Tag Archives: Tom Wolf

Gov. Wolf extends “stay-at-home” order to Dauphin, Cumberland counties; schools to stay closed indefinitely

March 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Gov. Tom Wolf (right) during Monday’s virtual press conference

Dauphin and Cumberland counties have been added to the state’s “stay-at-home” order, which now includes much of south-central Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday added four counties to the order and, on Tuesday, added another seven counties, bringing the total number of counties under the order to 33. Tuesday’s order included Lebanon and Franklin counties.

Besides these central PA counties, Wolf this week has added Carbon, Schuylkill, Cameron, Crawford, Forest, Lawrence and Somerset counties to the order.

Last week, the state included the first counties in the region to the stay-at-home order, Lancaster and York counties.

“If you live in one of these counties, only leave your home if it is absolutely necessary because the number of cases continues to grow,” Wolf said.

As of Tuesday, the state reported 4,843 positive cases of COVID-19, including 63 deaths.

To date, Dauphin County has 45 confirmed cases and Cumberland County has 36 confirmed cases. Both counties have reported one death from the disease.

Wolf said that “stay-at-home” orders have been issued on a county-by-county basis based upon the severity of the caseload and following consultation with county officials. However, he did not preclude a potential statewide order.

“The disease has now reared its ugly head in all parts of the state,” Wolf said. “If that continues, we always have the option of moving to a statewide stay-at-home order.”

In addition, Wolf said that he was removing all reopening dates for schools, as well as dates to lift restrictions on nonessential businesses. Previously, the state had set a potential reopening date for schools for April 6. Both school and business restrictions now will remain in place until further notice, Wolf said.

“I’m going to keep the date indefinite,” he said.

Under the “stay-at-home” order, people may leave their residences only to perform any of the following allowable individual activities and allowable essential travel:

Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home
Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing
To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business
To care for a family member or pet in another household
Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities
Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons
Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services
Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction
Travel required by law enforcement or court order
Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth
Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel.

The following operations are exempt:

Life-sustaining business activities
Health care or medical services providers
Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks
Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process; group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders
News media
Law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel, firefighters
The federal government
Religious institutions

Those experiencing homelessness are not subject to this order but are strongly urged to find shelter and government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals, according to the state.

COVID-19 cases surge again, with positives topping 4,000 in PA

March 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The state Department of Health’s shaded map of positive COVID-19 cases

Positive COVID-19 cases continued to jump in Pennsylvania, as the Department of Health today reported 693 new cases.

This represents the largest number of new cases reported yet for any 24-hour period during the coronavirus pandemic.

The new cases bring the statewide total to 4,087 total positive cases, up from 3,394 cases yesterday.

Moreover, the health department today reported 11 additional deaths from the virus, bringing that total to 49 fatalities. Locally, two people from Lancaster County and one person from Cumberland County have died from the disease.

“The continued rise in cases combined with our increasing deaths from COVID-19 reflects the seriousness of this situation,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The virus has now spread to 59 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 36 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 24 cases, Lancaster County has 97 cases, York County has 54 cases, Lebanon County has 27 cases, Adams County has eight cases and Perry County has one case.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 1,007 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 540 cases.

Twenty-two counties remain under “stay at home” orders from the state, including Lancaster and York counties in central PA.

Statewide, 37,864 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 33,777 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 33,455 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
Less than 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
10 percent are aged 19-24
41 percent are aged 25-49
28 percent are aged 50-64
19 percent are aged 65 or older

Most of the patients hospitalized, as well as most deaths, have occurred in patients 65 or older, the state said today. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

“We need everyone to listen to the orders in place and to stay calm, stay home and stay safe,” Levine said. “We know that these prolonged mitigation effects have been difficult for everyone, but it is essential that everyone follows these orders and does not go out unless they absolutely must.”

In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police issued 18 warnings over the weekend for failure to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non life-sustaining” businesses shut their physical locations. The police have now issued 96 warnings since last Monday, but have not yet issued any citations.

The state Department of Corrections also announced today a statewide inmate quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the state announced the first positive case of coronavirus for an inmate housed at the State Correctional Institute, Phoenix, in Montgomery County.

Under the quarantine, inmates will be fed in their cells, and they will be afforded out-of-cell time for video visits, phone calls, access to the law library, as well as being provided with in-cell programming, according to the department. Also, all inmate movement will be controlled to conform to social distancing recommendations.

“We realize this is an inconvenience for staff and the inmates, but again, we are doing this to protect everyone’s wellbeing,” said department Secretary John Wetzel.

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.

Positive COVID-19 cases top 3,000 in PA, as state sees highest daily total yet

March 29, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

PA Secretary of Health Rachel Levine (right) at the state’s daily press briefing today.

The COVID-19 pandemic now has exceeded 3,000 cases in Pennsylvania, as the state Department of Health today reported 649 new positive cases.

The new case total is the most yet for any single day since the first case was detected in Pennsylvania about three weeks ago.

The commonwealth now has 3,394 positive cases, up from 2,751 cases yesterday.

Moreover, the health department reported four additional deaths from the virus since yesterday, bringing the statewide total to 38 fatalities. In central PA, two people from Lancaster County and one from Cumberland County have died, according to the state.

“Our notable increase in cases over the last few days indicate we need everyone to take COVID-19 seriously,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The virus has now spread to 58 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 35 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 22 cases, Lancaster County has 67 cases, York County has 43 cases, Lebanon County has 19 cases, Adams County has eight cases and Perry County has one case.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 865 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 488 cases.

Currently, 22 counties are under “stay at home” orders, including Lancaster and York counties locally.

Levine today could offer no timeline if or when other counties, such as Dauphin and Cumberland, would be put under stay-at-home orders. She said that the state makes the decision over whether to expand the order on a “day to day basis.”

“We are taking a very measured and sequential approach in regards to the governor’s order,” Levine said.

Statewide, 33,455 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 30,061 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 28,005 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
Less than 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
10 percent are aged 19-24
41 percent are aged 25-49
27 percent are aged 50-64
19 percent are aged 65 or older

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 25 to 49, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

In addition, Gov. Tom Wolf today said that he has requested “a major disaster declaration” from the federal government. If granted, this would offer additional relief for state and local governments and some nonprofits, he said.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has taxed our commonwealth and our communities in ways that are almost incomprehensible,” Wolf said. “I am calling on the president and the federal government to make available to us the assistance that will make a tangible difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors, and the dedicated public servants who are working in overdrive to support them.”

Impacted programs could include Disaster Unemployment Assistance, crisis counseling, community disaster loans, the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program and Statewide Hazard Mitigation, according to the governor’s office.

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.

New coronavirus cases again exceed 500; first deaths in central PA reported

March 28, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The first coronavirus-related fatalities has been reported in central Pennsylvania, a patient from Cumberland County and another from Lancaster County.

The state Department of Health today reported that 12 people have died statewide from the disease since yesterday, including the midstate’s first fatalities. Overall, 34 people in the commonwealth have died from the COVID-19 epidemic.

The department also reported that another 533 cases have been confirmed since yesterday, with 2,751 cases statewide. That’s up from 2,218 positive COVID-19 cases yesterday.

“Our notable increase in cases over the last few days indicate we need everyone to take COVID-19 seriously,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

Friday marked the third straight day that new cases have exceeded 500 throughout the commonwealth.

The virus has now spread to 56 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, with another six counties reporting cases since yesterday.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 23 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 22 cases, Lancaster County has 45 cases, York County has 37 cases, Lebanon County has 15 cases and Adams County has eight cases. Perry County reported its first case, as well.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 709 positive cases, followed by Montgomery County with 411 cases. These counties each have reported five deaths from the disease, the most statewide.

Moreover, Gov. Tom Wolf today expanded his “stay at home” orders to three additional counties: Beaver, Centre and Washington counties. This expands the order to 22 counties statewide, including Lancaster and York counties in central PA.

“We’re beginning to see this disease rear its ugly head in every corner of the commonwealth,” Wolf said today.

Statewide, 28,005 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 25,254 testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 23,234 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
Less than 1 percent are aged 5-12
1 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 11 percent are aged 19-24
39 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 28 percent are aged 50-64
19 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 25 to 49, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

“Pennsylvanians have a very important job right now: stay calm, stay home and stay safe,” Levine said. “We have seen case counts continue to increase and the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home.”

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.

Nine more PA counties, including two in midstate, added to “stay at home” order

March 27, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A screen shot today of Dr. Rachel Levine (right) during a virtual press conference.

Nine more counties were added today to the state’s “stay at home” order, including the first two counties in central Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Wolf today added Lancaster and York counties to the directive, as well as Berks, Butler, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Wayne and Westmoreland counties. The order takes effect at 8 p.m. today and will remain in place until at least April 6.

“As those [positive COVID-19) numbers increase to a significant level, and we have evidence of community spread . . . the governor issues the order,” said state Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, during a press conference this afternoon. “In those new counties, we were seeing those trends.”

The orders will remain in place until the number of COVID-19 cases plateaus and then begins to decrease, Levine said.

“When it goes down in a significant way, then we’ll discuss that with the governor, and we’ll slowly relax some of the mitigation orders,” she said.

As of today, the state has reported 33 positive COVID-19 cases in Lancaster County and 29 in York County. Neither county has reported a fatality from the disease.

The other counties under this order are Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties

Under the “stay at home” order, people may leave their residence only to perform any of the following allowable activities and travel:

Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home
Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing
To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business
To care for a family member or pet in another household
Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities
Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons
Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services
Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction
Travel required by law enforcement or court order
Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth
Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel.

The following operations are exempt:

Life-sustaining business activities
Health care or medical services providers
Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks
Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process; group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders
News media
Law enforcement
The federal government
Religious institutions

People experiencing homelessness are not subject to the order but are strongly urged to find shelter and government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals, according to the governor’s office.

Coronavirus cases top 2,000 in PA, six more deaths reported

March 27, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Coronavirus cases show no sign of easing in Pennsylvania, as the state Department of Health today reported 531 new positive cases.

The latest data bring the total to 2,218 cases statewide since the pandemic began, up from 1,687 yesterday. Moreover, the state Department of Health today reported six additional deaths from the virus, bringing that total to 22 fatalities.

“Our notable increase in cases over the last few days indicate we need everyone to take COVID-19 seriously,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The virus has now spread to 50 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 18 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 16 cases, Lancaster County has 33 cases, York County has 29 cases, Lebanon County has 12 cases and Adams County has eight cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 530 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 374 cases.

Statewide, 23,234 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 21,016 testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 18,128 had been tested for the virus.

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

Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
Less than 1 percent are aged 5-12
Nearly 2 percent are aged 13-18
11 percent are aged 19-24
40 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 28 percent are aged 50-64
18 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 25 to 49, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.

In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police yesterday issued 21 warnings for failure to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non life-sustaining” businesses shut their physical locations. The police have now issued 78 warnings since Monday, but have not yet issued any citations.

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.

Wolf signs bills moving primary election to June, waiving school requirement

March 27, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Screen shot of Gov. Tom Wolf, right, at a recent online press conference.

Pennsylvania has officially moved its primary election up by about five weeks, as the state tries to reduce public contact due to the ongoing COVID-19 health emergency.

Today, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill for a new election date of June 2, up from the original date of April 28.

“Delaying this year’s primary election as several other states have done is in the best interests of voters, poll workers and county election officials,” Wolf said. “I commend the General Assembly for acting quickly on this critical legislation. The Department of State will continue to work with local election officials to ensure Pennsylvania has a fair and accessible election.”

Voters also have the option to vote by mail rather than going to a polling place.

According to the state, more than 215,000 registered voters have signed up for either a mail-in or absentee ballot, with nearly 78 percent using the new online application. Those voters do not need to file new applications despite the change in primary date, Wolf’s office said today.

Wolf signed another bill waiving the 180-day requirement for schools to be in session. Most schools have been out for two weeks, and the state recently pushed up the closure order until “at least” April 6.

Wolf also signed a bill that provides $50 million for the state to purchase medical equipment and supplies for hospitals, nursing facilities and emergency medical services to meet the needs of patients and staff.

“This funding will allow Pennsylvania to get more beds, ventilators and other personal protective equipment that our health care system needs for a surge in patients,” Wolf said, in a statement. “The state and our health care system are mobilizing as fast as possible to provide medical workers with the equipment they need to care for patients.”

Community Spirits: Area distillers swap bottling spirits for sanitizer.

March 26, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Chad Butters of Eight Oaks Farm Distillery

Dan Healy is anxiously awaiting a shipment of hydrogen peroxide. It was due to arrive at Harrisburg’s Midstate Distillery sometime today.

You read that right. Hydrogen peroxide isn’t something the head distiller and co-owner normally orders. But then again, he’s normally producing whiskey, vodka, rum or gin. For about a week, he’s switched to production of hand sanitizer instead.

“Unfortunately the supply chain is getting taxed right now,” Healy said via phone Thursday afternoon. “I’ve also placed orders for more ethanol—close to a thousand gallons.”

The basic recipe for hand sanitizer calls for high-proof alcohol (ethanol), hydrogen peroxide and glycerin, following the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the germ-fighting mixture is in short supply.

“It’s a blending process, calculating ratios and volumes, checking for purity standards—the process is basically what we do every day, but with slightly different chemicals,” Healy said.

On Wednesday, he bottled 34 gallons of hand sanitizer, each in a bulk-size, one-gallon bottle. He was hoping to bottle another 34 gallons today, then ramp up to several hundred gallons daily. At that point, volunteers will come in to assist his staff which includes three full time and several part time employees.

Midstate’s hand sanitizer is in good hands—Healy is distributing it to first responders including the Harrisburg police and fire bureaus, health care workers, area senior homes, and an ever-growing list of those who call and put in requests.

“The need is way outweighing our supply,” said Healy.

He estimates that at least 50 of Pennsylvania’s 100 distilleries are currently producing hand sanitizer to supply their communities to potentially protect them from COVID-19.

One of the first distilleries in the state to begin bottling hand sanitizer was Eight Oaks Farm Distillery, located in New Tripoli, in the Lehigh Valley. Midstaters may be familiar with the name because Eight Oaks operates a stand in Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market.

“I saw the price of hand sanitizer was being jacked up, and I thought it was ridiculous,” said Chad Butters, Eight Oaks’ founder.

That was about two weeks ago.

“We made the decision to shut down distillery operations on Sunday [March 15], and we had our first small batch Monday,” he said. “Also by Monday, it was very clear this was a significant crisis we were facing as a country.”

By the end of the week, the craft distillery produced 1,000 bottles, each filled with eight ounces of sanitizer.

“Now, we’re scaling up,” said Butters.

Yesterday’s grand total was 2,000 bottles—and he was predicting a batch of 8,000 bottles today. If that sounds like a lot, wait till you hear where he’s headed.

“Next week we’re aiming for 10,000 bottles a day—conservatively, and 40,000 bottles per day the week after that, then scaling up to 50,000 per day after that,” Butters said.

Three of Eight Oaks’ 25 employees are working full time to keep up with hand sanitizer orders. The precious liquid is being distributed to emergency management personnel in four counties, cancer centers including those treating pediatric patients, homeless shelters, Second Harvest Food Bank and other nonprofits.

They’re limiting points of contact by having individual representatives pick up the hand sanitizer from Eight Oaks’ facility.

Donations in all dollar amounts, to help offset costs, are being accepted on Eight Oaks’ website.

As of Wednesday, Lehigh County residents were included in Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order.

“This is absolutely mission-critical stuff,” Butters said. “This is no different than a nurse or doctor suiting up and protecting the community—we have a job to do too and it’s the right thing to do.”

Yianni Barakos, co-owner of Gettysburg’s Mason Dixon Distillery echoes those thoughts. He likened the movement to the past: During World War II, distilleries produced alcohol for the war effort.

“All of a sudden, we’re part of something bigger than ever before,” said Barakos.

He just finished his first week of hand sanitizer production, equaling just over 200 gallons.

“We are selling it to a single source—a health care system,” said Barakos. “We’re not making much if any money—but by charging we’re helping our staff.”

Bottles of hand sanitizer are boxed and ready to be shipped at Mason Dixon Distillery.

He declined to identify the health care system but said it was regional. He’s been overrun with requests for sanitizer.

“It’s been a constant emotional rollercoaster, fielding dozens of messages and requests from people, hearing their stories—I’m welling up right now,” said Barakos. “But I’m trying to put it where I think it’s going to do the most amount of good.”

While the state liquor stores are shut down, distilleries are still allowed to sell their products. Currently, Eight Oaks is not selling their spirits; Mason Dixon is shipping products via UPS; and Midstate Distillery is taking orders and offering curbside pickup.

“We still have a good supply at the moment, but unfortunately while we’re putting our resources into sanitizer, it’s going to be tough to replace our products as we run out,” said Healy. “We’ve been getting great feedback from the community—for most people, we’re their only resource for spirits right now.”

For more information, see midstatedistillery.com, eightoaksdistillery.com and masondixondistillery.com.

Gov. Wolf announces no-interest loan program for small businesses in PA

March 25, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A “closed” sign at the Little Amps on State Street

The state is initiating a short-term loan program for small businesses, which would be able borrow up to $100,000 without needing to pay interest.

During an online press conference, Gov. Tom Wolf today introduced the new “COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program (CWCA),” a $60 million fund administered by the PA Industrial Development Authority.

“CWCA is a step in the right direction, and it will help provide a little piece of mind to hundreds of small business owners and their employees,” Wolf said.

Under the program, for-profit retail or services businesses with fewer than 100 employees would be able to borrow up to $100,000 for three years. The loans carry no interest, except for agricultural producers, which would be charged a 2-percent interest rate.

Borrowers would not have to make payments for the first year, but loans would need to be paid back in full by the end of the third year.

Loans are meant to provide “working capital” for businesses, designed to support their ongoing operations during these difficult economic times.

To qualify for the program, businesses need to apply through their county’s Certified Economic Development Organization. In Dauphin and Perry counties, this is the Capital Region Economic Development Corp. (CREDC) and, in Cumberland County, it’s the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corp. (CAEDC).

Wolf expects funds to be available this week. He said that he hopes this program will help businesses survive through the current economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When we get through this crisis, we’re going to want to get out of our houses and go to restaurants and bars and stores, and we’re going to need places for people to earn a living so they afford to go to restaurants and bars and stores and support other workers,” Wolf said. “So, we need to work together to preserve our businesses. I vow to save Pennsylvanians lives and save their livelihoods.”

Click here for more details on the COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program.

COVID-19 cases in PA exceed 1,000; state reports four more deaths

March 25, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

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

COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania now exceed 1,000, as the commonwealth today reported 276 new positive cases.

The state Department of Health today reported a total of 1,127 confirmed cases, compared to 851 yesterday. Eleven people have died from the disease, up from seven yesterday, the department stated.

“Our notable increase in cases over the last few days indicate we need everyone to take COVID-19 seriously,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The state Department of Health’s map of COVID-19 cases

Positive cases have now been reported in 44 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Locally, Dauphin County now has 10 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 13 cases, Lancaster County has 12 cases, York County has 20 cases, Lebanon County has three cases and Adams County has six cases.

Throughout the commonwealth, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 257, followed by Montgomery County with 172.

Statewide, 12,320 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 11,193 testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 9,494 had been tested for the virus.

The state now has issued “stay at home” orders for 10 counties, adding Lehigh and Northampton counties today. The others are Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Allegheny, Chester, Monroe, Delaware and Erie counties. This order continues until April 6.

In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police yesterday issued 17 warnings for failure to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non life-sustaining” businesses shut their physical locations. The police have now issued 44 warnings since Monday, but have not yet issued any citations.

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.

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