Hundreds rally at state Capitol to protest shutdown, to “reopen PA.”

April 20, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The crowd at the Capitol steps at the height of today’s rally.

They brought homemade anti-shutdown signs.

They waved large American and pro-Trump flags.

They circled the state Capitol building and honked their horns. And then they circled around and honked some more.

Today, hundreds of people gathered at a “Reopen PA” rally on the steps of the PA Capitol, on the sidewalk across the street and in vehicles that repeatedly drove around the block.

They were there to protest Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders to shut down “non life sustaining” businesses and to stay at home, measures taken about a month ago to try to contain and fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which, as of today, has infected at least 33,232 Pennsylvanians and killed 1,204 since early March.

There were signs that said, “Every Business Is Essential,” and others that read, “#Fake Crisis,” “Crossfit Is Essential,” “I Want My Nails Done,” and “Jesus Is My Vaccine,” among many others.

Some rally-goers wore face masks, as required by the state health department, but most did not. The crowd in and around the Capitol steps was heavy, with almost no one observing the six-foot social distancing requirement.

The rally was loud, but appeared peaceful. There were few counter-protestors, and the Capitol and state police kept cars and trucks moving in front of the statehouse, despite large crowds on both sides of N. 3^rd Street.

When asked why they came out to protest, people cited two main reasons.

First, they said that Wolf’s business shutdown was destroying small businesses and, in fact, numerous commercial vehicles—landscapers, construction companies, a junk hauler and others—repeatedly circled the Capitol. Secondly, they stated that they believed that the “stay-at-home” and other orders issued by Wolf infringed on their civil liberties.

“He [Wolf] is not a dictator,” said Ed Collins of Lancaster County. “He can’t tell me what to do. To me, it’s really that simple.”

Of the dozen or so people interviewed for this story, most also said that they supported President Donald Trump, as evidenced by the many Trump flags, “Trump Pence 2020” signs and “MAGA” hats.

One vendor was doing a brisk business hawking $5 T-shirts that said, “Four More Years,” while another stand sold everything from American flags to “Trump 2020” face masks.

“We want real Republicans in office, not fake ones like [Utah Sen.] Mitt Romney,” said Will Crispen, who drove to Harrisburg today from Berks County with his family.

Several state legislators spoke at the rally, including Reps. Aaron Bernstein (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) and Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon).

“I believe that every one of you is essential and every one of your businesses is life-sustaining,” Diamond told the cheering crowd.

He then accused Wolf of arbitrariness in deciding which businesses remained open and which ones had to close.

“Arbitrarily picking winners and losers is not life-sustaining,” he said.

Wolf today did announce a May 8 date to begin repealing some of his business closure and stay-at-home orders, saying that loosening restrictions would happen gradually and regionally “based upon the data.”

For one rally-goer, however, May 8 seemed like a world away.

“We don’t want to wait until May 8,” said May Pierson of Montgomery County. “We want it all opened today, right now.”

Gov. Wolf sets May 8 for “gradual” reopening of state economy

April 20, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Gov. Tom Wolf (right) spoke today during a virtual press conference

Gov. Tom Wolf has set a date of May 8 to begin a “gradual” reopening the state’s economy, though he urged residents to continue practicing social distancing and other safety measures.

Wolf today set that target date to begin the process of business re-openings, though he emphasized that ending the shutdown would be regional, likely beginning with rural counties that have shown relatively few confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“We’ve done the mitigation stage in a measured, commonsense way, and the plan is to move out of this stage in a measured, commonsense way,” he said.

The areas hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic would likely to be the last ones to have the business shutdown end.

“We’re going to do this on a regional basis,” he said. “If we open in rural area, it doesn’t mean we’ll end the shutdown or stay at home order in a place like Philadelphia.”

Wolf made his remarks in an online news conference as hundreds of people gathered at the state Capitol to protest the business shutdown and stay-at-home orders, many carrying anti-shutdown signs and waving pro-Trump flags. In addition, the state today reported the fewest number of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases in three weeks.

Wolf also stressed that Pennsylvanians should continue measures such as staying at home and social distancing, even after shutdown orders end.

“If we go too quickly, this might be unsafe for people,” he said. “If we move too quickly, people may not want to go to work because they’re afraid, or may not want to go into a store to buy something because they’re afraid.”

Last week, Wolf set six criteria for businesses to reopen, including:

Re-openings will be “data driven,” will be based upon “quantifiable criteria” and will be targeted and regional.
Before allowing businesses to reopen, the state will issue “guidance and recommendations” for employers and workers.
Reopening will necessitate the availability of “adequate personal protective equipment” and “diagnostic testing.”
Reopening will require a monitoring and surveillance program allowing the commonwealth to deploy “swift actions” for containment or mitigation.
Protections for vulnerable populations, especially at congregate care facilities and prisons, will remain in place throughout the reopening process.
Limitations on large gatherings unrelated to work will remain in place for the duration of the reopening process.

Wolf also set May 8 for the resumption of residential and commercial construction projects that have not been given an exemption under the current shutdown order. In Pennsylvania, the construction industry has been especially vocal in protesting the mandated closing of “non life sustaining” businesses.

In addition, Wolf said that 176 state-owned liquor stores began curbside pickup operations today. Under the plan, there is a limit of six bottles per order, with credit cards the only accepted form of payment. At pickup, customers will be required to present identification before the order is delivered.

Wolf today also said that he would sign Senate Bill 841, approving qualified Pennsylvania notaries public to perform remote online notarizations, which will allow auto dealerships to conduct limited car sales and leasing operations through online sales.

“I want to caution that we will not be resuming operations as they were in February,” Wolf said. “We’re going to continue to take precautions that limit our physical contact with others, and we will closely monitor this to see if it can be done safely.”

New COVID-19 cases fewer than 1,000, lowest daily rate in weeks

April 20, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Pennsylvania reported fewer than 1,000 new COVID-19 infections today for first time in about three weeks.

The state Department of Health today said that 948 Pennsylvanians were diagnosed with the virus as of midnight.

This is the lowest daily number of new cases reported since March 31.

With the additional cases, 33,232 state residents have now been diagnosed with the disease.

The health department also reported 92 additional deaths from the disease, bringing total fatalities in the commonwealth to 1,204.

As of midnight, the COVID-19 fatality data now is as follows:

Adams County: 1 death (unchanged)
Cumberland County: 4 deaths (unchanged)
Dauphin County: 9 deaths (unchanged)
Franklin County: 0 deaths
Lancaster County: 66 deaths (6 more than yesterday)
Lebanon County: 5 deaths (1 more than yesterday)
Perry County: 1 death (unchanged)
York County: 6 deaths (unchanged)

As of midnight, total diagnosed cases were as follows:

Adams County: 85 cases (yesterday, 80)
Cumberland County: 186 cases (yesterday, 182)
Dauphin County: 386 cases (yesterday, 368)
Franklin County: 115 cases (yesterday, 111)
Lancaster County: 1,236 cases (yesterday, 1,188)
Lebanon County: 502 cases (yesterday, 484)
Perry County: 20 cases (yesterday, 20)
York County: 493 cases (yesterday, 481)

“As we start to see the number of new COVID-19 cases decrease across the state that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” said Secretary of Health Rachel Levine.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 9,038 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 3,040 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 262 and 184, respectively.

Statewide, 162,952 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 129,720 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 158,854 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:

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
6 percent are aged 19-24
39 percent are aged 25-49
28 percent are aged 50-64
24 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. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

““We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families and our community,” Levine said. “If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but others. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”

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.

Commonwealth substantially increases COVID-19 fatalities following data revision

April 19, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.

Pennsylvania today significantly increased the number of deaths in the commonwealth attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary of Health Rachel Levine reported 276 more deaths due to the virus, most of which did not occur in the prior 24-hour period ending at midnight.

Instead, most of the newly reported fatalities occurred sometime over the past few weeks, their deaths re-categorized based upon being a “probable positive.” Much of the re-classification was based upon a “reconciliation” of data from several different systems, including state and county systems, Levine said.

“We have been working to reconcile our data with information from several different sources, including our NEDSS reporting system and our county and municipal health departments,” Levine said. “This is the cause of the increase in deaths we are reporting today. This work takes time and so the increase in deaths today reflects the culmination of that effort, which will continue moving forward. The majority of these deaths did not occur overnight.”

The revision brings the state’s fatality total to 1,112 deaths since the pandemic began in early March.

Many of the additional deaths were in counties that already had reported the most: the Philadelphia metro area and the northeast. Locally, only Lancaster County had a substantial revision upward, with 24 more fatalities reported.

Locally, the COVID-19 fatality data now is as follows:

Adams County: 1 death (unchanged)
Cumberland County: 4 deaths (unchanged)
Dauphin County: 9 deaths (unchanged)
Franklin County: 0 deaths
Lancaster County: 60 deaths (24 more than yesterday)
Lebanon County: 4 deaths (unchanged)
Perry County: 1 death (unchanged)
York County: 6 deaths (2 more than yesterday)

Otherwise, the state today reported 1,215 newly diagnosed cases of COVID-19, a significant drop from yesterday’s 1,628 new cases, bringing the state’s total to 32,284 positive cases.

Dauphin County now has 368 confirmed cases, 25 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 182 cases, six more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 1,188 cases, York County has 481 cases, Lebanon County has 484 cases, Adams County has 80 cases, Franklin County has 111 cases and Perry County has 20 cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 8,764 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,913 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 240 and 164, respectively.

Statewide, 158,854 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 126,570 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 153,965 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:

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
Nearly 1 percent are aged 13-18
6 percent are aged 19-24
39 percent are aged 25-49
28 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 24 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. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

Levine today also said that she is concerned about a planned anti-shutdown protest planned for Harrisburg tomorrow.

She said that people have a right to protest but hoped that protesters would stay in their cars. If they mingle in close groups, especially without protective equipment, they risk infecting others, she said.

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.

COVID-19 cases exceed 31,000 in PA; state announces new northeast testing center

April 18, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A screen shot of Dr. Rachel Levine (right) during her virtual press conference on Saturday

Positive COVID-19 cases now exceed 31,000 in Pennsylvania, as the state Department of Health today reported 1,628 newly diagnosed cases.

The new case total is a bit lower than yesterday, when 1,706 new positive cases were reported.

The department has now reported 31,069 positive COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early March.

The department also reported 80 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the statewide total to 836 fatalities. This is the highest number of daily deaths yet reported statewide due to COVID-19.

Locally, Dauphin and Lebanon counties both reported two more fatalities from the disease, bringing the countywide totals to nine and four deaths, respectively. Lancaster County has now reported 36 deaths from the disease, one more than yesterday.

Deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: four in Cumberland and York counties, one each in Perry and Adams counties and zero in Franklin County.

“COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Pennsylvania, and even though the daily increases are not exponential, now is not the time to become complacent,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 343 confirmed cases, 32 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 176 cases, 22 more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 1,113 cases, York County has 463 cases, Lebanon County has 458 cases, Adams County has 74 cases, Franklin County has 106 cases and Perry County has 20 cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 8,502 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,781 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 136 and 106, respectively.

Statewide, 153,965 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 122,896 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 147,373 people had been tested for the virus.

Levine today said that state would open its third public, drive-through testing site on Monday at the Mohegan Sun Arena parking lot in Wilkes-Barre.

“This is a very important step as we continue to see a rise in cases throughout northeast Pennsylvania,” she said.

Testing will begin with first responders and healthcare workers who are showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 before expanding to other vulnerable populations, Levine said.

The state lab in Exton will process the tests, with results in two to three days. The site can test as many as 200 people a day and registration is required. Click here for more information.

The new testing site is the state’s third, joining sites in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties. Levine said that other locations in the state are under consideration for mass-testing sites.

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

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
6 percent are aged 19-24
39 percent are aged 25-49
28 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 24 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. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

“We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families, our community,” Levine said. “If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”

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.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

April 17, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Groceries await at the Salvation Army Harrisburg pickup area.

Our locked-down life hit a month this past week, with few signs that the quarantine would end anytime soon. The state reported fewer new COVID-19 cases for much of the week before another spike on Friday. Meanwhile, the Harrisburg area said good-bye to two prominent local figures felled by the disease. If you missed any of our coverage, we have it all listed and linked below.

COVID-19 pandemic took two prominent Harrisburg-area residents last week: Gerald Welch and Joe O’Connor. We featured an online news story about Welch, a city school board director, and a blog post about O’Connor, written by our arts writer, who was also his fan and friend.

Federal stimulus checks began arriving in bank accounts this week. Many Harrisburg-area residents need the funds to pay for basic necessities. But, in a blog post, our editor asked the lucky ones who don’t need the money to spread it around generously.

Food banks and providers are under stress as demand has skyrocketed over the past month. Our online feature story examines how several local organizations are handling the demand, especially during a time of social distancing.

Gov. Tom Wolf gave a speech offering general guidelines on reopening the economy in Pennsylvania. He didn’t provide a timeframe, but said that more information would be coming next week. We covered the speech in an online story.

Grub for Scrubs is a new initiative with a twofold benefit. By making a donation, you can support local restaurants and buy a meal for frontline healthcare workers. Our online feature gives all the details of this win-win.

Harrisburg City Council conducted its first virtual meeting last week, holding a short legislative session. Among other matters, it approved funding to complete a road design for a slimmed-down State Street on Allison Hill. We had the story.

Harrisburg’s “Community Conversations” continued, with the city’s mayor interviewing school and nonprofit leaders. In our online story, you can learn more about support for businesses and for school students.

Home sales and prices in the Harrisburg area were relatively stable in March. We wrote up our monthly online update as we anxiously await next month’s report, which may be much more challenging.

Open Stage is going virtual, live-streaming its production of “Angels in America.” Sign up and log on for the most unique theater experience of your life. Our reviewer offers her thoughts on this virtual play.

PA Department of Health continued issuing daily updates on the COVID-19 pandemic’s spread in the commonwealth. We wrote up the data each day, and you can see the latest facts and figures by clicking here.

PennDOT deserves praise for reversing its stance on State Street, allowing a pedestrian safety project to proceed, according to our editorial. Over the years, our editor has been serially critical of PennDOT, but he compliments this change of heart and hopes it’s the start of more changes to Harrisburg’s many state-owned streets.

Sara Bozich is, yes, still at home. But, just like she has for a month now, she has suggestions for some great virtual events that you can attend, as well as links to places where you can buy something fun or yummy to help keep local businesses operating.

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

Menus & Medicine: “Grub for Scrubs” brings restaurant meals to healthcare workers

April 17, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Support for healthcare professionals working on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis has taken the form of social media hashtags and signs in windows, but now it’s coming hot from the takeout box.

Local Harrisburg design company andculture and its startup accelerator, Catamaran, began a new food delivery initiative on Wednesday putting meals in the hands of healthcare workers at UPMC Pinnacle.

“We have a lot of friends and colleagues working in health care,” David Hickethier CEO of andculture said. “It’s a really challenging service they’re providing.”

Appropriately named “Grub for Scrubs,” the project uses partnerships with local restaurants such as Café Fresco, Premier Caterers, Stock’s on 2nd and Sturges Speakeasy to provide for essential workers at both Harrisburg Hospital and UPMC Pinnacle Community Osteopathic.

Each time $1,000 is raised for a restaurant, meals will be provided. Donors can give specifically to the restaurant of their choice or to a general fund. They have already raised over $2,000.

The deliveries will be made through coordination with UPMC to ensure safety policies are met, Hickethier explained.

“Our team of caregivers is working around the clock to ensure the health and safety of our patients and each other,” said Andrea Potteiger, vice president of Nursing Operations at UPMC Pinnacle. “A hot meal gives us time to step away from the frontline, replenish and recharge. It really means a lot.”

In addition to essential healthcare professionals, andculture’s goal is to assist restaurants struggling during the crisis, Hickethier explained.

“One day, they’re up and operational, the next they are shut down,” he said. “We thought, maybe we could help both groups in our community.”

Adam Sturges, owner of Sturges Speakeasy, was happy to be part of the Grub for Scrubs project, knowing it would bring awareness that his restaurant is still open for takeout. But the main reason was that he knew firsthand how it would help others, as his wife is a registered nurse.

“We want to show our appreciation for staff down at the hospital,” Sturges said. “They’re the ones dealing with the worst of the situation right now.”

Hickethier hopes that more restaurants will get involved and is especially looking for a few bakeries and coffee shops to join the mission. In fact, Harrisburg’s Elementary Coffee Co. just signed onto the effort.

andculture plans to continue the program for one to two months, or as long as they see the need.

“The community has got to pull together and we’ve got to find ways to support each other,” Hickethier said.

andculture is located at 614 N. Front Street, Harrisburg. For more information or to donate, visit https://grubforscrubs.com/.

Gov. Wolf outlines broad measures to guide economic reopening in PA

April 17, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A screen capture of PA Gov. Tom Wolf (right) during his online speech today

Gov. Tom Wolf today set a general, six-point outline for reopening the state’s economy and allowing people to begin to return to work.

In an afternoon speech, he complimented state residents for staying resolute during the one-month general economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He then said that his administration wanted to begin talking about when and how to reopen the state’s economy.

“We all want to get back to work. We all want businesses to reopen as quickly as possible,” he said. “The challenge is that we all want to keep people safe, and we are trying to steer the fine line between those two.”

According to Wolf’s outline, the decision over when and how to reopen businesses will rely on these six broad criteria:

Re-openings will be “data driven,” will be based upon “quantifiable criteria” and will be targeted and regional.
Before allowing businesses to reopen, the state will issue “guidance and recommendations” for employers and workers.
Reopening will necessitate the availability of “adequate personal protective equipment” and “diagnostic testing.”
Reopening will require a monitoring and surveillance program allowing the commonwealth to deploy “swift actions” for containment or mitigation.
Protections for vulnerable populations, especially at congregate care facilities and prisons, will remain in place throughout the reopening process.
Limitations on large gatherings unrelated to work will remain in place for the duration of the reopening process.

Wolf declined to give more specifics for these criteria, but said that he’d offer greater detail next week.

Wolf made the speech as the Republican-controlled state Senate this week passed a bill intended to allow more businesses to reopen. Moreover, an anti-shutdown rally is planned at the state Capitol on Monday.

In contrast, Wolf urged Pennsylvania residents to “stay the course,” saying that the state’s shutdown of “non life-sustaining” businesses and its stay-at-home requirements have successfully slowed transmission of COVID-19 and helped to “flatten the curve.”

Wolf also mentioned he wasn’t alarmed following a spike of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases today. He attributed some of the new cases to greater testing and said that more results had come back from private labs following the Easter and Passover holidays.

The state Department of Health today reported 1,706 newly diagnosed positive cases in PA, the highest number in a week.

During her daily press conference, health Secretary Rachel Levine also attributed the higher case number to receiving more test results.

“We felt it was due to the holidays,” she said. “So, we’re starting to see more testing now.”

New COVID-19 case numbers jump in PA following week of improvement

April 17, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

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

After a week of reporting mostly lower case numbers, the PA Department of Health today said that the number of new COVID-19 cases has spiked again.

The department today said that 1,706 new positive cases had been reported as of midnight, bringing the state’s total to 29,441 since the pandemic began in early March.

This reverses a trend of mostly lower case numbers that the state had been reporting for nearly a week, ranging from about 1,150 to 1,250.

The department also reported 49 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the statewide total to 756 cases.

Locally, Lancaster County now has reported 35 deaths from the disease, two more than yesterday. As of midnight, deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: seven in Dauphin County, four in Cumberland and York counties, two in Lebanon County and one each in Perry and Adams counties.

The virus has spread to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 311 confirmed cases, 24 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 154 cases, 18 more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 1,030 cases, York County has 393 cases, Lebanon County has 424 cases, Adams County has 70 cases and Perry County has 18 cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 8,138 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,684 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 136 and 97, respectively.

Statewide, 147,373 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 117,932 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 141,470 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
1 percent are aged 13-18
6 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 40 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 29 percent are aged 50-64
23 percent are aged 65 or older.

Source: PA Department of Health

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

“We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families, our community,” said Secretary of Health Rachel Levine. “If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”

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 View: Credit Where It’s Due

April 17, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

State Street on Harrisburg’s Allison Hill

Over the years, I haven’t held back in criticizing the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

PennDOT has an enormous presence in the city of Harrisburg, and, with that should come an enormous responsibility.

But it’s a responsibility that I’ve felt the agency has profoundly neglected in its singular focus on getting state workers in—and then out—of Harrisburg as fast as humanly possible. In so doing, it’s been arrogantly cavalier about the lives of the people who live here, whose flesh-and-blood bodies are no match for speeding hunks of steel.

But might there finally be change afoot at PennDOT?

This past week, city Engineer Wayne Martin told City Council that PennDOT had approved the city’s “Rapid Response” plan for State Street, which includes new curbs, lighting, ADA ramps and, the biggest shock of all, a narrower road—all designed to improve pedestrian safety.

Was I floored? Yes, I was.

Now, this approval didn’t come easily.

Originally, PennDOT’s district officials rejected the city’s plan, concerned it might slow down its commuters, which, incidentally, is the point. So, the city went over their heads, directly to top agency honchos, including two department secretaries, where they found a more receptive and responsible audience.

“Narrowing that road and reducing the crossing distance for pedestrians is really what needs to be done, and that’s what finally everyone agrees to,” Martin told council members.

So, huge kudos to PennDOT—and to city officials for making it happen.

Let us now hope that this change has legs.

As regular Burg readers may know, I’ve long advocated for changes to the eight-plus-lane asphalt monstrosity known as Forster Street. Just as State Street is a menace to upper Harrisburg, Forster Street is a menace to lower Harrisburg.

Like State Street, state-owned Forster Street needs to be put on a serious road diet. Harrisburg may never reclaim the quaint neighborhood lane it lost in the 1950s, but it can get a vastly improved road with bike lanes, bump-outs and more green space.

This would make perilous Forster Street much safer for both vehicles and pedestrians, while helping to stitch the city back together by narrowing the paved canyon currently dividing downtown and Midtown.

I have two other bold asks of PennDOT. First, the agency should scale back its proposal to widen I-83 in south Harrisburg. Secondly, it should take measures to slow down traffic and improve pedestrian safety on Front Street.

PennDOT—you’ve shown you can act in good faith and in the best interests of the people of Harrisburg. Please don’t stop now. We need just a few other things from you, measures that could vastly improve the quality of life for those live, visit and, yes, even work in the capital city.

Lawrance Binda is co-publisher/editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

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