had a near-death experience after heavy rains washed out much of its sailing schedule.

Now, it’s facing another crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has kept the Pride in dock, delivering another blow to the fortunes of the iconic, red-and-white paddleboat.

“We’re in a dire situation because we’ve already lost the whole of May,” said Deb Donahue, board chair of the Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society, the nonprofit that operates the Pride.

Typically, the Pride launches into the Susquehanna River with great fanfare in April, but, this year, it remains on dry land.

Donahue said that the riverboat’s challenges are twofold.

First of all, like many shuttered, “non-essential” businesses and nonprofits, finances have fast become an issue. In 2018, the Pride lost about one-third of its sailing days after long periods of heavy rain and high waters. An urgent appeal to the community raised about $90,000, allowing it to continue operations last year.

But money now is again a concern, so Donahue hopes that another community appeal will allow the Pride to stay afloat.

“We’re trying to think out of the box like everybody else,” she said.

Best case, the Pride hopes to launch in mid-June following a delayed U.S. Coast Guard inspection. But that also depends upon what the state allows, which brings up the second challenge.

Even if the Pride can sail, it inevitably will be subject to a new set of rules and regulations to ensure adequate social distancing and maximum cleanliness.

So, passengers for the riverboat’s daily and special cruises probably will have to be cut in half, thereby significantly reducing revenues. At the same time, expenses are certain to rise, as Plexiglas will have to be installed around the bar and the boat will need to be constantly sanitized.

Donahue said that the volunteer board is still trying to figure out how best to operate in this environment—how many passengers can they take and what activities can still go forward? For instance, she’s not optimistic about the fate of the Pride’s popular dinner cruises this year.

The most immediate concern, though, is cash flow.

“Money is a big concern, to be honest,” she said. “It’s not good.”

For more information and to support the nonprofit Pride of the Susquehanna, visit their website.

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