Saturday, August 15, Pennsylvania Patriots Radio on TalkWilliamsport.com from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. hosted by Carlos  Saldivia and Robert Noerr will cover topics of note this week in the Keystone state.

At 11:30 a.m. State Representative Russ Diamond joins the program to discuss the agreement between Lebanon County and Governor Wolf on the release of $12.8 million in Covid-19 relief funds.

The show includes regular contributor PAPBA award winning broadcaster Todd Bartley who serves as General Manager of talkwilliamsport.com.

To contact the show e-mail news@talkwilliamsport.com.

Pennsylvania Patriots Radio precedes the Marc Scaringi Show which airs at 1 p.m.

Pennsylvania Patriots Radio is available online by clicking this link.

Listen online https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/index.cfm?stationCallSign=WEJS

Talkwilliamsport.com continues to be at the forefront of keeping Lycoming County citizens informed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harrisburg, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today reminded Pennsylvanians of the availability of assistance in paying certain utility bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Recovery Crisis program ahead of the program’s end on August 31.

“We know that the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent economic insecurity have led to trouble balancing essentials such as home energy bills. Any Pennsylvanian who is struggling to pay utilities should know that they are not alone during this time,” said Secretary Miller. “DHS administers safety-net programs to support families across the commonwealth and help them get through times like these. LIHEAP Recovery Crisis is available through the end of the month, and any Pennsylvanian having trouble paying home energy bills should apply and see if they qualify for a little extra help.”

LIHEAP helps with home energy bills, ensuring continuity of utility and other energy services for low-income Pennsylvanians. LIHEAP normally runs from November through April, but the Recovery Crisis program, running through August, can help with Pennsylvanians’ home energy bills, ensuring continuity of utility and other energy services for low-income Pennsylvanians. Assistance is available for both renters and homeowners.

The LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program will offer a crisis benefit made directly to utility companies or fuel providers to help offset costs for home utilities.

LIHEAP Recovery Crisis benefits may be available if a household:

• Has their main or secondary energy source completely shut-off;
• Is notified that their utility service will be shut off in the next 60 days;
• Has broken energy equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replace;
• Is in danger of being without fuel in 15 days or less; or,
• Owes funds to a utility provider that would constitute a service termination if not for the Public Utility Commission’s moratorium on terminations.

LIHEAP Recovery Crisis program will run through August 31.

Applications for LIHEAP Recovery Crisis are available online at www.compass.state.pa.us. Those who prefer to submit paper applications can print from the website or request an application by phone at 1-800-692-7462 and mail it to their local County Assistance Office (CAO) or place it in a CAO’s secure drop box, if available. Dropping applications off at a CAO using the drop box can help avoid an application delay due to ongoing postal service delays. Pennsylvanians do not need to know their own eligibility in order to apply for these programs. While CAOs remain closed, work processing applications, determining eligibility, and issuing benefits continues. If you applied and were denied previously and your financial circumstances have changed, you can reapply.

Once an application for LIHEAP Crisis Recovery is approved, DHS will work with utility companies and deliverable fuel vendors to help Pennsylvanians pay utility bills and maintain access to home energy services.

“There should be no shame or stigma associated with asking for assistance, and no one should be afraid to ask for help,” said Secretary Miller. “These are incredibly challenging times, but that’s why DHS and programs like LIHEAP Recovery Crisis exist – to make difficult times a little easier so we have what we need to get by and emerge stronger on the other side.”

More information about the LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program, including income limits, can be found here.

Visit DHS’ blog, For All Of Us, to learn more about how the LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program has helped Pennsylvanians.

President Trump’s convoluted short-term plan is not a solution

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf sent a letter to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation reaffirming his support for an extension of the federal $600 weekly unemployment benefit that expired last month. With Senate Republicans failing to pass a bill continuing the program, President Trump on Aug. 8 authorized a plan that will reduce and delay payments to workers in need, end the benefit for 30,000 Pennsylvanians and increase the burden on states.

“The president’s convoluted and temporary idea will leave families waiting weeks just to get less,” said Gov. Wolf. “This is not what the American people want or expect, and all of us deserve better.

“As I have said before, the extra $600 per week is vital for families to get by and the federal government should extend it. The additional unemployment benefit was helping many working families to pay their bills and put food on the table. The U.S. House has already passed a bill to extend the program and the Senate should do the same.”

The governor joined Sen. Bob Casey in a virtual press conference last week and previously sent a letter to the congressional delegation urging the Senate to pass legislation continuing the extra $600 weekly benefit.

The Trump administration’s plan is funded by $44 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that is intended for storm disaster relief. With 30 million unemployed Americans eligible for benefits, funding could be exhausted within weeks. Payments would also likely be delayed, because states cannot use current unemployment computer systems, therefore new systems may be required. Further, new eligibility requirements could eliminate the extra benefit for approximately 30,000 Pennsylvanians.

The full letter is as follows:

Dear Members of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation:

I write to you today to ask that you continue to work with House and Senate leadership and extend the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program to support those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 8^th, President Trump issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to act through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide supplemental unemployment benefits. This is a convoluted and short-lived proposal that will delay payments to unemployed Pennsylvanians and create unnecessary and costly administrative burdens for the states who must administer the funds.

I previously wrote to you urging the extension of FPUC, which has allowed many Pennsylvanians to remain economically stable throughout this crisis. Continuing FPUC would immediately provide both relief to Pennsylvania families, continue to inject critically needed stimulus into the economy, prevent further job losses, and promote a stable and swift recovery.

After the FPUC program expired on July 31, President Trump signed a presidential memorandum invoking his emergency authority under the Stafford Act to provide $44 billion in FEMA funds for a new “lost wages assistance” program to unemployed individuals. For numerous reasons, this approach is problematic and is much less advantageous than Congressional action to extend the FPUC program:

• States must cover 25% of benefit costs. The presidential memorandum states that unemployed individuals are eligible for $400 weekly payments, of which $300 comes from FEMA funds and $100 is provided by the states. The administration has suggested that states can use CARES Act funding for these $100 supplemental payments. Most states, however, have already depleted CARES Act funding by using it to shore up their unemployment compensation (UC) trust funds, or meet the numerous other costs facing states as they continue to respond to the pandemic amidst sharply declining state tax revenues.
  • An alternate “solution” offered in the President’s memorandum is that states may use existing UC benefits paid to cover the state portion of the required match. If Pennsylvania uses this option, the perception will be that the state has “shorted” claimants by $100 by counting money they are already receiving towards the match required to trigger the $300 FEMA payment. In addition, given that Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and state extended benefits (EB) are currently fully federally paid, it is unclear if the required state match for individuals receiving those benefits can be met through regular UC expenditures.
  • I ask that you include additional state and local aid in the next stimulus package. Simply put, states, including Pennsylvania, do not have the funds to meet this mandatory $100 match. Additional state and local aid, as outlined in the HEROES Act, would be required to implement this program as directed by the President.

• There is not enough FEMA funding to sustain the program beyond a few weeks. Numerous news outlets have cited that, if the 30 million unemployed Americans currently eligible for unemployment benefits collect this lost wage assistance payment, the $44 billion allocation of FEMA funding from the Disaster Relief Fund will last approximately five to six weeks. Even if unemployment declines at a much faster rate than is currently projected, the program will be out of funding by October. This is not the long-term solution that Pennsylvanians need to remain financially secure while they pursue new employment opportunities.

• Additional eligibility requirements mean fewer people will receive this funding.  The President’s memorandum limits eligibility to individuals receiving $100 or more in weekly benefits. This means approximately 30,000 Pennsylvanians would receive no supplemental benefit, as they currently receive a weekly benefit of less than $100 per week. Additionally, unlike FPUC, which provided a flat stipend to every claimant, claimants must certify that they are at least partially unemployed due to COVID-19 in order to receive lost wages assistance funds. Given the reality that COVID-19 has had both direct and indirect effects on job losses, this requirement will create an additional and substantial administrative burden and unnecessary confusion for Pennsylvanians.

• States must create a new system to make these payments. Per information provided by U.S. Department of Labor on an August 11 call with FEMA and the states, states are forbidden from using their UC trust fund to quickly pay the $300 payment and then reimburse the trust fund with FEMA dollars at a later date. States must make the $300 payment separately from regular UC payments. Many states, including Pennsylvania, are still reeling from rapidly setting up PUA systems and are now struggling under a tidal wave of fraudulent claims. Creating yet another completely new system will be exceedingly labor-intensive, especially for a program that will exist for a maximum of four months, and likely only several weeks. Additionally, this program will take time to create and test, further delaying aid to Pennsylvanians who desperately need it. This will be especially taxing on Pennsylvania’s UC system, given that we are in the midst of setting up a new, modern UC platform that has long been scheduled to go live in October.

• Lost wages assistance provided with FEMA funds under Stafford Act authority is not Unemployment Compensation.  Because FPUC was provided as supplemental UC benefits, it was clear how those payments counted towards eligibility for health insurance, public assistance benefits, child support payments, and several other social service programs. In addition, individuals whose UC, PUA, PEUC, and EB claims are currently being held for additional fact-finding will still receive FPUC for any dates for which they were eligible, even if their eligibility was not determined before the expiration of the program. The funds available through the Stafford Act are capped at $44 billion and, once exhausted, claimants with backdated claims or whose claims are held for fact-finding will not receive any payments, even if they were eligible.

There is a solution. Language in the President’s memorandum states that, should Congress enact legislation that provides supplemental unemployment benefits, the lost wages assistance program will cease operation.  FPUC must be re-authorized, so states, including Pennsylvania, can provide funding immediately to all UC, PUA, PEUC, and extended benefits claimants without additional administrative burden to help our citizens during this unprecedented time.

Extending FPUC is vital to supporting the health and welfare of Pennsylvania’s people and economy. On behalf of the hard-working families of Pennsylvania, I strongly urge you to work with House and Senate leadership and enact legislation that will provide urgently needed supplemental unemployment benefits that can be simply and quickly administered through the existing unemployment insurance system infrastructure.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Governor Tom Wolf

Calls for greater oversight of our nation’s federal prison system

Washington, D.C. —Today Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) announced the creation of the bipartisan Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Reform Caucus.

Led by Congressman Keller, the group of U.S. House Republican and Democratic lawmakers aim to improve BOP accountability and transparency, address systemic issues within the BOP system, and ensure the health and safety of corrections officers, staff, inmates, and the communities surrounding the prisons.

Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District contains two federal prisons—USP Lewisburg and FCC Allenwood, both in Union County—with a third prison, USP Canaan, directly outside of the district.

Members of the BOP Reform Caucus include Congressman Glen ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15), Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Congresswomen Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13), and Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03).

On the launch of the BOP Reform Caucus, Congressman Fred Keller made the following statement:

“I am proud to launch the BOP Reform Caucus today to increase accountability and transparency within the Bureau of Prisons and continue to advocate for the heroes who go to work every day at federal prisons across America. With a $7 billion budget, more than 36,000 employees, and 172,000 inmates, BOP is a massive government agency, yet its leadership in Washington, D.C. lacks adequate congressional oversight. The continued movement of inmates across the nation during a pandemic and the most recent outbreak of COVID-19 in USP Lewisburg and FCC Allenwood are proof that the policies BOP set in place to mitigate the spread of the disease have failed. At this critical time in the re-opening phase of our economy and schools, this Caucus will allow Congress to work closely with BOP to ensure the health of our corrections officers, inmates, and the American people.”

Background

Despite the pandemic’s impact on the nation, the agency has continued to move inmates between facilities across the nation, often from hot spots to areas with few confirmed cases, leading to widespread concern among local communities, members of Congress, and health care professionals.

Congressman Keller has taken significant action to halt BOP’s movement of inmates during the pandemic and ensure the health and safety of corrections officers, staff, and inmates. Those actions include:

• March 22: Sent a letter to BOP Director Michael Carvajal requesting that he not transfer federal inmates to USP Lewisburg, USP Canaan, or FCC Allenwood.

• March 24: Sent a second letter to BOP Director Michael Carvajal reiterating the request to halt BOP inmate movement for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak after an inmate transferred to FCC Allenwood arrived sick enough to get tested for COVID-19.

• March 26: Spoke by phone with BOP Director Michael Caravajal in order to get information about how to stop inmate movement during the COVID-19 national emergency.
• March 31: Introduced the bipartisan Pausing All New Detention and Ending Movement of Inmates for Coronavirus (PANDEMIC) Act of 2020 in response to BOP continuing to move inmates between facilities across the nation despite confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the prison system. Additionally, Congressman Keller held a telephone town hall with nearly 4,000 corrections officers from Pennsylvania and across the country to discuss issues related to their work.
• May 1: Introduced the Federal Prisons Accountability Act, legislation that would bring greater oversight and transparency to the federal Bureau of Prisons by requiring that the BOP Director to be confirmed by the United States Senate.

The announcement of the BOP Reform Caucus comes on the heels of reports of a COVID-19 outbreak in USP Lewisburg and FCC Allenwood. As a result of this recent outbreak, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has recommended no in-person instruction for Union County schools until the case numbers drop.

BOP Reform Caucus Member Statements

“I’m honored to join the BOP Reform Caucus,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “I worked hard during the height of COVID-19 to ensure our correctional officers at FCI Raybrook in my district were allowed PPE to safely protect themselves, and I cosponsored the PANDEMIC Act to prohibit the transfer of federal inmates in order to slow the spread. This Caucus aims to increase transparency and communication within the BOP to ensure Congress can work with them effectively to understand and assist with their needs. Our prisons running smoothly is important for the safety and well-being for all of our communities.”

“As a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Bureau of Prisons, I’ve seen clearly that we need to fix this system. And it’s going to take a coalition of Democrats and Republicans to do it,” said Congressman Matt Cartwright. “Today marks the beginning of a coordinated effort to address longstanding issues like dangerous staffing practices that jeopardize the safety of staff and security of our correctional institutions.”

“The creation of the Bureau of Prisons Reform Caucus will bring Members of Congress together in a way to proactively address the challenges facing the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the hardworking federal Corrections Officers, and those the government aims to rehabilitate,” said Congressman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson.

“Tens of thousands of corrections officers in the Federal Bureau of Prisons show up to work every day and do their part to make our criminal justice system work and keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Rodney Davis. “Given the large size of the agency and recent COVID-19 outbreaks at federal correctional facilities, the Bureau is in need of additional Congressional oversight to ensure the employees, their families, and inmates are safe. I look forward to working with the bipartisan group of lawmakers in the BOP Reform Caucus to ensure the essential workers in the Bureau have the tools and resources they need to safely do their jobs.”

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts based on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard comparing the seven-day period of August 7 – August 13 to the previous seven days, July 31 – August 6, along with data on cases that reported visiting a business among potential exposures, and age-specific data for 19-24-year-olds.

The dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state’s mitigation efforts. The data available on the dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positivity, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19.

“Our percent positivity decreased for the third week in a row, which is a testament to the testing occurring, and that testing is widely available throughout the state,” Gov. Wolf said. “However, with increased testing comes increased case counts. The virus is still circulating, and we must continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings to keep our numbers low, stop the spread and allow more freedom.”

As of Thursday, August 13, the state has seen a seven-day case increase of 5,530, the previous seven-day increase was 5,030, indicating a 500-case increase across the state over the past week.

The statewide percent-positivity went down to 4.0% from 4.1% last week. Counties with concerning percent-positivity include Fayette (10.4%), Armstrong (8.9%), Cameron (8.7%), Huntingdon (7.1%), Dauphin (6.5%), Northumberland (6.4%), Mercer (6.3%), Erie (5.9%), Crawford (5.8%), Forest (5.8%), York (5.6%), Indiana (5.5%), Franklin (5.4%), Lawrence (5.3%), and Berks (5.0%). Each of these counties bears watching as the state continues to monitor all available data.

The Department of Health is now providing data on the number of individuals who responded to case investigators that they spent time at business establishments (restaurants, bars, gym/fitness center, salon/barbershop) and at mass gatherings 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.

Of the 24,468 positive cases reported between July 13 and August 11, less than half of the individuals provided an answer to the question as to whether they spent time at a business establishment. Of those who did provide an answer, 6 percent, or 1,499 answered yes, they visited a business establishment 14 days prior to onset of symptoms:

• 47 percent of those who said yes reported going to a restaurant;
• 24 percent of those who said yes reported going to a bar;
• 19 percent of those who said yes reported going to some other business establishment;
• 10 percent of those who said yes reported going to a gym/fitness center; and
• 9 percent of those who said yes reported going to a salon/barbershop.

Of the 24,468 cases, 52 percent answered the question as to whether they attended a mass gathering or other large event. Of the 52 percent, nearly 12 percent (1,648) answered yes to whether they attended a mass gathering or other large event 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.

Case investigator notes included frequent mentions of visits to bars and restaurants among positive case. To better understand this emerging trend, on July 13, contact tracers began asking more specific questions on types of businesses visited and if individuals attended a mass gathering, defined as more than 250 people in attendance outdoors or more than 25 indoors.

The numbers above highlight business settings and mass gatherings as possible sites for transmission. With approximately half of those asked about what types of businesses they visited or if they attended a mass gathering responding to the question, the department is reminding Pennsylvanians that it is essential that people answer the phone when case investigators call and to provide full and complete information to these clinical professionals.

Also today, the Department of Health updated its travel recommendations, originally announced on July 2, to remove Nebraska, North Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin from the list of states recommended for domestic travelers returning from to quarantine for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania.

It is important that people understand that this recommendation is in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. A concerning number of recent cases have been linked to travel, and if people are going to travel, we need them to take steps to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community, and that involves quarantining.

In addition, the department has looked at the percent change in cases among 19-24-year-olds from April through July 14, compared to April through August 14 after the most recent mitigation efforts were put in place:

• The percent of cases among 19-24-year-olds in the SW are down by 12 percent (24 percent as of July 14 to 12 percent as of August 14);
• The percent of cases among 19-24-year-olds in the NC are down five percent (14 percent as of July 14 to 8 percent as of August 14);
• The percent of cases among 19-24-year-olds in the NW are down three percent (12 percent as of July 14 to 9 percent as of August 14);
• The percent of cases among 19-24-year-olds in the SC are down one percent (13 percent as of July 14 to 12 percent as of August 14);
• The percent of cases among 19-24-year-olds in the SE remained the same (17 percent as of July 14 to 17 percent as of August 14); and
• The percent of cases among 19-24-year-olds in the NE remained the same (17 percent as of July 14 to 17 percent of as August 14).

Declines in this age group, where we saw significant case increases prior to July 15 mitigation efforts, indicate the actions are working, but must continue to see further declines across the state.

Gov. Wolf continues to prioritize the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians through the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvanians should continue to take actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, regardless of in what county they live.. This includes wearing a mask or face covering anytime they are in public. COVID-19 has been shown to spread easily in the air and contagious carriers can be asymptomatic.

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19,

829 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 122,950

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 14, that there are 829 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 122,950. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

Philadelphia is reporting an increase of 147 cases.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between August 7 and August 13 is 165,694 with 5,600 positive cases. There were 26,069 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., August 13. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

There are 7,445 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 36 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

“The mitigation efforts in place now are essential as the new school year approaches and we work to ensure our children can get back to learning,” 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. Together, as Pennsylvanians, we each have a part to play in working 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 644 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases. There are 1,304,739 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• 1% are ages 0-4;
• 1% are ages 5-12;
• Nearly 4% are ages 13-18;
• Nearly 10% are ages 19-24;
• Nearly 38% are ages 25-49;
• Nearly 23% are ages 50-64; and
• Nearly 24% 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 present in August:

• SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 17 percent of cases so far in August;
• NE – 6 percent of cases in April to approximately 17 percent of cases so far in August;
• SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to 12 percent of cases so far in August;
• SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 12 percent of cases so far in August;
• NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 9 percent of cases so far in August; and
• NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 8 percent of cases so far in August.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 20,285 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,209 cases among employees, for a total of 24,494 at 890 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 5,056 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 8,826 of our total cases are amongst 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, August 13:

• Released latest CMU metrics report.
• Announced Pennsylvania COVID-19 Response Task Force for Health Disparity.
• Announced PHARE funding to support affordable housing and affordable rental housing.
• Provided Pennsylvania State Police enforcement data.

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.

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
• Map with the number of COVID-19 cases

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.

Harrisburg, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Education today jointly recommended that Pre-K–12 school and recreational youth sports be postponed until at least Jan. 1, 2021, to protect children and teens from COVID-19.

The administration is providing this strong recommendation and not an order or mandate. As with deciding whether students should return to in-person classes, remote learning or a blend of the two this fall, school administrators and locally elected school boards should make decisions on sports.

Highlights of the recommendation to pause youth sports until Jan. 1, 2021:

• Applies to team and individual, school and non-school recreational youth sports;
• Includes competitions, intramural play and scrimmages;
• Continue conditioning, drills and other training activities on an individual basis;
• Does not apply to collegiate and professional sports;
• Gathering limits remain unchanged – no more than 25 persons may gather indoors and 250 outdoors.

The administration is updating existing sports guidance to reflect this recommendation.

The administration recognizes the importance of getting children back to school, while also protecting the safety and well-being of students and educators. Guidance for schools is available. The guidance represents endorsed best public health practices related to social distancing, face coverings, hand hygiene, and cleaning and disinfecting in school settings. It also outlines how to accommodate individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions, procedures for monitoring symptoms, and responding to confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in the school community.

During the Tuesday press availability Todd Bartley of News Talk WMPT was in attendance at the PEMA building in Harrisburg and posed questions to Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health regarding the recent Miami Marlins COVID-19 outbreak in Philadelphia.

In the hours after the press event Major League Baseball announced the Marlins will not be playing games before Sunday and the Phillies will not play again until Thursday.

The moves were made out of an abundance of caution.

The following is the initial article in an investigative series into multiple racial hoax incidents being perpetrated on local Lycoming County businesses. 

By: Todd Bartley, Talkwilliamsport.com

Darrick Dixon, who claims he is the most famous Williamsport resident has a habit of drawing attention to himself; he just took the cake in regard to racism in America and has Jussie Smollett holding his beer.

According to a February 11, 2020 Chicago Sun Times article, “The “Empire” actor (Jussie Smollett) has been charged again for allegedly faking a hate crime attack after the Cook County state’s attorney’s office dropped the charges.”

Darrick Dixon recently staged, recorded and shared multiple “commercials” for food products not currently offered in local stores.

The parties that played roles in the videos were sought out, groomed and instructed by Dixon on how to perform for the desired effect.

Talkwilliamsport.com has confirmed from fact witnesses at each location, at no time in any of the videos did any store employee participate in any way.

Talkwilliamsport.com has also confirmed from fact witnesses and law enforcement sources, at no time in any of the videos did any member of the Williamsport Bureau of Police participate in any way.

Wegman’s Incident

On or about June 18, 2020 as noted in the time stamp of the provided video Darrick Dixon and company entered the Wegman’s in Williamsport intent on recording a video falsely referred to as a “commercial.”

Upon entry of the building it is believed by fact witnesses that a pair of groups had specific instructions in order to divide and conquer the employees and management working that evening.

One group, a female with children went toward the newly renovated cafe’ side of the store while Dixon (camera in hand) and fellow conspirators headed for the other side of the store to begin their performances.

The diversion with the female on the cafe’ side of the store drew enough attention from the Wegman’s staff and management the Williamsport Bureau of Police was called and officers responded.

Which was all part of the prescribed plan Dixon cooked up.

As the diversion was underway in the cafe’; the video begins with Aaron “Zeek” Holder sitting on a battery driven scooter with a basket on its front.

Holder is black.

He is engaged in a heated conversation with a person who appears to be a store manager in a polo, khakis and a mask covering his face.

The person playing the role of the manager has been identified as Jason Seyler.

Seyler is white.

On the left side of the screen is a group of females also playing roles in the video including Erica Seyler (wife of Jason Seyler) and other minors related to both of them.

The conversation revolves around the absence of Uncle P Pancake mix as Holden holds up a box of Aunt Jemima pancake mix.

As the exchange continues Holder grabs a box of Uncle Ben’s rice from his basket and claims he wants Uncle P rice.

When Seyler playing the manager says he will talk to his “buyer” about getting the other product; Holder slams the boxes on the ground and takes off on the scooter.

He is closely followed by Seyler who instructs Holder to leave the store.

As Holder exits the front of the store, he exits on the same side as a Williamsport Bureau of Police officer already engaged in a conversation with store employees regarding the earlier diversion incident.

The WBP officer has their back to the camera as Holder exits.

Holder blurts out that “black lives matter and black product matters!”

At no time did the WBP officer move toward Holder or take action against him.

Fact witnesses interviewed for this story claim that Dixon invited the WBP officer to be in the video, the invitation was instantly declined.

The subsequent completed video was linked to Instagram and shared on Facebook.

The video has been seen nearly 500,000 times between the social media platforms.

A “fake news” story chronicling the incident appears on a website promoting Master P appearances and products:

 Master P, June 18 · 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1214110872260754

 Jason Seyler is with Emalee Wein and Erica Seyler.

June 18 · 

Holden video stated intent prior to Wegman’s incident

Aaron “Zeek” Holder participated in a video with Dixon producing that outlined the plan to go to the store, to protest and to make enough of a scene so the police would be called to remove him.

In response to seeing the video on Facebook, Terrell Davis commented “He better not be standing up because when I see him last time he was in a wheelchair.”

Master P claims he has never met Zeek calls him a “soldier”

 Master P, June 30 · 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=330500134610055

Your Choice Incident preceded Wegman’s incident

Aaron “Zeek” Holder appears in a video exiting the Your Choice store on Washington Boulevard in Williamsport with a pair of cases of what he claims to be P Noodles on or about June 9, 2020.

As he exits the store a female in the parking lot engages Holder by demanding some of the product. Holder denies her and then proceeds to a vehicle.

Holder then dances on the drivers side of the vehicle which has labeling on the drivers side on the bed of the truck that reads “Facebook.com/AntiochChurch.”

According to store staff the noodles shown in the video are not currently sold at that location. The packages are actually labeled snacks.

Again, another hoax.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=745462689531931

Master P rewards Zeek with new teeth and a promised movie role

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3047022078713619

Are these videos not already Master P movies since his products are being promoted?

Master P, July 13 · 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=322401289154945

Talkwilliamsport.com reached out to Wegman’s corporate office, Mars, Inc. which owns the Uncle Ben’s brand and Quaker Oats which owns the Aunt Jemima brand for comment.

As of this writing none of the companies were available for comment.

Multiple law enforcement agencies confirmed they are currently looking into the case and the many facets including the portrayal of a racially charged incident that has been documented to be completely fabricated.

Those law enforcement agencies declined formal comment for this story citing protocols related to ongoing criminal investigations.

Legal sources contacted for this story who spoke on the condition of anonymity shared “criminal activity occurred” in this case. They also shared the civil liability for those conspiring and producing this hoax could be severe.

In an ironic twist to this story, Jayson Seyler posted to his Facebook page “Set-up or a hoax?” accompanied by the photo below on June 25, 2020.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=593396154923235&set=a.104662667129922&type=3&eid=ARA8A07vhdVreERHHUjFJ928rZ3g9ti0HQzraBD4tG2knX6EXyJpNAy1DzeIF8LgYQqwVOPWtkxR1aA4

Recently, a 4-part series OP-ED: Jennifer Lake Wokebegone – PART IV was published by Talk Williamsport detailing an anti-racist/racism resolution championed by elite, woke, white woman and Dixon apologist, Jennifer Lake, WASD school board member.

She along with WASD school board president Lori Baer have supported the efforts of Darrick Dixon for years.

Lake has not been shy about her support of the Marxist Black Lives Matter movement.

Dixon previously produced a video including a ringing endorsement from WAMS Principal Brandon Pardoe. The intent was to obtain a pardon for the previously noted crime committed by Dixon.

Based on the facts in this story will Lake, Baer, WAHS Principal Brandon Pardoe and other supporters now condemn this act of hatred and betrayal by Dixon?

The fundamental question in this story is; how is a man who is setting up and promoting peaceful protests while at the same time sowing seeds of racial discord with a completely fabricated act of racism of a white store manager against a handicapped black man at the expense of a local business?

Darrick Dixon has Jussie Smollett holding his beer – PART II is forthcoming.

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 – With a recent rise in COVID cases and subsequent additional targeted mitigation efforts put in place, Governor Tom Wolf today visited WellSpan York Hospital to thank staff and emphasize why mask-wearing and social distancing are necessary and effective to fight the spread of COVID-19.

“The best way to prevent our loved ones and ourselves from suffering from COVID-19 is to take preventive measures to stop the spread,” Gov. Wolf said. “That’s why Dr. Levine and I made the decision to require Pennsylvanians to wear a mask in public and it’s why more and more national companies are requiring you to wear a mask when you enter their businesses. They want their employees to stay safe, and they want you to stay safe.”

On July 15, the governor and Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed additional targeted statewide mitigation orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings and telework. These were announced after Allegheny and other counties began to see spikes in cases similar to those at the beginning of the pandemic.

The governor was joined at today’s event by WellSpan president and CEO Roxanna Gapstur; Department of Health Sec. Dr. Rachel Levine; York City Bureau of Health medical director and WellSpan physician, Dr. Matthew Howie; associate professor of biology, Kinsley School of Engineering, Science, and Technology, York College of Pennsylvania, Meda Higa, Ph.D.,; and WellSpan cardiac ICU nurse, Christina Hansen.

“Our 20,000 team members are the heart of WellSpan. They are truly our healthcare heroes, and our commitment to them is as strong as their dedication to our patients and communities,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO of WellSpan Health. “Throughout this pandemic, our dedicated team members have placed patients first – providing safe, expert and compassionate care to our friends and neighbors. And, as we’ve resumed services at our 200 locations across our six-county region, WellSpan care teams continue to deliver on our promise of providing the safest, highest quality care to our community.”

“Through COVID-19 case investigations, we know much of this is attributed to spread at locations where wearing a mask is difficult and social distancing may not occur – like bars, restaurants and nightclubs,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “When conducting case investigations, public health professionals gather that list of close contacts, work to contact trace and inform those individuals of their potential exposure.  As you can see contact tracing has, and always will be, a critical part and key strategy to the governor’s process of reopening Pennsylvania and an important tool to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

“As an evolving epidemic in Pennsylvania, COVID-19 continues to demand ongoing monitoring, assessment and adjustment in our response as a commonwealth,” said Dr. Matthew Howie, medical director of the York City Bureau of Health and WellSpan physician. “While frustrating, refinements of our approach to COVID-19, including masking, limitations in gatherings are critical to our success in limiting the spread of the novel Coronavirus in our community. Similarly, redoubling our public health efforts in case investigation and contact tracing is more important than ever. This virus is not forgiving of missteps and does not allow for time to play catch-up.”

“Many times, the data supports our predictions in how we believe this virus works. Sometimes, though, we get new data that causes us to change our hypothesis and subsequently the advice we offer for how to prevent spread,” Dr. Meda Higa said. “This was the case with asymptomatic spread and mask usage. The scientific process matters, and we shouldn’t be afraid when new data causes us to change course. That is the way science works! Scientists also have the same goal as everyone else: To fight back this virus, so that we have the best chance to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy and alive.”

“I’ve been inspired by the amazing success stories I’ve seen in the COVID-19 care of our patients,” explained Christina Hansen, Cardiac ICU nurse at WellSpan York Hospital. “But COVID-19 has also inspired me to spread the word about the dangers of the disease, from what I’ve seen in the ICU and the ways this virus attacks the body. Please, it is critical that you wear your mask.”

The governor’s targeted mitigation order can be found here.

The secretary’s targeted mitigation order can be found here.

The secretary’s order on mask-wearing can be found here.

FAQs on mask-wearing can be found here.