Harrisburg, PA – After a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today moved Clinton and McKean counties to drought warning and added 13 counties to drought watch.

There are now three counties on drought warning: Clinton, McKean, and Potter.

There are now 29 counties on drought watch: Armstrong, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Cumberland, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Warren, and Wyoming.

Residents on drought warning are asked to reduce their individual water use 10-15 percent, based on a statewide average of 62 gallons per person per day. This means a reduction of six to nine gallons a day.

Residents on drought watch are asked to reduce their individual water use 5-10 percent, or a reduction of three to six gallons of water per day.

“It’s going to take a lot of precipitation to get us out of these deficits over time. We are asking residents in these counties to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.

DEP is notifying all water suppliers in these counties of the need to monitor their supplies and be prepared by updating their drought contingency plans as necessary. Varying localized conditions may lead water suppliers or municipalities to ask residents for more stringent conservation actions by residents. Eighteen water suppliers in these counties have begun asking or requiring residents to reduce their water use.

There are many ways to reduce water use around the house and yard, including:

• Run water only when necessary. Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Shorten the time you let the water run to warm up before showering. Use a bucket to catch the water and reuse it to water your plants.
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine only with full loads.
• When watering your garden, be efficient and effective: Water in the evening or morning, and direct the water to the ground at the base of the plant, so you don’t waste water through evaporation.
• Water your lawn only if necessary. Apply no more than 1 inch of water per week (use an empty can to determine how long it takes to water 1 inch). Avoid watering on windy and hot days. This pattern will encourage healthier, deeper grass roots. Over-watering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought.
• Re-use old water from bird baths, vases, or pet bowls to water plants.
• When mowing your lawn, set the blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil, improving moisture retention. It also grows thicker and develops a deeper root system, so it can better survive drought.
• Check for household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.
• Sweep your sidewalk, deck, or driveway, rather than hosing it off.
• Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40-50 percent less energy.
• Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets.

Find more tips at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

DEP makes drought watch, warning, or emergency declaration recommendations based on four numeric indicators. The agency gets stream flow and groundwater level data from a statewide network of gauges maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, DEP monitors precipitation and soil moisture. DEP also factors in information it receives from public water suppliers.

There are normal ranges for all four indicators, and DEP makes its drought status recommendations after assessing the departures from these normal ranges for all indicators for periods of 3-12 months. Declarations are not based on one indicator alone. For details on indicator monitoring, see this fact sheet: Drought Management in Pennsylvania.

DEP shares these data and its recommendations with other state and federal agency personnel who make up the Commonwealth Drought Task Force. Drought watch and warning declarations are determined by DEP, with the concurrence of the task force. Drought emergency declarations follow the same process, with final approval by the Governor.

A drought emergency has not been declared for any county.

The next Drought Task Force meeting will be in two weeks.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today praised the recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence for 2019 and thanked all state employees for their dedication to public service.

“Today, we are recognizing the extraordinary accomplishments of commonwealth employees in service to their fellow Pennsylvanians,” said Governor Wolf. “They have demonstrated innovation, work ethic, self-sacrifice, and compassion for others at the highest levels. The positive impacts of their efforts will be felt for many years to come.”

“The Governor’s Awards for Excellence celebrate the best among us as state employees,” said Secretary of Administration Michael Newsome. “I want to congratulate all of our nominees for their exceptional contributions.”

Twenty-one state agencies submitted a total of 124 nominations prepared by their employees, with five individual and six group nominations selected as winners for this year’s awards.

Corporal Adam Kirk – Pennsylvania State Police
For extraordinary bravery and sacrifice in the line of duty. Corporal Kirk was shot in the chest while conducting a welfare check at a residence in Tioga County in December 2019. Despite being severely wounded, Corporal Kirk and two Troopers maintained a perimeter outside the residence until back up and medical assistance arrived, preventing the assailant from fleeing and possibly harming others.

Troop A Community Enforcement Team – Pennsylvania State Police
Trooper Anthony Arbaczewski, Corporal John Isoldi, and Trooper Zachary Del Sordo

For conceiving and developing new tactics to combat the opioid crisis and keep illegal guns and weapons out of communities. By proactively cultivating investigative leads and building relationships with other law enforcement agencies, the team has been instrumental in multiple homicide investigations, fugitive apprehensions, and heroin/fentanyl seizures.

Greene County Fire Recovery Team – PennDOT
William Baird, William Gipe, Christopher Inman, Tamie Kiger, Timothy Mankey, Ryan Medvitz, Terrence Pearsall, Jack Rice, Tammy Tedesco, and Leslie Wynn

After a fire destroyed their offices and maintenance garage, the team mobilized to quickly resume operations from alternate locations and plan for the construction of a new facility, all while continuing to serve the traveling public.

Sarah Baker – PennDOT
For leading the effort to make REAL ID-compliant driver licenses and photo ID cards available to Pennsylvanians. She made sure PennDOT’s program complied with applicable laws and regulations, coordinated the construction of five new driver’s license centers, contributed to the design of IT infrastructure to support the program, and conducted extensive research to provide an optimal customer experience.

Unemployment Compensation Chat Service Team – Department of Labor and Industry
Charles Ballard, Geoffrey Lanning, Garrett Malick, Ryan Miscavige, Jerrie Lee Moyer, Wendy Peters, Richard Plesnarski, Jennifer Poorman, and Shawn Price

For developing, testing, and implementing a live chat feature to serve Pennsylvanians contacting unemployment compensation service centers, allowing staff to provide better customer service to claimants, expedite claims processing, and reduce call volumes. Since its launch in July 2019, the chat feature has hosted more than 300,000 UC Live Chats with claimants.

Community HealthChoices Team – Department of Human Services
Wilmarie Gonzalez, Jennifer Hale, Michael Hale, Randolph Nolen, Daniel Sharar, Jill Vovakes, and Kristen Wierman

For leading the largest phase of implementation of Community HealthChoices, a program for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with physical disabilities. Their carefully planned coordination and communication with participants, stakeholders, advocates, local officials, and managed care organizations, as well as health care, home care, and long-term care providers, resulted in a successful roll out with no disruptions in care or services.

Patient Advocacy Program Team – Department of Health and Office of Administration
Craig Costigan, Colleen DiVittore, John Krahel, Stanley Murzynski (OA), Tamara Seiler, Jared Shinabery, and Carrie Thomas Goetz

For establishing the Patient Advocacy Program within the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to assist patients who lose access to care due to the arrest of a provider, surrender of a DEA license, or closure of a clinic. They have provided rapid response for 11 events affecting large patient populations and direct outreach to over 1,060 individuals. They also disseminate alerts to counties when there is an unusually high numbers of drug overdoses.

Adam Overmiller – Department of Health
For developing an innovative geographic information system mapping tool that captures and shares data on the languages people speak. The tool can target communications tailored to populations that lack proficiency in English, allowing agencies to improve their outreach and achieve better outcomes for all Pennsylvanians.

Ruffed Grouse Preservation Team – Pennsylvania Game Commission
Scott Bearer, Robert Blystone, Jeremy Diehl, David Gustafson, Clayton Lutz, Timothy Hoppe, Daniel Jones, and Lisa Williams

For pioneering new strategies to restore habitats essential to the reversal of declining populations of Pennsylvania’s state bird, which has been devastated by the West Nile Virus. By identifying areas capable of supporting ruffed grouse that are also at low risk for the virus, the commission is better able to target its habitat restoration efforts where they are most likely to be successful.

Daniel McIntyre – Department of Corrections
For implementing multiple innovations in corrections, parole, and reentry. They include using virtual reality technology to help juvenile offenders reentering society after lengthy sentences, working with mentally ill and hospice inmates, and training staff. He also led the use of GPS for low-level drug offenders as an alternative to incarceration or community corrections centers (CCCs) and created job placement and transportation services for reentrants residing at CCCs.

Tyler Banas – Department of Agriculture
For stepping in to assist when a non-profit responsible for providing food access to 1.3 million low income Pennsylvanians in Southeastern Pennsylvania suddenly went out of business. Tyler helped the new provider get up to speed with its responsibilities as a distributor, as well as the proper handling of perishable items, all while fulfilling his regular job duties.

Governor Tom Wolf speaks during a press conference addressing the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, inside PEMA headquarters on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

Harrisburg, Pa. – Today, Governor Tom Wolf released a statement condemning House Resolution 1032 as a partisan attack on the integrity of Pennsylvania elections. The resolution undermines the authority of county-level elections officials and the Department of State to administer safe, secure and non-partisan elections. The following is the governor’s statement:

“The House Republicans are not only walking in lockstep with President Trump to try to sow chaos and put the results of the election in question, they are also taking steps to take the authority to administer elections away from the Department of State. The resolution also attacks the integrity of county election administrators. This is an unprecedented attack on non-partisan election administrators at a time when we should all be doing everything we can to instill confidence in our elections. 

“Last year we came together on a bipartisan basis to pass landmark legislation to modernize Pennsylvania’s election system. Now House Republicans are hypocritically bowing to political pressure to undermine the mail voting that has proven to be a tremendous benefit to Pennsylvanians during the pandemic. 

“Despite the best efforts of the House Republicans, Pennsylvania will administer our elections safely and securely. And we will stand up to House Republicans’ partisan efforts to interfere in our elections to benefit themselves and their political schemes.”

Eight (8) new cases added Wednesday in Lycoming County now at 709 cases and one new death and 26 total deaths, with 13,386 negatives according to DOH report.

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19,

1,153 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 158,967

Pennsylvanians Urged to Download COVID Alert PA App

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., September 30, that there were 1,153 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 158,967. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between September 23 and September 29 is 191,995 with 6,168 positive cases. There were 23,163 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., September 29. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

There are 8,142 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 19 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

“We know that congregation, especially in college and university settings, yields increased case counts. The mitigation efforts in place now are essential to flattening the curve and saving lives,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings, and telework will help keep our case counts low. Make your phone part of the fight against COVID-19 today by downloading the COVID Alert PA exposure notification app. Together, as Pennsylvanians, all of our efforts are designed to support our communities to ensure that cases of COVID-19 remain low.”

Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

There are 499 cases who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases and 646 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.

There are 1,879,127 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Approximately 1% are ages 0-4;
• Nearly 2% are ages 5-12;
• Nearly 5% are ages 13-18;
• Approximately 13% are ages 19-24;
• Nearly 36% are ages 25-49;
• Approximately 21% are ages 50-64; and
• Nearly 22% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

The department is seeing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases among younger age groups, particularly 19 to 24-year-olds. An alert was sent to healthcare providers about the changing COVID-19 case demographics, as there are more cases in younger age groups than in those 50-64 and 65+. The following regions saw significant increases among 19 to 24-year-olds in each month from April to date in September:

• NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 65 percent of cases so far in September;
• NE – 6 percent of cases in April to approximately 35 percent of cases so far in September;
• SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 28 percent of cases so far in September;
• SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to approximately 26 percent of cases so far in September;
• NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 19 percent of cases so far in September; and
• SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 16 percent of cases so far in September.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 22,935 resident cases of COVID-19, and 5,079 cases among employees, for a total of 28,014 at 984 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 5,456 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 10,765 of our total cases are among health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, Sept. 29:

• Released latest CMU metrics report.
• Provided Pennsylvania State Police enforcement data.
• Announced that more than 165,000 Pennsylvanians downloaded the COVID Alert PA app in the first week.
• Reminded Pennsylvanians that we must protect the ACA amid COVID-19.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
• Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

Discusses legislative priorities to improve federal prison system

Washington – Today, the Congressional Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Reform Caucus founded by Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12) held its first official meeting, seeking legislative solutions to increase transparency and cooperation in improving America’s federal prison system.

Congressman Keller, the BOP Reform Caucus’ Chairman, led the discussion addressing structural issues that stem from a lack of government oversight of and accountability from the BOP.

Caucus member offices in attendance included Representatives Larry Bucshon (IN-08), Mike Bost (IL-12), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), and Andy Kim (NJ-03).

During his introductory remarks, Congressman Keller outlined the caucus’ mission and aims:

“The impacts of COVID-19 have exposed many underlying issues within the BOP, specifically its lack of communication with Congress, inadequate staffing levels and inmate oversight, and its operational organization in response to immediate crises.”

Congressman Keller also noted that staffing reductions at federal prisons have resulted in a nationwide shortage of correctional officers, as current levels represent only 75% percent of the ‘mission critical’ level of officers the agency testified would be necessary to keep its employees safe.

“It is time Congress works together to bring thoughtful and effective change to this federal agency.

This caucus will work to break down the barrier between the BOP and Congress to make sure our correctional officers have the manpower and resources they need to perform their jobs effectively, ensuring that the federal BOP leadership in Washington puts their health and safety first.”

Congressman Keller formed the BOP Reform Caucus in August of 2020 after experiencing repeated issues the BOP, including a lack of response from the agency and the continued movement of inmates across BOP facilities nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. The BOP Reform Caucus will continue to address these concerns and highlight legislative efforts to bring accountability and transparency to the BOP.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today that seven Department of Human Services (DHS) employees were recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence for their outstanding contributions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Leadership in DHS’ Office of Long-Term Living, Jill Vovakes, Kristen Wierman, Jennifer Hale, Michael C. Hale, Randolph A. Nolen, Wilmarie Gonzalez, and Daniel S. Sharar, were recognized by Governor Wolf for their successful execution of the third and final phase of implementation for Community HealthChoices (CHC), a managed long-term services and supports program that affects approximately 370,000 Pennsylvanians.

“I could not be more proud of my colleagues for earning this prestigious honor today, and I offer them my sincerest thanks and congratulations,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller. “The work that the OLTL team made possible throughout the CHC implementation period has not only improved long-term services and supports delivery for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, but it has put Pennsylvania on the path to deliver positive results for years to come. This team knew that their work had implications on the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people around the commonwealth, and they rose to the challenge with respect and consideration for the people they serve and delivered excellent results.”

CHC was established to facilitate greater independence for Pennsylvanians who are aging or have a physical disability by providing services and supports that help them stay in their home and community and experience an overall better quality of life. By offering these services and supports in a managed care delivery system, DHS worked towards better quality of services for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with physical disabilities, as well as budget predictability.

CHC marked a monumental departure in care and service delivery for approximately 370,000 Pennsylvanians, many of whom are vulnerable populations and making changes to important health care programs and supports can have potentially life-altering implications for participants if full care and consideration is not taken.

The award recipients built on successes and learned from challenges of the first two phases of CHC implementation to set a strong foundation for its biggest roll-out, which covered the Northwest, Northeast, Lehigh Valley, and Capitol regions. The team led a long-term, detailed roll-out schedule that included communication with participants, stakeholders, advocates, local officials, and managed care organizations as well as health care, home care, and long-term care providers across Pennsylvania, all while prioritizing transparency and openness throughout the process.

To date, there have not been disruptions in care or services, and the CHC managed care organizations and DHS staff have supported participants and service providers in operating and providing safe services during the public health emergency. Since December 2017, the rate of people using long-term services and supports in their community has increased from 58.5 percent to 69.2 percent as of July 2020. The transition to CHC will also create predictability for long-term services and supports costs, one of the biggest cost drivers in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid budget.

The Governor’s Awards for Excellence recognize commonwealth employees for exemplary job performance or service that reflects initiative, leadership, innovation and increased efficiency. The DHS employees are among 49 state employees from nine agencies to be honored by Governor Tom Wolf at today’s virtual awards presentation.

More information about CHC can be found here.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf awarded a group of Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) employees with Governor’s Awards for Excellence in recognition of their design and implementation of a live chat function for the unemployment compensation (UC) website. The employees received the awards during a virtual event held earlier today.

“The development and launch of the UC Live Chat feature provides an effective and efficient method of communication between UC staff and claimants, and is particularly important during this time of historically high UC claims filings due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said L&I Secretary Jerry Oleksiak. “The awardees’ dedication and initiative led to the creation of an online feature that not only improved customer service for UC claimants, but may have also helped reduced call volume to UC Service Centers.”

Governor Wolf today presented Governor’s Awards for Excellence to 49 employees representing nine commonwealth agencies. The awards recognize employees for exemplary job performance or service that reflects initiative, leadership, innovation and increased efficiency. Employees or a group of employees are nominated by a co-worker for the award.

The nine L&I employees receiving the award worked to develop, test, and implement the UC Live Chat capability for UC claimants within the Office of Unemployment Compensation Service Centers. The feature provides end-to-end encryptions so that personal information can be shared directly with L&I’s UC team and provides a virtual means of communication for UC claimants to ask questions and have concerns addressed regarding their claims. Since its launch in July 2019, the chat feature has hosted more than 300,000 UC Live Chats with claimants.

Adding an alternative communication method for UC claimants provided better customer service to claimants, expedited claims processing and helped reduce call volumes. The new chat feature has increased productivity and efficiency, had a significant positive impact on UC claimants, and provides future multi-agency applications.

The L&I employees that helped develop and implement the UC Live Chat feature are:

• Wendy Curtis Roy Peters, unemployment compensation executive I
• Jerrie Lee Moyer, program analyst 2
• Shawn L. Price, management analyst supervisor
• Richard M. Plesnarski, management analyst 2
• Garrett Daniel Malick, management analyst 2
• Jennifer C. Poorman, unemployment compensation claims intake interviewer
• Ryan J. Miscavige, administrative assistant 1
• Charles L. Ballard, management analyst 2
• Geoffrey M. Lanning, administrative officer 3

For more information on the Governor’s Awards for Excellence, visit www.oa.pa.gov/gae. For more information on youth employment opportunities, visit www.pacareerlink.pa.gov.

Photo Courtesy: Fox News

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Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that more than 165,000 Pennsylvanians have downloaded the COVID Alert PA exposure notification mobile app in the first week since the app was released to the Apple and Google app stores.

“Thank you to all of the Pennsylvanians who have already downloaded the COVID Alert PA app and added their phone to the fight against COVID-19,” Gov. Wolf said. “This is a simple, secure way that each and every one of us can help protect our communities from COVID-19, and I encourage every Pennsylvanian to download the app today. When we unite to stop COVID-19, we accomplish much more than we ever could alone.”

COVID Alert PA is a free, voluntary mobile app developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in partnership with NearForm, UPenn and MIT Lincoln Laboratory using the Apple and Google Exposure Notification System. The app’s features include an interactive COVID-19 symptom checker, alerts of potential exposures to the virus, updates on the latest public health data about COVID-19 in PA and public health guidance for what to do if you have a potential exposure to COVID-19.

“Pennsylvanians are united in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, and they are downloading the app to make sure their phone is part of the fight,” Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The more Pennsylvanians who download this app, the more effective it will be at slowing the spread of COVID-19. This app does not track your location or movement; it uses Bluetooth technology to send a COVID-19 exposure notification if you have been in close contact with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19.”

The app is designed with privacy at the forefront. The app does not use GPS, location services, or any movement or geographical information. It will never collect, transmit or store personal information. In other words, it is completely anonymous. The app does collect user statistics like the number of downloads or the symptom check-in demographics that people can voluntarily share. In the first week of availability, we know:

• There were 165,678 downloads onto smartphone devices;
• There were an average of 23,659 COVID Check-Ins for symptoms per day; and
• Around 96 percent of app users reported “feeling good” during their COVID Check-In per day.

Here’s how COVID Alert PA works:

• The app uses anonymous Bluetooth low energy proximity technology to know when your phone is within six feet of another phone with the app for 15 minutes or more.
• When an app user confirms a positive COVID-19 test result in the app, it will check to see if it matches any of the anonymous Bluetooth close contact interactions your phone has had over the last 14 days.
• If there is a match, COVID Alert PA may send an exposure alert after taking into account the date, duration of exposure and the Bluetooth signal strength (which is used to estimate how close your phone was to the phone of the person having a positive test result).

The more people who download the app, the more effective it will be in helping to stop the spread of COVID. The app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “COVID Alert PA.”

Find more information on the COVID Alert PA app here.