All K-12 schools in Pennsylvania shut down for 2 weeks amid coronavirus outbreak

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Tue Mar 31, 2020, 09:51 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: 6abc

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Governor Tom Wolf announced that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16. The governor made the following announcement on Friday afternoon:

The administration has been working with school districts as well as state and local officials to gather input on this decision. The Wolf Administration will continue to monitor Covid-19 in the commonwealth, and at the end of 10 days will reevaluate and decide whether continued closure is needed. We understand that these are trying times and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities.

First and foremost, my top priority as governor - and that of our education leaders - must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities. As such, I am ordering that all schools in the commonwealth close for the next two weeks. Be aware that no school district will be penalized if it fails to meet the 180 day or school hours requirements. The Department of Education will work with intermediate units and other stakeholders to support school districts with any continuity of learning plans they may be pursuing.

Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced today that it received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow eligible schools to serve meals to low income students in a non-congregate setting, such as a drive-through or grab and go, during this closure. We will also work with schools to assist them with those plans.

Read more: https://6abc.com/health/all-k-12-schools-in-pennsylvania-shut-down-for-2-weeks/6009948/

---

Heard this as a breaking on the local news radio station after they covered the NJ governor's presser.

EDIT - Updates to the situation in PA have been added to this thread

[DeminPennswoods]

1. Seems like an overabundance of caution, but better safe than

sorry. AFAIK, there are still no confimed cases west of MontCo.

What is more interesting to me is that I live in a PA county that is the 2nd or 3rd oldest (65+) in the entire US. This is the demographic group most at risk, but we have not had 1 reported or even suspected case of covid-19.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Chester County has one

Chester County closes libraries, parks, trails as first coronavirus case identified

County officials on Friday announced the closure of libraries, county parks and trails for two weeks as they identified the county’s first presumptive positive case of the new coronavirus.

Marian Moskowitz, chair of the county board of commissioners, said a 57-year-old female patient had contact with a known patient in another state. The woman is recovering at home in isolation. The health department is working to trace the woman’s contacts, and county health officials declined to release additional information on the patient, including in what municipality she lives.

County officials also announced that beginning Saturday, only “mission-essential” county operations will take place, meaning about three-quarters of county employees will not need to report to work. Authorities said those employees will receive full pay.

They also announced a county-wide disaster declaration. No visitors will be allowed at the Chester County jail or the county’s long-term care facility.

Moskowitz said officials “strongly” encourage a countywide suspension of gatherings for two weeks. She discouraged people from going to movie theaters, retail stores and other public spaces.

— Erin McCarthy, Anna Orso

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200313.html

As they start tracing who had contact with whom and actually have testing available, it'll spread. I expect it already has but unless someone is overtly symptomatic and/or had contact with someone who may have been and/or traveled recently, they probably wouldn't think about it much.

[DeminPennswoods]

3. I think this, too

As they start tracing who had contact with whom and actually have testing available, it'll spread. I expect it already has but unless someone is overtly symptomatic and/or had contact with someone who may have been and/or traveled recently, they probably wouldn't think about it much.

I think covid-19 is around, but the symptoms are so indistinguishable from just a bad case of the flu, a lot of people have already had it, recovered and thought it was the flu.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Yup.

Am thinking that any who might have been in the hospital for some type of pneumonia or respiratory issue, might need them to double-back and do a specific test for COVID-19 just in case they couldn't positively ID the cause for their pneumonia.

[DeminPennswoods]

5. Can't put my finger on it, but what I hear

about how bad the virus is and what I observe, it just doesn't mesh. You could well be right, that people who were hospitalized with pneumonia or some other respiratory illness might not have been the flu and they should be checked for covid19 antibodies. You can't exhume bodies, but maybe the state needs to add a box to death certificates to confirm the patient had/did not have covid 19 going forward.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Because this virus is novel

they may end up doing that - if anything for data gathering and watching for mutations.

[DeminPennswoods]

7. My local paper had a great story today about how

people contract covid19 and what happens once it's inside your body. Totally unexepected, but they have had some articles with excellent information and facts on the virus.

Link: https://www.timesonline.com/zz/news/20200313/what-does-coronavirus-infection-do-inside-your-body

[DeminPennswoods]

8. Peduto decided to close the City of Pittsburgh for a week

starting on Monday and limit crowds to less 250. Unfortunately he failed to lead by example by appearing at his press conference clean-shaven as an example to men of best personal hygene practices in the current environment. Lose that bushy, germy beard!

[Igel]

90. It's going to be tough.

Not because they can't test for COVID-19.

But because a lot of people who die from the results of COVID-19 have some secondary infection that's worse. They come as a bundle.

Comorbidity is fairly high. Did COVID kill, or just make the other thing more lethal?

[BumRushDaShow]

91. Similar happens during heatwaves

where the underlying conditions are often exacerbated due to the heat - and particularly when the individual has little or no access to cooling appliances. But they often still report those deaths as being due to the heat (but may have a subcategory that indicates other health issues).

[Brainfodder]

13. Maybe PA doesn't have readily a/v tests, like most yet?

5+ days to show signs, and varies so much, and many will look like generic flu to some, +allergy season, been sneezing every day for over a month, myself.

In just 2 more weeks, the spread will be a lot more obvious?

Thinking PA is clean is kidding yourself!

You jagoffs are not safe!

This jagoff aint either, but keeping my sense of humor.

Good Luck!

[DeminPennswoods]

15. No, people are being tested

So far, 6 people have been 100% confirmed, but it's seems to be taking a long time for the "presumptives" to turn into "confirmed"s or "negative"s. The state dept of health's webpage updates daily.

Personally, I think a lot of people are sick, but recovered or recovering. And as you say, everything's mixed up with regular cold and flu season, allergies and this - all with similar symptoms and treatments.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Announced today at Wolf's presser - 1st 2 in Allegheny County

Latest 13 minutes ago
2:31 PM - March 14, 2020
Gov. Wolf orders “all non-essential public spaces" shut down in Bucks, Chester Counties starting Sunday

Gov. Tom Wolf on Saturday announced that coronavirus mitigation efforts already in effect in Delaware and Montgomery Counties will be expanded to Chester and Bucks Counties starting Sunday.

That means the closure of “all non-essential public spaces,” Wolf said. Essential infrastructure like pharmacies, grocery stores, and gas stations will stay open.

Education Secretary Pedro Rivera said all schools in counties under a shutdown order must close, including private and parochial schools.

“If we can slow the spread of the virus, we can flatten the curve,” Wolf said “This is what we need to do and we need to do it now.”

Wolf said additional guidance for businesses, some of which have expressed confusion about whether they are essential or non-essential, will be sent out Saturday.

Health Secretary Rachel Levine also announced the first two COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County, bringing the statewide total to 47. She said 202 people have been tested statewide as of Saturday afternoon.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, whose district includes all of Chester County, called on the entire state “to use the strategy that the governor has outlined to protect each other.”

Levine urged parents to be mindful about the information their children are consuming about the pandemic.

— Sarah Anne Hughes

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-news-confirmed-case-updates-20200314.html

^^^bolding mine

[BusyBeingBest]

27. Idiot health officials in Allegheny County

are telling the public that the coronavirus can only be transmitted "by close contact" with infected people. This just isn't fucking true--bad information.

[Orrex]

26. Children are an ideal vector for spreading disease

As anyone who has ever encountered a child can tell you.

And what better way to facilitate the fast spread of illness than by cramming them into small spaces by the hundreds during an outbreak?

I don't see this as an "overabundance of caution," but rather a bare minimum sensible response to a worldwide threat.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. For example - conjunctivitis!!!!

Of course the issue here is basically implementing a "out of school for the summer" circumstance out of the middle of nowhere. Usually people sortof start planning for "summer" around now, to have their kids situated for those couple months (at least children of a certain age). But now this is worse because of the issue of public health, and especially if it goes on for some time.

This country is going through something not done in many decades. I know my mom used to talk about how they used to put the signs up on people's doors for quarantines. For example, back at the turn of last century they had stuff like this -



And when she was a child in the '30s, there was stuff like this -



The "scarlet letter" way of quarantining has gone by the wayside pretty much (most likely due to court cases) but...

[Fresh_Start]

177. it is not an overabundance of caution, you should demand a 2 month shutdown

instead of two weeks.

[DeminPennswoods]

9. MontCo and DelCo closed for business

for the next couple of weeks. Wolf held a presser yesterday to announce the addition of DelCo. Like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Gov Wolf is shooting for the course of action that's not too hot, not too cold, but just right.

As of 5PM yesterday, there were 6 confirmed cases and 35 "presumptive" cases for a total of 41, all but 1 east of Harrisburg. There have been 315 tests of suspected cases, 145 negative (little less than half) and 135 are pending results.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Inquirer just had a breaking that Wolf is expected to extend the closures

to Bucks and Chester County (I think the below has the wrong time because it is just breaking now).

12:12 AM - March 14, 2020
Sources: Gov. Wolf to shut down Bucks, Chester counties

Gov. Tom Wolf’s office is expected to announce later Saturday that he will extend his shutdown order to Bucks and Chester counties as the state continues to confirm more cases of the coronavirus, according to three sources familiar with the decision.

The shutdown directive, which would go into effect in the counties on Sunday, applies to everything from schools, which Wolf had already ordered closed statewide, to child and adult day care centers to non-essential businesses. There have been questions, however, about how the state or counties can or will enforce it.

Earlier this week, Wolf imposed shutdown orders on Montgomery and Delaware counties.

The shutdown orders in general have meant that no-visitor policies are implemented at correctional facilities and nursing homes. The governor’s office has said that people can travel freely, but Wolf has encouraged that residents refrain from non-essential travel.

In counties under a shutdown order, essential medical services and mass transit will remain open. Supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations remain open.

Wolf on Friday was asked who will enforce the orders in the counties.

"No one," he said. "This is self-enforcement. I am not sending the State Police or the National Guard out to do this."

“All of us are trying to look out for the health and welfare of Pennsylvanians, and we all have a shared interest in making sure that Pennsylvanians, our fellow citizens, stay safe. I am banking on that to really drive it.”.

— Angela Couloumbis
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-news-confirmed-case-updates-20200314.html

[DeminPennswoods]

11. I've been out almost every day and those I've met

seem to be listening to advice about space and hygene.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. I've been trying to avoid going out but was out early this morning

to mail a bill and pick up a script and popped into the supermarket to grab a couple things and fortunately there weren't many people there yet... I think there is a bit of urgency in the people I saw but most were retirees and they seemed to know what they needed and how they needed to get in there and get out as quickly as possible!

[BumRushDaShow]

16. PLCB will be doing an orderly shutdown of the State Stores in the impacted counties

Area state liquor stores to shut down due to virus

The coronavirus shutdown is coming to a liquor store near you if you live in one of the four Pennsylvania counties where Gov. Tom Wolf has called for non-essential retail outlets to close up shop for two weeks.

The Liquor Control Board on Saturday announced that all of the 88 state-owned Fine Wine & Good Spirits Shops in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties will be open for normal hours on Sunday. On Monday, just six of those stores will be open in Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties. Eight will be open in Montgomery County.

Each county will also have one open Licensee Service Center, which deal with restaurants and bars but not retail sales.

On Tuesday, all liquor stores and service centers will close in the four counties. Customers can still shop online and have purchases shipped to them. The shutdown will be re-evaluated “toward the end of the month,” the LCB said. The LCB on Friday said liquor stores would not close in Montgomery County, one day after Wolf ordered the shutdown there. That shutdown spread to Delaware County Friday and to Bucks and Chester counties Saturday.

A list of stores that will remain open Monday can be found here.

— Chris Brennan

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-news-confirmed-case-updates-20200314.html

Link to PLCB schedule: https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Liquor-Control-Board-Details.aspx?newsid=561

There will be run on it and then people will be rolling down to Delaware or hopping over the bridge to Jersey.

[Steelrolled]

17. Last call for alcohol!

[BumRushDaShow]

18. St. Christopher's Children's Hospital ICU in Philly is now closed

25 minutes ago
6:57 AM - March 15, 2020
Coronavirus in physician closes St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children ICU to new patients; rest of hospital is open

A physician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children who worked in the ICU, has been diagnosed with a presumed case of COVID-19, CHOP president John Fry said in an email Saturday afternoon. The test results were completed Friday.

Fry said the physician was last seen at the hospital on March 11 and began to feel symptoms the next day. The infection was not acquired at the hospital, Fry said in an email to Drexel students and colleagues.

“The ICU is closed to new admissions and the Level 1 Trauma department is closed,” Fry wrote. "Children currently in the ICU will not be transferred out of the unit.

The ICU staff have been notified of this situation. They will wear the required and approved Protective Personal Equipment (PPE), including gowns, gloves, eye protection, and masks when they are in the ICU treating patients."

“St. Christopher’s remains open and committed to meeting the needs of the community. The hospital is contacting the families of any patients, family members, and employees who may have been exposed.”

— Brandon T. Harden

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-news-confirmed-case-updates-20200314.html

[DeminPennswoods]

19. All public libraries in the state are closed through the end of March

This happened Friday.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. Yeah this is concerning but makes sense

Link to tweet

TEXT

Free Library of Philadelphia
✔
@FreeLibrary

The health and safety of our staff and customers are our utmost priority. In the interest of limiting the impact and spread of COVID-19, all Free Library locations will be closed to the public March 15-29, at which point we will reevaluate.

More here: http://ow.ly/zLOv50yLTDF
View image on Twitter
63
4:09 PM - Mar 14, 2020

I expect many get some kind of internet service using those libraries.

[DeminPennswoods]

22. I know that's the case with my library

It serves a lot of people without internet access and its computer stations are usually always occupied. Lots of people use it for video borrowing, too.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. I remember back when I was in high school

and they were building "regional" libraries here in the city (that were "bigger" versions of the local neighborhood libraries) they had set up rooms with some record players and were lending record albums. lol Later they were lending CDs and then I expect DVDs. Now they don't need to even do that anymore with stuff stored digitally and they have the computers.

[DeminPennswoods]

25. Our library still lends out music CDs as well as video

and audio books.

[BumRushDaShow]

28. Some of the branches here still have some CDs

and they have a search to see what they have and where they are hosted and then you would need to reserve it. When I checked the site, they have 55 music CDs (some with multiple copies of them). None are at libraries immediately near me but most were listed at the main branch in their huge building downtown Philly -



Anything downloadable (like ebooks and audio books) is pretty much available system-wide.

[DeminPennswoods]

20. Now the generations of younger Pennsylvanians will get

to experience what life was like on Sundays when Blue Laws (nothing was open) were in effect. Except it will be every day for the next few weeks!

[DeminPennswoods]

24. CMU to begin predictive modeling for SARS-CoV-2

Link: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/03/14/People-provide-best-prediction-of-COVID-19-cases/stories/202003110063

This has a lot of great info in it especially where it concerns predictive models and data. CMU currently uses these same models to predict flu cases in real time. One model is based on what is known from historical and the other uses a "wisdom of crowds" methodology. The CMU computer scientists running the models think the later might be a better bet given how little data is available on SARS-CoV-2.

Predicting real-time COVID-19 infections in the United States — with Carnegie Mellon University’s first predictions expected as early as March 22 — will involve dozens of volunteers making educated guesses about disease trends.

And anyone 19 and older can join in. ...

"With COVID-19, I’m anticipating that aggregate human judgment will do better than computerized machine-learning analytics,” he said. “We will use the system we have now, and CDC wants us to start focusing on COVID-19 on March 15. It’s going to be wobbly in the beginning but we hope to get better every week.”

Ryan Tibshirani, a CMU associate professor of statistics and machine learning, is the group’s co-founder.

This “wisdom-of-crowds” protocol, and perhaps surprising so, represents an important modern-day method that CMU has employed successfully in predicting real-time flu cases, along with those likely to occur in following weeks and months. The question is, will it work with COVID-19?

CMU’s weekly real-time estimates will be posted on its delphi.cmu.edu/nowcast website.

Delphi will track respiratory illnesses in general, with an understanding that for now, most likely are flu-related. But as the flu season wanes, chances will rise that the majority of respiratory illnesses are COVID-19, he said.

[Efilroft Sul]

30. Our school district, just south of Pittsburgh, is out until at least April 14.

Bet it'll be out longer than that, too.

[DeminPennswoods]

31. Looks like Allegheny county is going to be closed

before too much longer.

[Efilroft Sul]

34. "Sorry, folks, county's closed. The Yinzer outside should've told ya."

[DeminPennswoods]

32. Beaver County is getting drive up/through testing

from Quest Diagnostics who has a location in Aliquippa. We shall see what that brings.

[BumRushDaShow]

33. Wolf orders restaurants and bars to close dine-in facilities in 5 counties

7 hours ago
9:47 PM - March 15, 2020

Wolf orders restaurants and bars to close dine-in facilities in 5 counties


Restaurants and bars in five Pennsylvania counties must close their dine-in facilities starting at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Sunday night. The order applies to Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties for the next 14 days.

Carry-out, delivery, and drive-through service can continue, the governor’s office said, but people can’t stay to eat or drink inside. Businesses could face enforcement actions if they don’t comply.

As coronavirus continues to spread “it is in the best interest of the public to encourage social distancing by closing restaurants and bars temporarily,” Wolf said in statement.

New York City’s mayor also said he would sign an executive order to limit restaurants and bars to take-out and delivery service only, effective Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. Night clubs, movie theaters and concert venues will also have to close, Mayor Bill De Blasio said.

— Catherine Dunn

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-news-confirmed-case-updates-20200314.html

[DeminPennswoods]

35. Time to get started on those home improvement

projects and spring cleaning that maybe have been put off up until now!

Maybe we can have a "cleanest house in the USA" contest or something.

[BumRushDaShow]

36. That's what I heard on a talk show this morning

Spring cleaning time! Although I'm retired so should have been doing that all along anyway...

[DeminPennswoods]

37. I remember during the 1996 blizzard plows

simply could not get down the narrow streets especially in and around Center City. Mayor Rendell was on TV telling us to clear our own streets and have "the cleanest street in Philadelphia". I lived in a cul-de-sac at the time and the residents got together and hired a backhoe to clean off our street.

[BumRushDaShow]

38. LOL I was

living in a high rise at the time and there were 7ft mounds on either side of the street along side the building when that street did get plowed. Had to walk down the middle of the street to get to a nearby store to get some groceries since I was all out (bucked the blizzard-buy frenzy and paid the price). I was lucky that my car was parked in the right spot in the lot. Since the snow was really powdery, all that was left on the car was on the bumper because the rest had blown off due to the way the wind blew through that section of the lot (didn't need to use the car at the time anyway).

[BumRushDaShow]

39. Penn Relays just cancelled

Latest 4 minutes ago
11:53 AM - March 16, 2020
Penn Relays canceled amid coronavirus spread

The organizers of the Penn Relays held out as long as they could, but on Monday they finally had to give in and cancel this year’s edition of the track carnival at Franklin Field.This year’s Relays were to be the 126th edition, and the 100th with historically black colleges and universities participating.

Last week, the Jamaican government announced that its country’s high schools would not travel to Philadelphia. It would have been the first Relays without Jamaican high schools since 1963, the last year before they first game.Penn officials said they hope to organize some kind of track event in May or June if circumstances allow.

“We cannot host an event in late April without putting our participants, spectators, officials, volunteers, and staff at risk,” Penn athletic director Grace Calhoun said in a statement. “The University of Pennsylvania has hosted the Penn Relays for 125 consecutive years through the World Wars and other world-wide health issues. This spirit of perseverance and resiliency will continue as we plan for a track meet later in the year when the health and safety of our community is more certain.

”Penn said that ticket orders would by default be credited toward the 2021 event; but refunds for the sale price of 2020 tickets are “available by request.” Ticket and order processing fees will not be refunded as of no

—Jonathan Tannenwald

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200316.html#card-2AB3VVLSWFEA5KP2JEGCQ2SJ642

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Philly to order shutdown of non-essential businesses (@ 5 pm EDT today)

Latest 16 minutes ago
12:39 PM - March 16, 2020
Philly to order shutdown of non-essential businesses

Philadelphia will order all non-essential businesses shut down at 5 p.m. on Monday, and will shut down all non-essential city services on Wednesday.

Restaurants will have to be take-out only. City government offices will be closed to the public starting Tuesday and only essential government employees will report.

The city of Philadelphia at 5 p.m. today will order all non-essential businesses shut down, and on Wednesday will shut down all non-essential city services, according to Councilmember @MariaQSanchez. @PhillyMayor admin officials just told other electeds of plan on conference call
— Sean Walsh (@sbcmw) March 16, 2020

Essential businesses include grocery stores, big box stores, pharmacies, electronic stores, hardware stores, day cares and laundry facilities.

— Sean Walsh, Julia Terruso

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200316.html#card-6Z7PDALC5FH7NNYUB5RM7SRQOI2

[BumRushDaShow]

41. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf orders two-week statewide shutdown

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf orders two-week statewide shutdown

Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday said he will order nonessential businesses statewide to close at midnight, for the next 14 days. Those businesses include gyms, hair salons, and concert venues, according to state guidance. Pharmacies, gas stations, and grocery stores should remain open. As of Monday afternoon, there were 76 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, state officials said.

Wolf said the decision was not made lightly, but he added these mitigation efforts are the “only way to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by patients.

“When asked about a business that has said it will not cancel an event, Wolf said, “I’m not going to force them to cancel.”

“We’re not sending out the State Police or National Guard to enforce this,” he said. “This is not your government mandating anything.” Both Wolf and Health Secretary Rachel Levine urged people to stay at home.

— Sarah Anne Hughes

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200316.html#card-FEVFL5KX6VBBPDSGC2GWAQW2HY11

[DeminPennswoods]

42. Everything is pretty calm where I am

It still blows me away my county does not have 1 reported or suspected case. We are full of old and sick people. Maybe years of breathing in whatever the mills and factories and Shippingport nuclear plant dumped into the air has given us a rough kind of respiratory immunity.

[BumRushDaShow]

44. I know people on the other side of the state from you

i.e., here, are a bit stressed - probably given how quickly this whole thing escalated.

I actually believe the lack of "cases" is due to lack of testing. The initial cases here were from people who had either traveled abroad to countries with a known infection and/or had exposure to travelers who had contracted the virus either overseas or in another state. That then triggered tracing of contacts of those people with others (meaning those people got tested) and it sortof blossomed out from there if the secondary-contact folks were found to be positive.

One of my sisters and I and my niece went to the Flower Show here on March 7 and I have been counting the days. They had plenty of hand sanitizer stations around that we did use but still... Hoping for the best since that sis has R.A. and due to that, she gets infusions to kill her immune system on purpose!

[DeminPennswoods]

45. Seems things are being taken in stride

and all the folks I've talked to don't have much good to say about the hoarders.

[BumRushDaShow]

47. Over here

the partial shutdowns of the rim counties ended up negatively impacting Philly. For example this morning, they had to cancel a number of commuter trains due to SEPTA personnel who were self-quarantined in other counties. Same thing happened earlier with the teachers not having enough staff due to teachers either self-quarantined or calling in absent to deal with childcare when the counties they lived in started closing their schools.

So where you are, Pittsburgh is part of Allegheny County but Philadelphia is its own county that had been excluded from the earlier restrictions on the rim counties, However there is obviously no "wall" between all these counties, so the restrictions elsewhere impacted here in a way that wasn't really anticipated.

[DeminPennswoods]

48. I am totally surprised at the low number of cases

in Philly given the high density housing and all and considering 10% of the state's population lives there.

[BumRushDaShow]

52. Lack of testing

Just read that some drive-through testing operations are finally being setup by a couple hospitals (with the labs to be done by Lab Corps I think). Only thing with these drive-throughs, the person needs to be referred by a primary doc in that hospital system in one case and be symptomatic in another case.

[DeminPennswoods]

53. maybe, but you'd think there are people who have some

respiratory illness already being treated. You still need a doc's order to get tested regardless. Are the hospitals full of flu patients? It doesn't seem so. I'm still thinking there's a lot of "mild" cases that present like the flu and people have just recovered. But something just doesn't add up.

[BumRushDaShow]

56. There may be plenty of people in the hospital for what they are tentatively calling "flu"

or for some type of respiratory condition, but they have no idea unless they test those folks for COVID-19 too. And if there are no swab kits available to to do the test, then they are SOL and those folks aren't added to any count.

[DeminPennswoods]

43. Things that have killed more Pennsylvanias than Covid19

Flu 2019-20 season (thru 3/7): 83
1948 Donora Smog Inversion: 20 (and gave repiratory problems to 6000 of 14,000 population of Donora) right away and 50 within a month
Johnstown Flood: 2,200
Tropical storm Agnes: 50
1936 St Patrick's Day flood: 107
Snowmelt 1996 flooding: 19
Opiods 2019: approx 3,800

[BumRushDaShow]

46. Bucks County is asking a judge to postpone Tuesday's special election

Bucks County is asking a judge to postpone Tuesday’s special election

The Bucks County Board of Elections filed an emergency petition asking a judge to postpone Tuesday’s special election for Bensalem’s seat in the Pennsylvania House, which Speaker Mike Turzai has declined to halt.

“We were left with no choice but to file suit,” said Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, chair of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners and chair of the Board of Elections. “With the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania declaring a state of emergency and under advisement of our county’s Department of Health, we believe that tomorrow’s special election must be postponed. The risk is too great."

The race for House District 18 in Bensalem pits Republican K.C. Tomlinson against Democrat Harold Hayes. They are vying to replace Republican Gene DiGirolamo, who resigned to become a county commissioner. The commissioners’ move is the latest twist in a contentious behind-the-scenes back-and-forth between officials over the special election.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday said that he felt it was a bad idea to hold an election in an area affected by the coronavirus and that he was hopeful state leaders would come together to delay it. Wolf needed the cooperation of Speaker Mike Turzai, however, and on Saturday the Republican House leader announced all special elections scheduled for Tuesday would proceed as planned.

—Justine McDaniel, Sean Collins Walsh

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200316.html#card-2JXVSFCSHNH5VOZRBLIRXUWCKY29

[DeminPennswoods]

49. Betting the Supreme Court delays it

Turzai must think a low turnout election favors the GOP.

[BumRushDaShow]

50. I'm thinking some judge might do just that

considering there are states delaying their state primaries and in this case, it's a special election that they are only asking be moved to PA's primary day (that itself might be delayed but we're not at that point yet).

[DeminPennswoods]

51. I actually think people will come out to vote even if it's

not postponed. I'm planning to vote in the April primary in person regardless. I'll take my own pencil, though. With the new equipment, you are the only one handling your ballot and you feed your own completed ballot into the scanner.

[BumRushDaShow]

54. I actually heard a commercial on the radio for that election this afternoon

(directed at Bensalem)

With our new machines, they hand us a blank ballot (long strip of paper) and we feed that into the machine, go through the touchscreens, it then prints the results on the blank sheet and displays it in a chute with a clear plastic cover (meaning we can't touch the ballot), and if we accept the printout, the ballot gets sucked back into the machine.

When I used it for the first time this past November, it was too dark in the room to even see the printout clearly and there was no back-lighting or overhead light for it in the booth.

[DeminPennswoods]

55. Next time, bring one of those little flashlights or

wear a headlamp.

[BumRushDaShow]

57. I definitely plan on doing that!

[DeminPennswoods]

58. So we have our 1st case in the southern half of the county

Also, just ftr, know someone who just landed in the hospital with pneumonia from the regular old flu that's going around.

[BumRushDaShow]

59. I had been reading a GD thread this morning

from someone whose daughter lives somewhere in the Pittsburgh metro area - https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213114447

Apparently there is a drive-through setup in the area for testing now, so even if there are a bunch of negatives, I expect positives to start showing up more.

In other news, Philly is now up to 18 cases confirmed, per their presser a couple hours ago.

[DeminPennswoods]

62. Quest Diagnostics has a testing center set up

in Aliquippa. I'm not sure exactly how "drive through" it actually is, but it is a testing site outside the doctor's office or hospital setting. This is where the person who tested positive lives so that's probably where they were tested.

[BumRushDaShow]

64. I'm thinking that people may be going to a hospital parking lot

for medical staff to do the swabs through the car window and those swabs are handed over to Quest to analyze. That's what I believe they are doing over here in West Philly and Delaware County. Montgomery County announced today that they expect to setup a drive-through testing operation sometime within the week.

[DeminPennswoods]

65. Quest has about 3 locations. It's at their one in

Aliquippa, not sure how exactly the nuts and bolts of it work though.

[BumRushDaShow]

66. I know Quest and Lab Corps have multiple locations around here

(I normally use Quest for my own bloodwork although they recently closed one facility close to me but still had 2 others that are also near me).

Apparently some states doing these types of drive-throughs have been bringing in the National Guard to manage the traffic associated with them too.

[DeminPennswoods]

68. Here's the local story

https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200315/drive-thru-coronavirus-testing-available-in-beaver-county

[BumRushDaShow]

69. Here's an even crazier story!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142446993#post67

[DeminPennswoods]

63. People seem to be brushing off the flu, but it's already caused

83 or more deaths in the state and it can just as easily lead to pneumonia in older and/or health compromised individuals.

[BumRushDaShow]

60. Without a Delaware County health department, agreement would allow Chester County to help

This is a good thing! I know the new Democratic-controlled Commissioners have been working on plans to re-establish a Health Department for the County (that was apparently eliminated by the GOP who were in control before the 2018 election) so this is good in the interim.

1 hour ago
3:36 PM - March 17, 2020
Without a Delaware County health department, agreement would allow Chester County to help coronavirus response

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reviewing a proposed agreement that would allow the Chester County Health Department to support Delaware County, which does not have a health department, in responding to the coronavirus.

Chester and Delaware County officials have been in talks about the plan and submitted a draft intergovernmental agreement to the state, Chester County said Tuesday. Chester County has a slightly smaller population and, thus far, fewer reported cases of the coronavirus than Delaware County.

Chester County has the capacity to support Delaware County and fully run its own health department, a county spokesperson said. Residents “will not experience any diminished service as the County moves to support Delaware County health officials and staff,” the county said Tuesday.

— Justine McDaniel

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200317.html#card-UPBES64GUFB6HLSOMCSQD74CCI60

[BumRushDaShow]

67. Coronavirus: Pennsylvania Task Force 1 crews setting up at Citizens Bank Park

Coronavirus: Pennsylvania Task Force 1 crews setting up at Citizens Bank Park

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Chopper 6 was over Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday afternoon where Pennsylvania Task Force 1 has deployed. Video shows two tractor-trailers are being unloaded and tents erected. You can see PA-TF-1 on top of the tents indicating Pennsylvania Task Force 1. PA-Task Force 1 is one of 28 operational and deployable groups established by FEMA that can respond to a disaster.

Sources tell Action News that the sports complex is one of the sites being considered by officials as a coronavirus testing location. No officials have commented on it just yet, but as you can see, there is a lot of activity going on at the moment.

The City of Philadelphia said as of Tuesday at 1 p.m., there are 18 reported cases of the coronavirus in the city.

https://6abc.com/pennsylvania-task-force-1-crews-setting-up-at-citizens-bank-park/6022085/

Pic from the local Fox station (Fox29) -

[DeminPennswoods]

70. Unintended consequences category

Since everyone is supposed to stay home or work from home, all blood drives organized through businesses or other organizations have been cancelled. The result is a shortage of blood. So apparently, it's ok to go out, sit in a room with other blood donors of undertermined health, for however long it takes to donate, then go home.

[BumRushDaShow]

71. Hundreds tested at drive-through sites in Philly, Main Line

Hundreds tested at drive-through sites in Philly, Main Line

Hundreds of people showed up at drive-through coronavirus testing sites in Philadelphia and on the Main Line Tuesday run by Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, and Main Line Health. Health-care workers wearing protective gear collected samples from people — only those who were experiencing symptoms — as they sat in their cars.

The makeshift collection sites, which can collect swabs to send to a specialized laboratory for molecular testing, have been popping up across the country. Doctor’s offices don’t want to collect samples because they lack either the protective gear, the safety protocols, the will — or all three.

It takes several days for test results to be completed.

More than 400 people were seen at Penn Medicine’s two collection sites, one in West Philadelphia and the other in Radnor Township. An additional 250 people flocked to Main Line Health’s Newtown Square and Radnor sites.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200317.html#card-YNTOHGF7RJGTJGT2KIMJIFXSDE21

[BumRushDaShow]

72. Independence National Historical Park closes all buildings

I had seen earlier stories where the NPS employees working there were complaining big time. I think there is now a federal closure of the national parks (saw something about D.C.'s national parks/monuments/museums being closed).

4 hours ago
5:25 PM - March 17, 2020
Independence National Historical Park closes all buildings

Independence National Historical Park announced Tuesday it was closing all its buildings to the public.

In a news release it said that park grounds would remain open but that public restrooms would be unavailable.

“The health and safety of people using and working at Independence National Historical Park is our number one priority,” the National Park Service, which operates the park, said in the release.

» READ MORE: A glossary of coronavirus terms to understand the pandemic

— Anthony R. Wood

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200317.html#card-UNR6OUHTOBGTFP6BTW3FPSBFYI70

[DeminPennswoods]

73. In election news, Rs won a special election

in HD58 Westmoreland county. The seat was held by a Republican who resigned and this special election was to fill the 9 month balance of the term. Westmoreland is pretty Republican despite a Dem registration edge. Turnout was 20%, not bad all things considered.

[BumRushDaShow]

74. (R)s claim victory in all 3 of their special elections

including the one over here in Bucks County that they were trying to get delayed. These were just to fill out the term until the general in November and hopefully we will be a bit closer to normal to maybe pick up one or more of those seats. Apparently the district solely represents the municipality of Bensalem, which is just north of the city line.

The race has been close though -

The results haven’t yet been certified by the Department of State, but according to unofficial returns shared by Bucks County Spokesman Larry King, Republican K.C. Tomlinson won at least 3,826 votes to Democrat Howie Hayes’ 3,343.

Two precincts, Lower Middle #1 and Lower Middle #2, hadn’t reported results as of 11:30 p.m. King could not immediately say what the delay was.

https://whyy.org/articles/bucks-special-election-candidates-bump-elbows-carry-sanitizer-to-slow-polling-places/

[DeminPennswoods]

75. Bensalem is full of rednecks who moved there

from the Philly River Wards.

[BumRushDaShow]

76. Yeah it is but

almost 1/4 of the population are POC. There has been a slow migration further north and some of those rednecks have moved into Central Bucks.

[DeminPennswoods]

77. Latest stats

879 negative, 96 positive. I guess that means the total is 975 although that is not abundantly clear.
I have not heard of any reported deaths.

PA has a population of about 12.8M. That makes the total cases investigated to date .0000762 (.008%) of the state's population. Cases have been reported in 15 of the 67 counties (22%). In case you are wondering why most people are not in a panic.

[BumRushDaShow]

78. The state site isn't completely updated

because the city reported 18 here in Philly yesterday but the state site is still only showing 10. There will continue to be a lag in actual stats as more and more people get tested and the data comes in. They are estimating results now in 4 - 5 days with the "drive-throughs" so for those who were tested yesterday, we may (or may not) see a jump by the weekend.

COVID-19 Testing in Pennsylvania*
​Negative Positive
879
​96
* Map, table and case count last updated at 12:45 p.m. on 3/17/2020

To date, there are 96 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.
Counties impacted to date include:

Allegheny 7
Beaver 1
Bucks 8
Chester 4
Cumberland 10
Delaware 9
Lehigh 1
Luzerne 1
Monroe 8
Montgomery 32
Northampton 1
Philadelphia 10
Pike 1
Washington 2
Wayne 1

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

Last updated: 3/17/2020
Current situation and risk to Philadelphia

Number of cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Philadelphia: 18
Number of cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Pennsylvania: 96
Overall risk in Philadelphia: Low

https://www.phila.gov/services/mental-physical-health/environmental-health-hazards/covid-19/whats-new/

[DeminPennswoods]

84. Regardless, it's still a very small number

I don't think the state is tracking flu cases right now, but as of 3/7, there were over 115k of those. Just for perspective.

I expect the numbers will rise, too, because more people will be tested, but you still have to have some symptoms and/or be assessed by a clinician in order to be tested.

I don't know if there's a test for anti-bodies specific to covid-19, but that's the kind of test that would yield enough data to know what the actual infection and recovery rate is.

[BumRushDaShow]

85. The Governor was just on about 10 minutes ago announcing the first death

We are literally at the embryonic stage of this. When I watched the State Health Director's report today (which was echoed by the Montgomery County Commissioner) - they are now assuming there is community spread and will cease doing any contact tracing. That means "officially" in the next phase which is mitigation.

I think the issue that they are trying to emphasize with this vs flu is that this is more contagious than the flu (they even mentioned that it is as bad as measles) and when it hits someone who is vulnerable to its effects, it is far more lethal than the various flus.

Due to the lack of test kits and medical personnel/infrastructure, yes they are actively triaging and selecting based on various criteria because of those shortcomings (and I have read that there are various municipalities including Philly, putting out a call for volunteers who have medical/nursing backgrounds). They also mentioned that the reports that come out today are based on tests that were done 4 - 5 days ago, so there is that lag too.

[DeminPennswoods]

86. No one really has any idea how contagious or not covid-19 is

Because of the lack of data, most of these "mitigation" efforts are complete panic moves. It would be useful to know how many people are hospitalized or being treated for actual respiratory infections. That might give people some idea of where things stand even if it's a mix of flu, other respiratory disease and covid-19. I did hear speculation that this virus might hang in the air like measels, but that is completely unconfirmed afaik. I think if that were true, a whole lot more people would be sick as measles is, if I understand correctly, the most contagious virus in the world.

I guess you can downplay the flu, but 83 people have already died from it and over 115,000 have had it, including myself. It is perfectly capable of causing pneumonia, too, in people who are older and/or might have underlying medical conditions.

[BumRushDaShow]

87. This strain was identified in December

and much of what we see going on is based on the impacts that countries like Italy, Spain, Iran, etc have experienced when they essentially dealt with it as if it were a "seasonal flu" (there are many that appear every year). However what was seen in those countries was that the virulence of this vs the flu COVIDs, has been much higher for target groups. I.e., flu mortality is ~0.1% where mortality with this has been running just over 1%. So using your example -

I guess you can downplay the flu, but 83 people have already died from it and over 115,000 have had it, including myself. It is perfectly capable of causing pneumonia, too, in people who are older and/or might have underlying medical conditions.

Meaning if you have seasonal flu resulting in 83 deaths, the potential of COVID-19 could be the equivalent of 830 deaths if allowed to run unchecked in the manner that the seasonal flu is generally handled. In addition, each year vaccines are distributed for various seasonal Influenza A and B strains (depending on which ones are found to be most active before the official start of a season), where no such vaccine is available for COVID-19 yet.

Interesting recent analysis here - https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/16/lower-coronavirus-death-rate-estimates/

In the case of Italy - here is a paper on past seasonal flu mortality (over those whole seasons) - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971219303285 and that can be compared with the latest data after just 6 weeks from the first confirmed COVID-19 cases - https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/19/italys-death-rate-reaches-record-high-hospitals-in-lombardy-struggle.html

This is why the panic among epidemiologists - especially since the more common "seasonal" flu transmissions tend to be significantly reduced at certain times of the year where a concern is that temperature (during a solar season) might not impact/reduce the transmission of this particular pathogen.

[BumRushDaShow]

79. Philly teachers told to halt remote instruction due to equity concerns

Latest 9 minutes ago
10:30 AM - March 18, 2020
Philly teachers told to halt remote instruction due to equity concerns

Philadelphia teachers may no longer offer remote instruction to students, according to a memo sent to Philadelphia School District Tuesday night.

“To ensure equity, remote instruction should not be provided to students, including through the internet, technology at home, by phone or otherwise,” said the memo, which was obtained by The Inquirer.

“Students should not be required to complete new assignments or homework activities. Schools may not make independent decisions to provide remote instruction at this time. As guidance and circumstances continue to unfold, we will provide updates as necessary.”

The memo was signed by Naomi Wyatt, the superintendent’s chief of staff, and by Malika Savoy-Brooks, the Chief Academic Support Officer, and cited recent guidance from the state and federal education departments.

“...We may not offer remote instruction to some students unless we can serve all children,” Wyatt and Savoy-Brooks wrote. “As we all know, some of our students have special instructional needs, some lack access to a computer, and some will have responsibility for taking care of younger siblings or older relatives while their parents are at work. As a result, the district is not able to provide remote instruction during the period of school closures to all children.”

Teachers at some Philadelphia schools had been offering optional remote instruction on their own before the edict went out; there was no formal program of instruction. Instead, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. has encouraged parents to engage children in learning activities during the coronavirus shutdown, and has made learning guides available to families through the district’s website.

— Kristen A. Graham and Maddie Hannah

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-testing-sites-20200318.html#card-575133124

[BumRushDaShow]

80. Pennsylvania to join the N.Y., N.J. and Conn. coronavirus 'coalition,' Cuomo says

Latest 1 minute ago
12:10 PM - March 18, 2020
Pennsylvania to join the N.Y., N.J. and Conn. coronavirus 'coalition,’ Cuomo says

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that Pennsylvania would join his “coalition” indicating statewide social restrictions that apply to New York would also apply to Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey and Connecticut.

“None of these measures work unless you have a large enough geographic basis,” Cuomo said at a press conference. “People will just move ... The geographic footprint, by definition, is essential for this to work.”

In the same press conference, Cuomo mandated that no non-essential business can have more than 50 percent of its employees working outside their homes. It was not immediately clear whether that applied to Pennsylvania businesses, as well.

— Erin McCarthy

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-testing-sites-20200318.html#card-291471804

[BumRushDaShow]

81. Philadelphia 'clearly in a rapid growth phase of this epidemic' as coronavirus cases double

23 minutes ago
1:22 PM - March 18, 2020
Philadelphia ‘clearly in a rapid growth phase of this epidemic’ as coronavirus cases double in one day

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the city of Philadelphia doubled in a day to 34, and city officials expect that figure to continue climbing.

“We are clearly in a rapid growth phase of this epidemic,” city Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said, “and I expect that to continue.”

Of those cases, 19 were people age 20 to 39, 10 were age 40 to 59, and five are over the age of 60. Of the 34 patients, five were hospitalized, he said.

Farley said testing capabilities continue to improve and said 700 people were tested Tuesday at new sites throughout the greater Philadelphia area.

He also confirmed officials are developing a testing site near the stadiums in South Philadelphia they hope to open “soon.”

— Anna Orso

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-testing-sites-20200318.html#card-1481814724

[BumRushDaShow]

82. State still doesn't have updated Philly numbers (on their site as of today 3/18/20)

Philadelphia reported 34 positives this morning.

To date, there are 133 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania.
Counties impacted to date include:


Allegheny 11
Beaver 2
​Berks ​1
Bucks 9
Chester 9
Cumberland 10
Delaware 14
​Lackawanna ​1
Lehigh 1
Luzerne 1
Monroe 7
Montgomery 42
Northampton 1
Philadelphia 17
Pike 2
Washington 2
Wayne 1
​York ​2

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

[BumRushDaShow]

83. Pennsylvania announces first death from coronavirus

Latest Just now
4:25 PM - March 18, 2020
Pennsylvania announces first death from coronavirus

Pennsylvania has announced its first coronavirus death, “an adult from Northampton County,” according to the Wolf administration.

The individual was being treated at a hospital, the administration said.

— Sarah Anne Hughes

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-testing-sites-20200318.html#card-1876918300

[BumRushDaShow]

88. Dad Vail officials cancel 2020 regatta on the Schuylkill because of coronavirus

Dad Vail officials cancel 2020 regatta on the Schuylkill because of coronavirus
by Joe Juliano, Updated: 52 minutes ago


Officials of the Dad Vail Regatta announced Thursday that they have canceled the 82nd staging of the event scheduled for May on the Schuylkill River “in order to comply with government recommendations” stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee members have been collaborating daily regarding the 2020 regatta,” DVROC president Jim Hanna said in a statement, “and we are aware and disappointed that the current health crisis has caused many traditional Dad Vail schools to cancel their season, and the impact that has had on coaches and athletes.”

The regatta had been planned for May 8 and 9. More than 100 men’s and women’s teams and 3,500 rowers competed last year. Hanna said in an interview earlier this week that about 30 teams had registered for the 2020 regatta.

Hanna added in that interview that the safety of everyone involved was the regatta’s first concern, and that all emergency health protocols announced by the federal, state and city governments would be followed.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/dad-vail-regatta-canceled-coronavirus-rowing-schuylkill-river-20200319.html

[BumRushDaShow]

89. Pennsylvania Dept. of Education cancels PSSA, Keystone exams amid coronavirus outbreak

Pennsylvania Dept. of Education cancels PSSA, Keystone exams amid coronavirus outbreak

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has canceled all state standardized tests for this year, as schools are shut down over the coronavirus outbreak.

“Assessments should not be the focus of school leaders right now,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said in a statement Thursday, describing “extraordinary efforts” in schools to provide meals to students and continue learning. He said the department will be seeking waivers from federal rules requiring states to conduct the tests.

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams, or PSSAs, were scheduled to begin April 20. Students in third through eighth grade take those tests. Keystone tests for high schoolers were to begin May 11.

The state education department said it would release information “on the effects on accountability and school reporting as it becomes available.”

— Maddie Hanna

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200319.html#card-587850881

[BumRushDaShow]

92. Gov. Tom Wolf orders all Pennsylvania businesses that aren't life-sustaining to close, will enforce

Gov. Tom Wolf orders all Pennsylvania businesses that aren’t ‘life-sustaining’ to close, will enforce order

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA, Updated: 10 minutes ago


Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday evening will announce that he is extending his shutdown order to apply to all but “life-sustaining” businesses as the novel coronavirus continues to spread.

The governor had previously asked nonessential businesses such as salons, theaters, and entertainment venues to close. Life-sustaining businesses that may continue physical operations include gas stations, farms, health care facilities, and transit systems, according to the Wolf administration.

Restaurants and bars were previously required to stop all dine-in services.

“Enforcement actions will be taken against non-life sustaining businesses that are out of compliance effective March 21, 2020, at 12:01 a.m.,” according to an order signed by Wolf.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/spl/pennsylvania-shutdown-lifesustaining-businesses-tom-wolf-shut-down-20200319.html

[DeminPennswoods]

93. Beer distributors are apparently "life sustaining" establishments

From the Tribune Review link:

Grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, beer distributors, bakeries and auto parts stores are among those businesses permitted to stay open.

Here is the very odd list: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1sUJLtmTSeqYwZ-zqOutgG-__tVcWceQD/view

This is why people are not taking this stuff seriously. Getting beer is more important that getting a haircut or fixing a road. There's supposed to be severe weather tonight, but if you get storm damage, too bad if you need a contractor to fix something.

[BumRushDaShow]

94. My local nursery had sent out an email a couple days ago noting they would open

with "limited hours" and only allowing up to 10 people to be on the property at the same time. Last night, they sent out an update saying they were closing until further notice.

I think because they kept the beer and wine sales in supermarkets intact, then it made sense to leave the beer distributors alone... otherwise there'd be some rioting going on!

[DeminPennswoods]

95. Today, I saw one of those red liqour license application notice signs

on our local Walmart. They're not going to miss out on beer and wine sales!

I think I'd bet that this list will be revised with more exceptions within 24 hours.

[BumRushDaShow]

97. Some of us are thinking they are working up to a "shelter in place"

which is also why that "coordination". I guess they'll she how this working in the San Francisco metro area.

What they did there is essentially what Wolf has done here now with this latest order, except for going the next step to then order "shelter in place" - https://www.sfchronicle.com/local-politics/article/Bay-Area-must-shelter-in-place-Only-15135014.php

[DeminPennswoods]

98. People aren't going to do it and it's just not enforceable

imho.

[BumRushDaShow]

99. I think it will take a significant chunk off the streets

and the others will never abide by any rules regardless (plus you have many homeless out there so no place for them to "shelter" ). And don't underestimate those who will "tell on you". And in the case here in Philly, Jim Kenney don't play.

The problem isn't in the rural areas, it's in the urban areas where you have that higher density.

[DeminPennswoods]

102. Enforcement action is "on hold"

as I predicted would happen. The list is hit and miss and really was not carefully vetted as it was apparently based on existing guidance from the federal Dept of Homeland Security. Further complicating matters was Wolf announced it at 5PM Friday and expected businesses to close up by 8PM that same night.

Apparently there is a process to appeal the order to close also. Laudromats, for example, were considered "non-life sustaining" even though many people who live in apartments or don't otherwise have access to a washer/dryer depend on them. Having the ability to launder clothes during a public health emergency is pretty essential, it seems to me. Now they are off the list required to close.

I think Gov Wolf has overall done a good job managing everything, but this wasn't his best moment.

[BumRushDaShow]

112. Enforcement happening today as of 8 am

Coronavirus In PA: Enforcement Underway For Business Closures


HARRISBURG, PA — Enforcement began Monday morning against non-life-sustaining businesses that have not closed their physical locations following to the governor's order to do so, issued to fight the spread of the new coronavirus. Enforcement could include citations, fines, and license suspensions, Gov. Tom Wolf said.

During a news conference Sunday evening, Wolf urged compliance, asking businesses to do their part to safeguard the health of all Pennsylvanians. As of Sunday, Pennsylvania was reporting 479 cases of COVID-19 and three deaths. In Philadelphia, a stay-at-home order too effect at 8 a.m. Monday.

Wolf ordered Thursday that all non-life-sustaining businesses must close in an effort to blunt the spread of the coronavirus. Enforcement was originally set to start Saturday but was extended to 8 a.m. Monday due to the high volume of waiver requests. Life-sustaining businesses include grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies. Restaurants are permitted to offer takeout only. Non-life-sustaining businesses may continue to operate remotely by telework.

State police have said they're prepared to enforce the order. "The priority of the Pennsylvania State Police is protecting lives and maintaining order in the commonwealth," said Col. Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. "In light of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, troopers and liquor control enforcement officers are prepared to ensure compliance with Governor Wolf's order." Other agencies that will be enforcing the order include the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and local officials.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/doylestown/coronavirus-pa-enforcement-underway-business-closures

[DeminPennswoods]

96. In Heaven there is no beer

For your listening pleasure:

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100. 23 new cases today in Philly - now at 67

Link to tweet

TEXT

Jim Kenney
✔
@PhillyMayor
· 31m

Today's updates:
➡️Confirmed cases
➡️New @PHLPublicHealth drive-through testing site
➡️Change in free meal sites locations
➡️Update on #PHLCOVID19Fund
➡️Roundup of worker resources

Jim Kenney
✔
@PhillyMayor

The @PHLPublicHealth commissioner @DrTomFarley reported 23 new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, for a total of 67. Ten are healthcare workers.

The increase is due to both an increase in testing and the spread of the virus.

We expect that increase to continue.
1
1:47 PM - Mar 20, 2020

Dr. Farley noted this of the 67 confirmed cases in Philly as of today (of that total, 6 are hospitalized) -

1 - person < age 20
37 - people between ages 20 - 39
18 - people between ages 40 - 59
11 - people > 60

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101. Additional note on this

Philadelphia's Cases Weighted Toward Young Adults

Among the city's 67 known coronavirus cases, over half of those who tested positive are between the ages of 20 to 39. That age group accounts for only a third of Philadelphia's total population.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200320.html#card-323985378

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103. Pennsylvania's second coronavirus death reported in Allegheny County

Latest 33 minutes ago
11:20 AM - March 21, 2020
Pennsylvania’s second coronavirus death reported in Allegheny County

A person in Allegheny County has died from the coronavirus, the county’s health department said Saturday.

It is the second reported death in Pennsylvania due to the coronavirus.

Allegheny County officials said the adult had been hospitalized. They did not immediately provide additional information out of respect for the person’s family, but more details are expected at an afternoon news conference.

On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the state’s first coronavirus death, a 55-year-old man from Northampton County. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania has been growing rapidly, passing 250 on Friday.

— Maddie Hanna

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200321.html#card-2112154652

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104. With an additional 18 positives in Philly, the city has now surpassed Montco as of 3/21/20

with a total of 85. Montco reported 9 more today for a total of 77.

Philly confirms first case of coronavirus in a nursing home

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Tom Farley has called for all nursing homes to stop accepting visitors after the city on Saturday announced the first confirmed coronavirus case in a facility for seniors.

“We have been trying very hard to avoid this,” Farley said at a news conference. “I would expect that there may be more of these in the future.”

The nursing home resident was one of 18 new confirmed coronavirus cases the city announced Saturday, bringing Philadelphia’s total to 85. Confirmed cases, however, likely account for only a fraction of the number of infected people in the city due to the speed at which the disease is spreading, the time it takes infected people to show symptoms, and the widespread shortages of testing kits.

» READ MORE: Nursing homes are running out of protective equipment amid coronavirus pandemic

Nursing homes are especially dangerous environments for the coronavirus because seniors and immunocompromised individuals are the most at risk to die from the disease and because the contained facilities can become fertile grounds for the virus to be transmitted. Farley said that, in addition to nursing homes, he believes all hospitals should keep visitors out.

— Sean Collins Walsh

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200321.html#card-1270589918

2020 Press Releases
Posted on: March 21, 2020
Nine More COVID-19 Cases Reported in Montgomery County
CORONAVIRUS PIC

Montgomery County officials and the Office of Public Health (OPH) today reported nine additional individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the countywide total to 77 cases.
Additional Info... (PDF file)

https://www.montcopa.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3202

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105. Philadelphia residents ordered to 'stay-at-home' starting Monday morning

Latest 8 minutes ago
1:30 PM - March 22, 2020
Philadelphia residents ordered to ‘stay-at-home’ starting Monday morning

Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration will order Philadelphia residents to stay at home starting Monday morning.

No outdoor gatherings of any kind will be allowed unless they are related to essential businesses like food or medicine.

Outdoor exercise with social distancing is permitted.

.@PhillyMayor Jim Kenney’s administration is instituting a stay-at-home order beginning tomorrow morning. No outdoor gatherings of any kind unless they are related to essential businesses like food or medicine. Outdoor exercise with social distancing is permitted. #coronavirus
— Sean Walsh (@sbcmw) March 22, 2020

— Sean Collins Walsh

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200322.html#card-465514182

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106. 11 more cases in Philly for a total of 96

https://www.phila.gov/services/mental-physical-health/environmental-health-hazards/covid-19/what-the-city-is-doing/

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107. Pa. legislature expected to begin action today on postponing state primary election until June 2

Latest 59 minutes ago
5:00 AM - March 23, 2020
Pa. legislature expected to begin action today on postponing state primary election until June 2 due to coronavirus outbreak

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is poised to advance legislation to move the state’s primary election from April 28 to June 2, the Inquirer has learned.

The action comes a day after Gov. Tom Wolf and top lawmakers have reached agreement on postponing the primary, underscoring the upheaval is pandemic is causing for the 2020 presidential election.

The rescheduling will give county election officials more flexibility in consolidating polling places this year and make long-term changes to a sweeping election law passed last year.

The deal was reached after multiple conference calls throughout the day Sunday.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200323.html#card-1350245157

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108. Philadelphia "Stay at Home" order now in effect

Link to tweet

TEXT

Jim Kenney
✔
@PhillyMayor
· 29m

Prohibited
❌Any gatherings except for essential business and activities
❌Walk-in takeout orders at restaurants
❌Food trucks and ice cream trucks

Allowed
✅Outdoor walking, running, and cycling
✅Delivery of food or essential goods
✅Free meal siteshttps://www.phila.gov/2020-03-22-the-new-business-activity-and-stay-at-home-order-what-you-need-to-know/-you-need-to-know/ …

Jim Kenney
✔
@PhillyMayor

Prohibido
❌Cualquier reunión de personas excepto por actividades esenciales
❌Pedidos para llevar realizados directamente en restaurants

Permitido
✅Caminar al aire libre, correr y andar en bicicleta
✅Entrega de alimentos o bienes de primera necesidadhttps://www.phila.gov/2020-03-22-que-necesitas-saber-sobre-la-nueva-orden-que-regula-la-actividad-comercial-y-social-en-filadelfia/ …
COVID-19 picture in Spanish about Permanecer en Casa
Qué necesitas saber sobre la nueva orden que regula la actividad comercial y social en Filadelfia |...

Qué necesitas saber sobre la nueva orden que regula la actividad comercial y social en Filadelfia
phila.gov

7:55 AM - Mar 23, 2020

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109. Pa. top court tosses challenge to Wolf's ban non-life-sustaining businesses

1 hour ago
8:55 AM - March 23, 2020
Pa. top court tosses challenge to Wolf’s ban non-life-sustaining businesses

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Gov. Tom Wolf’s authority to enact a statewide ban on “non-life-sustaining" businesses, clearing the way for its enforcement starting Monday.

Late Sunday, the court denied the petition brought by a gun shop, a gun purchaser and a law firm claiming that the governor’s shutdown order violated their constitutional rights, including the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

The judges issued their decision in a one-page order offered without comment.

Last week, Wolf, a Democrat, ordered all nonessential businesses — excluding staples like grocery stores, pharmacies, laundromats, and restaurants offering takeout or delivery only — to close indefinitely in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus across the state.

Though the order has been in effect since Thursday, enforcement by the Pennsylvania State Police and other state agencies was delayed until Monday morning, to give businesses time to prepare and the administration to review thousands of waiver requests from companies and industry representatives around the state.

— Jeremy Roebuck

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200323.html#card-269018088

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110. Latest PA totals reported since noon 3/23/20 - 644 positives (10% of those tested)

A separate report at the site noted the 3rd death from Montco

​COVID-19 Testing in Pennsylvania*
​Negative Positive ​Deaths
6,595 644 ​2

* Map, table and case count last updated at 12:00 p.m. on 3/23/2020

Counties impacted to date include:

​County ​Cases ​Deaths
​Adams
6
​
Allegheny
48 / 1​

Beaver
3
​
​Berks
14
​
Bucks
43
​
​Butler
​5
​
​Cambria
1​
​
​Centre
​3
​
Chester
40
​
​Columbia
​1
​
Cumberland
12
​
​Dauphin
1​
​
Delaware
54
​
​Erie
3
​
​Fayette
​1
​
​Franklin
​1
​
​Lackawanna
7
​
​Lancaster
5
​
​Lebanon
​3
​
Lehigh
25
​
Luzerne
10
​
​Mercer
​1
​
Monroe
43
​
Montgomery
129 / (1)
​
​Montour
​1
​
Northampton
23 / ​1

Philadelphia
128
​
Pike
3
​
​Potter
​1
​
​Schuylkill
​3
​
Washington
7
​
Wayne
3
​
​Westmoreland
6
​
​York
10

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx​

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111. Gov. Tom Wolf to issue stay-at-home order for 7 counties including Philadelphia, suburbs, & Allegn'y

25 minutes ago
12:43 PM - March 23, 2020
Gov. Tom Wolf to issue stay-at-home order for 7 counties including Philadelphia, suburbs, and Allegheny County

Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to issue a “stay-at-home” order today for Philadelphia and its suburbs, as well as Monroe and Allegheny Counties, taking the fight against the coronavirus to a new level by requiring residents to remain inside except for essential trips such as buying food or seeking medical help.

The order will apply to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties in the southeast, Monroe County in the northeast, and Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania, according to four sources with knowledge of the governor’s plans.

It was not immediately known when the order will take effect, how long it will last, or what enforcement might entail. Wolf is expected to make the announcement this afternoon, according to the sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plan.

Wolf’s order comes a day after Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney issued a similar order for the city’s 1.6 million residents, which began at 8 a.m. on Monday.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200323.html#card-321091134

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113. Philly now up to 175 positives (about 12% of total tested so far)

https://www.phila.gov/services/mental-physical-health/environmental-health-hazards/covid-19/what-the-city-is-doing/

(up from the 96 posted yesterday and includes other test sites around the city now not reported Sunday)

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114. Pennsylvania schools to remain closed through April 6, at least

Latest 8 minutes ago
2:48 PM - March 23, 2020
Pennsylvania schools to remain closed through April 6, at least

All Pennsylvania K-12 schools will be closed for another two weeks, through at least April 6, according to the Department of Education.

I'm also extending school closures and other statewide #COVID19 mitigation efforts for ALL counties for 2 more weeks.

These measures may seem extreme. However, we are in desperate times and need to make drastic changes in order to save lives. #COVID19

— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) March 23, 2020

— Sarah Anne Hughes

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200323.html#card-483637887

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115. 7 PA counties under "stay at home" order

Link to tweet

TEXT

Governor Tom Wolf
✔
@GovernorTomWolf

Beginning at 8 p.m., residents of the following counties must stay home unless someone’s life depends on it:

📌 Allegheny
📌 Bucks
📌 Chester
📌 Delaware
📌 Monroe
📌 Montgomery
📌 Philadelphia

More information: http://pa.gov/COVID-19
Stay at Home

5:56 PM - Mar 23, 2020

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116. PA cases as of noon 3/24/20

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

8,643 /851 /7

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

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117. Pa. State Police issue warnings to businesses ordered to close to stop spread of coronavirus

Latest 5 minutes ago
12:22 PM - March 24, 2020
Pa. State Police issue warnings to businesses ordered to close to stop spread of coronavirus

Pennsylvania State Police issued 27 warnings to non, life-sustaining businesses on Monday, the first day of enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolf’s order for such places to close to stop the spread of the coronavirus. He had originally ordered these businesses to close their physical locations by 8 p.m Thursday, but enforcement was pushed back until Monday as officials assessed many requests for exemptions.

Only five of those warnings were issued in Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, Lancaster, York, Lehigh, and Northampton counties (the warnings were segmented by state police troops, each of which encompass several counties).

Several state agencies, as well as state and local police, have the authority to enforce the governor’s business closure order with warnings, mandated closures, business license suspensions, forfeitures of disaster relief funds and other loans, and health code and criminal violations.

Meanwhile, by the end of the day Monday, the state Department of Community and Economic Development received 15,092 requests for exemptions from Pennsylvania’s businesses, and DCED staff are working to process them as quickly as possible. As of end of day March 23, 2,486 have been approved; 2,135 have been denied; and 1,279 were not required.

— Erin McCarthy, Christian Hetrick

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200324.html#card-1534042048

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118. Per Philly Mayor's daily presser - 77 new positives since 1 pm yesterday/252 total in city

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119. Stotesbury Regatta, scheduled for mid-May, canceled

(am surprised they didn't cancel when the Dad Vail was cancelled)

9 hours ago
9:40 PM - March 24, 2020
Stotesbury Regatta, scheduled for mid-May, canceled


The annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta, which typically draws thousands of student athletes and spectators to the banks of the Schuylkill, has been canceled, the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia announced Tuesday.

It had been scheduled for May 15-16. The decision came after discussions between the city and regatta officials, regatta organizers said, and took into account Mayor Jim Kenney’s stay-at-home order.

“The well-being of our athletes, coaches, families, fans, referee corps, and volunteers is at the forefront of this decision,” said Erika McCormick, regatta director.

“We deeply regret that this disappointing outcome is added to all the things with which they must cope,” said Paul Horvat, commodore of the Schuylkill Navy.

— Anthony R. Wood

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200324.html#card-733928290

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120. Gov. Tom Wolf extends 'stay-at-home' order to Erie County amid exponential rise in Pa.

13 hours ago
5:52 PM - March 24, 2020
Gov. Tom Wolf extends ‘stay-at-home’ order to Erie County amid exponential rise in Pa. coronavirus cases

On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf extended his “stay-at-home” order to Erie County. The directive also applies to Philadelphia and its suburbs, as well as Monroe and Allegheny Counties.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200324.html#card-1324037512

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121. Pa. unemployment claims skyrocket to 540,000 since statewide coronavirus shutdown, shattering record

Pa. unemployment claims skyrocket to 540,000 since statewide coronavirus shutdown, shattering records


by Rebecca Moss, Updated: 43 minutes ago


HARRISBURG — More than half a million Pennsylvanians have filed new unemployment claims during the past week, a record number indicative of the sweeping economic fallout from Gov. Tom Wolf’s statewide shutdown in order to slow the coronavirus.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Labor and Industry had received a total of 540,000 new unemployment claims since March 16, when Wolf first announced the closure of all non-essential businesses, according to a state senator briefed by the labor secretary.

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the highest number of first-time claims ever filed in Pennsylvania was 168,200, but that was for the entire month of January 2010, said Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D., Philadelphia), the minority chair of the senate committee on labor and industry.

The state has far surpassed that number in about seven days. “You are going to have more and more people laid-off,” Tartaglione said. “There are going to be a lot more.”

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/spl/pennsylvania-pa-coronavirus-unemployment-claims-business-shutdown-20200325.html

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122. Delaware County reports first coronavirus deaths

Latest 7 minutes ago
10:25 AM - March 25, 2020
Delaware County reports first coronavirus deaths

Two people from Delaware County have died from the coronavirus, officials announced Wednesday. They are the first deaths connected to the pandemic reported by the suburban county.

The first patient to die, an 85-year-old man, had been hospitalized for several days prior to his passing, according to officials. A county spokesperson did not identify the hospital and declined to say where he lived in Delaware County.

The second death was an 86-year-old woman, who was hospitalized in Montgomery County. She was previously a resident at the Rosewood Garden Rehab and Nursing Center in Broomall.

— Vinny Vella

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200325.html#card-1776091078

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123. Gov. Tom Wolf extends Pennsylvania 'stay-at-home' order to 10 counties

Latest 6 minutes ago
12:15 PM - March 25, 2020
Gov. Tom Wolf extends Pennsylvania ‘stay-at-home’ order to 10 counties

Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday expanded his “stay-at-home” order to Lehigh and Northampton Counties, bringing the state total to 10 counties under the directive. Philadelphia and its collar counties were already under the order, as were Erie, Monroe, and Allegheny Counties.

» READ MORE: The full list of what you can and can’t do under Gov. Tom Wolf’s coronavirus ‘stay-at-home’ order

— Angela Couloumbis

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200325.html#card-938115301

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124. Philly now up to 342 positives - 90 more than yesterday plus 1st death

Current situation and risk in Philadelphia

Last updated: 3/25/2020 9:30:00 AM

Number of cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Philadelphia: 342
Number of negative of COVID-19 coronavirus in Philadelphia: 2,508
Overall risk in Philadelphia: Low

COVID-19 tracking in Philadelphia: See testing guidance and results.

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/

(3 cases adjusted between yesterday and today)

Latest 8 minutes ago
12:50 PM - March 25, 2020
Philadelphia reports first death from coronavirus

One person in Philadelphia has died due to the coronavirus, the state department of health reported Wednesday. There are 257 cases of the virus in the county, according to state data.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 11 people have died in Pennsylvania due to the coronavirus.

— Oona Goodin-Smith

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200325.html#card-1048014300

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125. Pennsylvania legislators approve moving primary election to June 2

Pennsylvania legislators approve moving primary election to June 2

Pennsylvania’s General Assembly on Wednesday voted unanimously to shift the state’s primary election five weeks into the future, postponing it from April 28 until June 2 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The state House took first action, giving final approval to legislation that also allows county boards of elections to consolidate polling places by up to 60%, allowing the primary to be held with fewer poll workers.

“I think between moving the date back and expanding the ability of our county election officials to cope with this problem that we’ve done a lot of good,” said State Rep. Garth Everett (R., Lycoming), the chair of the House State Government Committee, before the vote. State Rep. Kevin Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat and minority chairman of the committee, supported the legislation but said “it doesn’t go far enough.” Boyle wanted funding for counties to send every registered voter an application for mail-in ballots, an approach Republicans rejected.

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) expressed optimism the situation will have improved by June 2. “We hope things will have cleared up and we’ll be able to vote in person that day better than we would have on April 28,” he said.

The state Senate then swiftly approved the measure, which has the support of Gov. Wolf. A spokesperson said Wolf would sign it into law. The vote drew bipartisan praise from Philadelphia’s City Commissioners, who said an April 28 primary “was becoming more and more unrealistic.” Twelve states and Puerto Rico have taken action so far to alter their election calendars due to the pandemic and more states are still mulling such moves.

— Chris Brennan

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200325.html#card-651948800

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126. Pennsylvania looking into 'soft reopening' of liquor stores, lawmaker says

5:10 PM - March 25, 2020
Pennsylvania looking into ‘soft reopening’ of liquor stores, lawmaker says


State Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, a Republican from Centre County, told reporters Wednesday the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board “is looking into a soft reopening” of its stores, which have been closed for more than a week due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is either a possible delivery or possible curbside pick-up kind of thing,” Corman said. “I think the LCB is working on that as we speak. I don’t know that they’ve picked a date as of yet to reopen. I think most states have kept their liquor stores open.”

Corman noted that many states have private liquor store ownership. In Pennsylvania, the PLCB operates about 600 liquor stores and service centers that supply restaurants and bars.

The PLCB has boarded up some of its stores. Some bar and restaurant owners have taken similar measures.

— Chris Brennan

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200325.html#card-1057614779

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127. PA now at 1687 positives as of noon 3/26/20

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

16,441 / 1,687 / 16

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

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128. As of 10 am (3/26/20), Philly has 475 positives

Per the city presser.

127 new cases
475 total cases
(as of 10am)

Age breakdown

18 < age 20
216 between ages 20 - 39
126 between ages 40 - 59
115 > 60

40 hospitalized / 44 are healthcare workers

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129. Philly now at 637 positives as of 9:30 am 3/27/20

Current situation and risk in Philadelphia

Last updated: 3/27/2020 9:30:00 AM

Number of cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Philadelphia: 637
Number of negative of COVID-19 coronavirus in Philadelphia: 3,987
Overall risk in Philadelphia: Low

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/

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130. Gov. Wolf signs bill moving Pa. primary election to June 2

Latest 11 minutes ago
11:50 AM - March 27, 2020
Gov. Wolf signs bill moving Pa. primary election to June 2

June 2 is shaping up to be the Super Tuesday of postponed primaries. Pennsylvania will join 11 states and the District of Columbia in voting that day, after rescheduling its primary due to the coronavirus.

Gov. Wolf on Friday signed a bill passed through the Pennsylvania legislature to move the primary back six weeks to allow enough time for people to register to vote by mail, for polling locations to shift and to give election officials time to prepare for an election taking place in unprecedented circumstances.

The law also authorizes county election officials to close and consolidate polling places without the usual court approval. (Officials had asked for that flexibility, as they’ve lost polling places and poll workers due to concerns over the coronavirus.)

Election officials will also now be able to begin processing absentee ballots earlier instead of after 8 p.m. on Election Day, which could have meant elections would take days to call.

With Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and D.C. also voting June 2, it’s been dubbed the Acela Primary.

While the moves are unlikely to derail former Vice President Joe Biden from winning the Democratic nomination, it does mean he’ll need more time to clinch it. Meanwhile, the delay could hurt some candidates running for the state legislature who have limited campaign resources they now need to stretch.

For election officials, it’s a welcome extension to prepare for an election that keeps voters and poll workers safe.

— Julia Terruso

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200327.html#card-6268543

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131. Philly could use Temple University (Liacouras Center) for coronavirus hospital overflow

42 minutes ago
1:06 PM - March 27, 2020
Philly could use Temple University for coronavirus hospital overflow

Philadelphia has reached an agreement with Temple University to use the Liacouras Center and other facilities at the college for overflow hospital space if needed. “Materials and supplies will be moving into the Liacouras Center over the next few days," Kenney said. Kenney said he hopes that the city will not have to use the Temple facility, but it will be there if needed.

The city is continuing to search for other facilities in addition to the Liacouras Center and the Holiday Inn Express at 13th and Walnut, which will be used as a quarantine site. Other cities plan to use convention centers as hospital overflow space, including the Javits Center in New York and the Atlantic City Convention Center.

John McNichol, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, said they continue to have conversations with the city regarding the use of the space, but no decisions have been made. “Our focus is on getting back to business as soon as possible so we can save jobs,” he said. In terms of being used as a hospital overflow space, McNichol said: “We’re trying to be as nimble as possible. Right now there’s no plan to use the Convention Center for that purpose.”

Managing Director Brian Abernathy said the facilities could hold as many as 250 patients. The city hopes that FEMA will help staff the facility with health care workers, he said, but officials are looking into other options if that does not come through. Kenney said the city is not paying Temple anything for the use of the facilities. “We’re very Temple proud,” he said. The Holiday Inn quarantine site has already hosted some city employees who have tested positive, and will be fully operational this weekend, Abernathy said.

— Laura McCrystal, Anna Orso

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200327.html#card-940682712

Link to tweet

TEXT

Temple University
✔
@TempleUniv

Temple is Philadelphia’s public university. This is our fight too. https: //twitter.com/PhillyMayor/status/1243584553400373255 …

Jim Kenney
✔
@PhillyMayor

Big news for this Friday: Temple University has stepped up during this critical time. We reached an agreement to use The Liacouras Center and other Temple facilities as hospital space. #TempleMade #ThankYouPhilly
Temple flag with the words "Thank you, Temple" on top

1:22 PM - Mar 27, 2020

[BumRushDaShow]

132. Pennsylvania 'stay-at-home' order extended to 9 more counties

11 minutes ago
2:20 PM - March 27, 2020
Pennsylvania ‘stay-at-home’ order extended to 9 more counties


Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday said he is expanding his stay-at-home order to another nine counties, bringing the total of counties under some form of lockdown to 19.

Wolf said the new counties where residents are being asked to limit their movements are Berks, Butler, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Pike, Wayne, Westmoreland, and York.The order takes effect at 8:00 p.m. Friday, and will remain in place until April 6.

Counties already under a stay-at-home order are: Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia.

Wolf has said he’s taking a “measured” approach to the order, which directs residents to leave their homes only for essential items, such as groceries and medicine. He has said he is not, for the moment, considering extending the order statewide.

» READ MORE: Full list of what you can and can’t do under Gov. Tom Wolf’s coronavirus ‘stay-at-home’ order

— Angela Couloumbis

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200327.html#card-853844799

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/wolf-adding-lancaster-york-other-counties-to-stay-at-home/article_54c140b2-7040-11ea-a153-97d8b3336ed1.html

[BumRushDaShow]

133. PA cases now at 2,751 as of noon 3/28/20

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

25,254 / 2,751 / 34

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

[BumRushDaShow]

134. Philly now up to 806 positives (as of 9:30 am 3/28/20)

169 more since yesterday + a couple more deaths for a total of 5.

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 806
Total Negative Tests: 4,793
3/28/2020 9:30 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

[BumRushDaShow]

135. 3 more PA counties added to the stay-at-home order - Beaver/Centre/Washington (total 22 counties)

Four more coronavirus deaths reported in Philly area

Four additional deaths from the coronavirus were reported Saturday in the Philadelphia area, including two in Philadelphia, as the virus continues its rapid spread. State health officials said an additional 533 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed, bringing the statewide total to 2,751 in 56 counties. The statewide death count is now 34, with 12 new deaths reported Saturday.

Philadelphia, which reported a total of 806 confirmed cases of the virus as of 9:30 a.m. Saturday, now has five coronavirus deaths. That total includes 169 new cases reported since Friday morning. An additional death was also reported in Montgomery County, bringing that county’s total to five. Delaware County officials announced another death Saturday that was not included in the state report, bringing that county’s total to five deaths. The patient was a 65-year-old man from Springfield Township, officials said.

Health officials said most of the people hospitalized from the virus are aged 25-49, while most of the deaths have occurred in people 65 or older.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Saturday added three more counties — Beaver, Centre and Washington — to the state’s stay-at-home order, bringing the total under the order to 22. The order will take effect for those three counties at 8 p.m. Saturday.

— Maddie Hanna, Laura McCrystal

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200328.html#card-156847959

[BumRushDaShow]

136. Map of current stay-at-home counties in PA (22 as of 3/28/20)

Link to tweet

TEXT

Governor Tom Wolf
✔
@GovernorTomWolf

The latest counties added to my Stay at Home Order are:

📍Beaver
📍Centre
📍Washington

Reminder: ALL Pennsylvanians should be staying home. The residents of these counties are ordered to do so, and are only permitted to leave for tasks crucial to sustaining their lives.
Stay at home order
322
2:00 PM - Mar 28, 2020

[BumRushDaShow]

137. Gov. Wolf today requested a major disaster declaration per his office twitter account

Link to tweet

TEXT

Office of the Governor
✔
@GovernorsOffice

.@GovernorTomWolf today requested a major disaster declaration from the president through @fema to provide additional support for state and local governments and certain nonprofits, as well as individuals who are struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak. https://on.pa.gov/2JnSIDj
Governor Wolf Requests Major Disaster Declaration for Additional Support in COVID-19 Response

Governor Tom Wolf today requested a major disaster declaration from the President through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide additional support for state, county and municipal...
governor.pa.gov

10:18 AM - Mar 29, 2020

Governor Wolf Requests Major Disaster Declaration for Additional Support in COVID-19 Response

March 29, 2020
Press Release, Public Health

Governor Tom Wolf today requested a major disaster declaration from the President through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide additional support for state, county and municipal governments and certain nonprofits, as well as individuals who are struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has taxed our commonwealth and our communities in ways that are almost incomprehensible,” said Governor Wolf. “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.”

Pennsylvania already received an emergency declaration under the President’s nationwide emergency proclamation, which provides reimbursement for eligible expenses for emergency protective measures to state, county and local governments and certain nonprofits for the duration of the emergency incident. The declared nationwide emergency incident started Jan. 20, 2020, and continues.

The request for a major disaster declaration, if approved, will provide the same emergency protective measures available under the nationwide emergency proclamation; the following Individual Assistance programs: Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Community Disaster Loans and the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program; and Statewide Hazard Mitigation.

It is not known how quickly the President will decide to grant or deny Governor Wolf’s major disaster request for additional federal assistance. Governor Wolf signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 outbreak, which is a required step to request a federal major disaster declaration, on March 6, 2020.

https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/governor-wolf-requests-major-disaster-declaration-for-additional-support-in-covid-19-response/

[BumRushDaShow]

138. Philly now at 890 positives as of 3/29/20

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 890
Total Negative Tests: 5,225
3/29/2020 7:30 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

(note testing is primarily only being done on healthcare workers and those showing symptoms who meet age/underlying condition criteria)

[BumRushDaShow]

139. PA jumps from 2,751 positives to 3394 (for noon presser 3/29/20)

​Negative Positive ​Deaths
30,061 / 3,394 / 38

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

(results as of midnight)

[BumRushDaShow]

140. Wolf administration lays off about 2,500 state employees

Wolf administration lays off about 2,500 state employees as financial fallout from the coronavirus deepens


by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Rebecca Moss, Updated: 47 minutes ago


HARRISBURG — The Wolf administration has laid off about 2,500 part-time and seasonal employees and interns as the financial fallout from the coronavirus deepens, straining Pennsylvania’s cash flow, Spotlight PA has learned. The affected workers, which include temporary clerical staff and employees who help out in departments across state government during busy periods, were placed on “leave without pay” Friday. There is currently no timeline to recall them back to work, according to Gov. Tom Wolf’s Office of Administration.

Some of the departments impacted include revenue and transportation, state officials said. It wasn’t immediately clear which other departments were affected, though several employ seasonal workers, including the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which oversees state park facilities, and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

Employees who work for the state health and labor departments, which are central to the coronavirus response, were not impacted, state officials said.“While we work to fund the increased need for essential state services, there has been, and will continue to be, a decline in revenue coming into the state,” the Office of Administration, to which the governor’s office referred questions, said in a statement. “The state is taking a measured approach to the COVID-19 outbreak and that includes managing our finances.”

The layoffs Friday could be the first in a wave of job losses within state government, which is bracing for hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues as businesses shut down, unemployment claims spike to unparalleled levels, and more people seek other public assistance benefits.


https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/spl/pennsylvania-coronavirus-layoffs-state-government-workers-20200329.html

[BumRushDaShow]

141. Philly now registering 1,072 positives as of 9:30 am 3/30/20

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 1,072
Total Negative Tests: 5,747
3/30/2020 9:30 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

Philly had its first positive case on March 10 and in 20 days, has gone to >1000.

Temple has started staging for overflow at the Liacouras Center -

Link to tweet

TEXT

Philadelphia Public Health
✔
@PHLPublicHealth

#ThankYouTemple for helping organize a surge facility to support hospitals during the pandemic. This is truly amazing.
View image on Twitter
83
9:53 AM - Mar 30, 2020

[BumRushDaShow]

142. PA now at 4,087 as of 3/30/20, up almost 700 from the 3,394 yesterday

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

33,777 | 4,087 | 49

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

[DeminPennswoods]

146. IOW, 10% positive of all tested, presumably

the majority tested are symptomatic individuals.

[BumRushDaShow]

147. Yup - that has been very consistent

They are also testing healthcare workers and/or first responders (including police/fire/EMTs) - who are also a good chunk of those being tested over here in the metro Philly area (symptomatic or not).

[DeminPennswoods]

148. We have a couple localized outbreaks here

that are driving our county's numbers. The biggest being in the former county nursing home that was sold about 5 years ago to a private business, but remained a nursing and rehab facility. I think all the residents are being, or are going to be, tested. There's another in a local EATON plant.

[BumRushDaShow]

149. That is the scary part - something like this getting into a nursing home

I saw an article a couple days ago where there were some health workers in Italy who volunteered to stay (quarantine themselves) at the facility where they were working in order to try to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the infection from exposure they might have had "from the outside" when commuting back and forth between their homes and the facility.

[DeminPennswoods]

155. The former county home is pretty big,

they have a rehab facility and they have a good number of staff. I'm not surprised there was an outbreak in it. The other local assisted living and nursing homes don't have any cases afaik.

[BumRushDaShow]

143. PA schools now closed "indefinitely" and 3 more counties added to "stay at home" order

Gov. Wolf and Sec. of Health Expand ‘Stay at Home’ Order to Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill Counties, Extend School Closures Indefinitely

March 30, 2020
Press Release, Public Health

Governor Wolf’s Amended Order
Secretary of Health’s Amended Order
Stay at Home Guidance

As COVID-19 cases continue to grow and the state continues to seek relief to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, today Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine revised their “Stay at Home” orders to include Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill counties, bringing the state total to 26 counties under a stay-at-home order. This order takes effect at 8 p.m., Monday, March 30, 2020, and will continue until April 30. All stay-at-home orders are now extended through April 30. All Pennsylvania schools will remain closed until further notice. Non-life-sustaining business closures remain in effect.

The order now includes these 26 counties: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland and York counties.

Individuals may leave their residence 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

Individuals 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.

International students, foster youth, and any other students who would otherwise experience displacement or homelessness as a result of campus closures are exempt and may remain in campus housing.

The Department of Education will be providing updated guidance and resources on the continuity of education for students to schools in the coming days.

At this time, law enforcement will be focused on ensuring that residents are aware of the order and informing the public of social distancing practices rather than enforcement. To report a noncompliant business, contact your local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency number or the nearest Pennsylvania State Police station. Please do not call 911 or the Department of Community and Economic Development to file reports. Law enforcement officers should refer to Business Closure Order Enforcement Guidance available online.

Read Governor Wolf’s original order here or view on Scribd. Read Governor Wolf’s amended order here or view on Scribd.

Read Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine’s original order here or view on Scribd. Read Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine’s amended order here or view on Scribd.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Pennsylvanians should visit: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/.

https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-and-sec-of-health-expand-stay-at-home-order-to-carbon-cumberland-dauphin-and-schuylkill-counties-extend-school-closures-indefinitely/

[BumRushDaShow]

144. Map of current PA county stay-at-home order (as of 3/30/20)

Link to tweet

TEXT

Governor Tom Wolf
✔
@GovernorTomWolf

Pennsylvania #COVID19 updates —

🏫 Schools/businesses closed: Until further notice
🏡 Added to Stay at Home Order: Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin & Schuylkill counties
📆 Stay at Home Order in effect: Through at least April 30

Resources and more info: http://pa.gov/covid-19 .
Stay at home
514
3:00 PM - Mar 30, 2020

[BumRushDaShow]

145. President Trump declares disaster in Pennsylvania

9 hours ago
9:47 PM - March 30, 2020
President Trump declares disaster in Pennsylvania

President Trump has approved a major disaster declaration in Pennsylvania, opening up millions of dollars of federal assistance for the commonwealth’s response to the coronavirus, the White House announced Monday night.

“The President’s action makes Federal funding available to Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania impacted by COVID-19,” the White House said in its announcement.

Gov. Tom Wolf asked Trump for the declaration Sunday, saying that the coronavirus “outbreak has taxed our commonwealth and our communities in ways that are almost incomprehensible.”

Pennsylvania had already received an emergency declaration under the president’s nationwide emergency proclamation, but the major disaster declaration provides more financial support.

— Ellie Rushing

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200330.html#card-2000510080

[Sunlei]

150. wouldn't it be best to close all schools now & plan to finish the year online or july-aug?

2 weeks isn't long enough and all states should be on the exact same national plan by now.

[BumRushDaShow]

151. I have been using the thread for updates but all schools here are now on indefinite closure

And one of the problems is that the state fiscal year ends June 30, so that has been their "hard" date where schools cannot be held past that date until the regular "new" school year starts AFTER a budget is passed and implemented... (I guess unless they pass some legislation to delay it, which has happened in the past, although in this circumstance they might also require a change in the state Constitution, which has its own set of criteria to execute). And as it is, they are already fretting about how to even deal with the state budget process given the current events.

You also have the issue where most of the urban areas in the state have families without internet access and/or computers to go online. There has been some movement thanks to philanthropic gestures, where there is now an effort to purchase chromebooks for Philly public school children who have no at-home computer (latest was an attempt to purchase 50,000 of them). But then that also means getting internet hookups to those households (Comcast has indicated that they would offer 3 months of their "Internet Essentials" service to those in need but not sure of all the details for that either).

And with respect to holding school in the summer - probably 70% of the schools have no air-conditioning. The idiot School Superintendent who came here from wealthy Prince George's County, MD, had no clue and "assumed" that the schools here were new or recent construction like down there, whereas there are dozens and dozens that are in century-old piece of junk buildings that were old and piece of junk even when I was going to them 50 years ago. They "tested" opening schools the week before Labor Day the year before last and ended up closing the schools 4 of the 5 days (with that one day a half day) due to a heatwave and few schools with any AC - or even window units. Alumni orgs of some schools were even purchasing window ACs for their school (where the article notes "40% without AC" but that was a School Superintendent WRONG assumption - it was 70+%) and attempts last year to buy more had to stop due to lack of money.

[Sunlei]

156. I hope your state government gets moving and works on a plan.

It's about 8 weeks of classes to finish the school year.

There is the problem of many children (and families) without internet access.
Also the problem of no adult in the home able to help with 'at home' education.

That's why I suggested all states (The Federal department of education must lead) finish the school year in the fall. Even if next years school year is delayed start a month or even two.

Two weeks is just not enough time, they are kicking the can down the road. The country will not be over the pandemic in two weeks, maybe two months (hopefully) It's also time to expand testing, develop a vaccine and start to test titers to see if we're starting to develop group immunity in society.

There has to be a way to provide totally free internet access statewide (nationwide) through the Federal government. Times have changed, no cost internet access and education is critical for our society. These are the times where poor government leadership really shows.

[BumRushDaShow]

157. To clarify-the "2 weeks" was the decision back on March 13 (OP date). NOW it is "indefinite" closure

The state legislature is completely GOP-controlled (the governor is a Democrat) so that should give you a clue on what their mindset would be. We are one of the few if the only state left that has no "dedicated" funding formula for our schools so the digital divide here in PA is extreme and this situation has literally thrown every spotlight available on that issue. Nearly 1/2 of Philadelphia public school students have no internet service at home and/or no computer (most do have some sort of cell phone so that is how they manage to get on the internet).

And this is also why the state hasn't gone "full" stay at home - it's been a series of several counties at a time (although I do know that a whole bunch of counties here, although geographically "large", have 10,000 or fewer people in them, so they don't have the same amount of "social contact" that the urban and suburban areas have.

Agree that there should be a "national internet". Hell... the "original" internet (ARPANET) belonged to the federal government (military) and the government (through congressional legislation) eventually sold access to private entities for consumer use- to supplement the education, government, military initial use of it.

[BumRushDaShow]

152. Philly positives up 243 since 3/30/20 and now at 1,315 as of 3/31/20

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 1,315
Total Negative Tests: 6,850
3/31/2020 9:00 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

[BumRushDaShow]

153. PA positives increase by almost 800 to 4,843

Negative Positive ​Deaths

37,645 | 4,843 | 63

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

[BumRushDaShow]

154. Wolf adds 7 more counties to "stay at home" order - now at 33 counties as of 3/31/20

Link to tweet

TEXT

Governor Tom Wolf
✔
@GovernorTomWolf

Today I'm adding 7 new counties to my #COVID19 Stay at Home Order:

📍 Cameron
📍 Crawford
📍 Forest
📍 Franklin
📍 Lawrence
📍 Lebanon
📍 Somerset

What does it mean? Stay home, except for essential tasks. Details: http://pa.gov/covid-19
Stay at home
40
3:25 PM - Mar 31, 2020

[ProfessorGAC]

158. Illinois Extended Stay At Home To April 15

With longer term TBD.
Schools are closed to at least end of April.

[BumRushDaShow]

159. In PA now, businesses are until April 30 and school closures are extended "indefinitely".

(have been using the thread to post updates but still have the original OP header)

[ProfessorGAC]

160. Chicago Is Indefinitely

Rest of state is through April. But since they've extended twice already, it's effectively indefinite.
I also got that wrong. Pritzker announced yesterday SaH is until Apr 30.

[BumRushDaShow]

161. I think what some were doing (like here)

was "adjusting" to the federal "April 30" date to appease the RW loons in their states (like those here in PA). We have a Democratic governor (thankfully) but a repuke state legislature, so Wolf has been trying to tiptoe though the landmine fields scattered across the state. We do have a pile of counties right along the northern border of PA that border southern NY and those probably have more elk there than people. And that is why he hasn't done the state-wide immediate shutdown but has slowly added counties each day.

[DeminPennswoods]

162. Some of the counties are asking Wolf to declare

a stay home order. That's what mine did.

[BumRushDaShow]

163. That's what Dr. Levine mentioned yesterday at the presser

when the media asked what the process was for the declarations and why some counties were under the order while others weren't. She noted that they were working with county officials (in addition to looking at the number of positive cases and rates of increase in numbers of cases)... and some had requested it even if they had less cases than others who did not have a stay-at-home designation.

[ProfessorGAC]

164. Our Limits Are Statewide.

More than half our 102 counties have cases, and 30% of our counties have under 20k people. So, where the people are, we're more like at 72% counties with cases.
Our governor isn't worried about the droolers. He won in a landslide without them.

[BumRushDaShow]

165. The difference between IL and PA

is that IL's state general assembly (both chambers) is majority Democratic and PA's (both chambers) is majority Republican (even with Wolf having been re-elected by almost 60% of the vote).

[ProfessorGAC]

166. Makes Sense

[DeminPennswoods]

169. Wolf wants to be safe without shutting down everything

so his administration is going case-by-case, trying to strike a balance, but the fact is, the most populous counties in PA are mostly under stay-at-home orders now.

By some of the counties in the mountains, Laurel highlands, Allegheny National Forest area and other big state parks and game lands probably do not need to be closed because there just aren't enough people living there or a lot of options other than local businesses.

[BumRushDaShow]

167. Philly number of positives increases by 360 since 3/31/20, going from 1,315 to 1,675 on 4/1/20

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 1,675
Total Negative Tests: 7,777
4/1/2020 9:00 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

[BumRushDaShow]

168. PA positives up almost 1000 since 3/31/20 and now at 5,805 on 4/1/20

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

42,427 | 5,805 | 74

[BumRushDaShow]

170. Wolf just extended stay-at-home STATE WIDE.

Last edited Wed Apr 1, 2020, 02:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Latest 11 minutes ago
3:20 PM - April 1, 2020
Wolf extends Pennsylvania stay-at-home order statewide

Gov. Tom Wolf confirmed Wednesday he is expanding his stay-at-home order statewide, until at least April 30.

“Some might think a month is too long to go without seeing your friends or family,” Wolf said during a news briefing. But if residents do not stay home during the coronavirus outbreak, “there are some people you’ll never see again.”

Health Secretary Rachel Levine said Pennsylvania’s frontline workers — like doctors, nurses, law enforcement, and grocery store employees — need everyone to follow the order.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200401.html#card-270262663

[BumRushDaShow]

171. Order for PA state-wide stay-at-home

Link to tweet

TEXT

Governor Tom Wolf
✔
@GovernorTomWolf

Today I’m ordering all Pennsylvanians to stay at home indefinitely.

I am doing this to avoid an exponential growth in the number of #COVID19 cases across our commonwealth.
Stay at home

4:02 PM - Apr 1, 2020

[DeminPennswoods]

172. Feds are going to prep a local

hospital in Ellwood City that closed due to bankruptcy to accept covid19 patients. It's only been closed a few months so it still should be in good structural and functional shape.

I'm sure there are other small hospitals in the more rural parts of the state where the same could be done.

[BumRushDaShow]

173. I thought I had heard that from some of the news outlet asking questions during today's presser.

If anything, they need to at least start identifying sites that can be used for overflow too - moving the more routine hospital patients to those sites and reserving the primary hospital for the critical COVID patients.

[DeminPennswoods]

174. Our local hospital chain's two hospitals are pretty empty right now

I think they've been moving patients out by design for at least the last few weeks in anticipation.

[BumRushDaShow]

175. PA positives have jumped by 1,211 cases to 7,016 as of 4/2/20

Negative Positive ​Deaths

47,698 | 7,016 | 90

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

[BumRushDaShow]

176. Philly positives have increased by 425, from 1675 to 2100

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 2,100
Total Negative Tests: 8,738
4/2/2020 9:00 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

[BumRushDaShow]

178. PA Primary Election dates (for revised election day)

Link to tweet

TEXT

PA Department of State
✔
@PAStateDept

The primary election will be held on June 2, 2020.

📅 Voter registration deadline: May 18
✉️ Mail-in & absentee ballot request deadline: May 26
✅ Return ballot deadline: June 2
🗳️ Primary Election Day: June 2

Learn more: https://www.votespa.com/About-Elections/Pages/Upcoming-Elections.aspx …
Embedded video
91
9:00 AM - Apr 2, 2020

[BumRushDaShow]

179. Pa. announces pay freeze for 9,000 state workers amid coronavirus fallout

Latest 18 minutes ago
11:00 AM - April 3, 2020
Pa. announces pay freeze for 9,000 state workers amid coronavirus fallout

Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration on Friday told nearly 9,000 state employees — more than 10% of its workforce — that it will stop paying them by the end of next week in order to reduce spending as the coronavirus shutdown continues to batter the economy.

The affected employees have jobs that cannot be completed through teleworking, according to the administration, which began shuttering state offices in mid-March to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Starting April 11, those workers will have to use vacation, sick, or other personal leave time if they want to continue receiving paychecks. Otherwise, they can file for unemployment.

It is unclear how long the state will withhold paychecks, although Wolf has said that state offices will remain closed until at least April 30. The administration said it will continue providing health care benefits for all affected workers.

— Angela Couloumbis / Spotlight PA

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid-19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200403.html#card-1992236865

[BumRushDaShow]

180. Philly has an additional 330 new positives for a total of 2,430 as of 4/3/20

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 2,430
Total Negative Tests: 9,595
4/3/2020 9:00 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

[BumRushDaShow]

181. PA adds another 1,404 positives since 4/2/20, for a total of 8,420 as of 4/3/20

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

53,695 | 8,420 | 102

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

[BumRushDaShow]

182. Well now the recommendation in PA is to "wear a mask"

(basically like the old days of putting a handkerchief over your face)

Link to tweet

TEXT

Governor Tom Wolf
✔
@GovernorTomWolf

Please wear a mask if you leave your house. Masks help keep those wearing them from sharing illnesses.

See instructions on how to make your own mask using materials you have at home: http://pa.gov/covid-19 #COVID19
Wear a mask
818
4:00 PM - Apr 3, 2020

The state and city have been recommending a pattern the NYT had posted (PDF) - https://int.nyt.com/data/documenthelper/6860-printable-face-mask-tutorial/ded6e67bb78f2599a7ff/optimized/full.pdf#page=1

Quickie "no-sew" version

Link to tweet

TEXT

Governor Tom Wolf
✔
@GovernorTomWolf
· 18h

Please wear a mask if you leave your house. Masks help keep those wearing them from sharing illnesses.

See instructions on how to make your own mask using materials you have at home: http://pa.gov/covid-19 #COVID19
View image on Twitter

Jennifer Hill @JenniferHillPa

This is such an easy way to make a mask at home. No sewing required! pic.twitter.com/PcQHxmZKWX
Embedded video

8:56 PM - Apr 3, 2020

[BumRushDaShow]

183. Philly positives jumped 578 on 4/4/20, from 2430 to 3008 since 4/3/20

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 3,008
Total Negative Tests: 10,766
4/4/2020 9:00 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

[BumRushDaShow]

184. PA has now gone over the 10,000 positives mark at 10,017 as of 4/4/20

(an increase of 1,597 cases since 4/3/20)

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

60,013 | 10,017 | 136

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

[BumRushDaShow]

185. PA has another increase in positives (by 1493) and now at 11,510 as of 4/5/20

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

66,261 | 11,510 | 150

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

[BumRushDaShow]

186. Philly positives now up to 3,189 as of 4/5/20 (increase of 181 and without some lab data)*

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 3,189
Total Negative Tests: 11,450
4/5/2020 9:00 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

* it was noted at previous pressers that not all labs send test results data 7 days a week so a "catch up" number will probably be reflected in tomorrow's figures

[BumRushDaShow]

187. PA has another increase in positives (1,470) from 11,510 to 12,980 as of 4/6/20

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

70,874 | 12,980 | 162

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

[BumRushDaShow]

188. Philly has a 1-day increase of 539 new positives and now at 3,728 as of 4/6/20

City of Philadelphia
COVID-19 Tests and Results
Total Positive Tests: 3,728
Total Negative Tests: 12,628
4/6/2020 9:00 AM

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/the-citys-response/monitoring-and-testing/

[BumRushDaShow]

189. Latest from Philly - 544 more positives to go from 3,728 to 4,272 as of 4/7/20

Current situation and risk in Philadelphia

Last updated: 4/7/2020 9:00:00 AM

Number of cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia: 4,272
Number of negative test results of COVID-19 in Philadelphia: 13,655
Number of COVID-19 deaths in Philadelphia: 65
Overall risk in Philadelphia: high risk of community transmission

https://www.phila.gov/programs/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/

[DeminPennswoods]

190. Trout season is open

Trout season opened today so at least some sportsmen/sportswomen and their children have something to do.

[BumRushDaShow]

191. And I heard it was altered where people would be allowed to see the stocking

I know my dad and grandfather used to fish for trout and hunt elk upstate! I still have my dad's old bamboo fly fishing pole (it's missing the reel though).

[DeminPennswoods]

193. Not a fisherman, but around here

I was told a big tradition is to go to the local lake and camp out overnight for opening day. That wasn't allowed this year and was disappointing to some that they couldn't go, camp out and drink beer until they dropped.

[BumRushDaShow]

192. PA positives increase by 1,579 to 14,559

​Negative Positive ​Deaths

76,719 | 14,559 | 240

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

[DeminPennswoods]

194. Positive rate was hanging around 10%, but now looks

to be around 15%, but not too surprising given there's more testing and testing still only involves symptomatic individuals.

[DeminPennswoods]

195. Epic thread here

my friend!

[BumRushDaShow]

196. It is. lol Philly went from their 1st positive March 6th and a month later, over 4000

And during the presser today, it's now official that there is at least 1 case in every county in the state.