coronavirus
After a year of Zoom and telework, Capitol staff make steady return to Harrisburg
Pennsylvania is on pace to normalcy. And for some Capitol staff, that means heading back to the office. Statewide COVID-19 mitigation measures have been lifted, so offices can operate at full capacity — meaning that when lawmakers return to Harrisburg next week, more staff will come with them for the first time since remote work […]
On track to achieve vaccine benchmark, Pa. plans to lift mask mandate by June 28
Statewide data show that nearly 98 percent of senior citizens and 70 percent of adults have received at least one dose.
Despite vote to limit emergency powers, Pa. Gov. Wolf extends COVID-19 disaster declaration
Wolf said the declaration allows more medical professionals to administer vaccines, provides families with access to food, and ensures counties and businesses are eligible for federal disaster recovery funding.
Senate Democrats propose ‘New Deal’ spending plan for Pa. relief funds
Democrats said their $6.15 billion plan focuses on creating jobs, opportunity and equity by investing in human services, economic development and public health.
Top Wolf aide named to replace Levine at state Health Dept.
Gov. Tom Wolf has tapped a top staffer to replace Dr. Rachel Levine as the new head of the state Department of Health. Alison Beam, currently a deputy chief of staff to Wolf, will take over as acting Secretary of Health, pending confirmation by the state Senate. Beam will have to quickly step into Levine’s […]
Dr. Deborah Birx, Trump’s COVID coordinator, credits Pa.’s ‘remarkable job’ addressing COVID-19 pandemic
President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 response coordinator applauded Pennsylvania’s approach to addressing the pandemic Thursday.
Break quarantine, risk legal action, Pa. warns people exposed to COVID-19
The letter, potentially sent to thousands, is a new frontier in how the commonwealth acts, or at least talks, about its virus response, one expert said.
The Capitol reopens Monday, and visitors must wear masks. Will House lawmakers?
The masking requirement is the first to cover lawmakers. It was included in new rules approved by a bipartisan committee of House Republican and Democratic leadership last week.
Turzai says he didn’t know about positive COVID test, calls for future transparency
The most powerful lawmaker in the House said Thursday that he’d back changing the chamber’s rules to force lawmakers to tell their colleagues if they test positive for COVID-19.
Pa. House panel moves to end Wolf’s executive powers amid pandemic
The vote comes hours after the Republican-controlled House failed to muster the votes to overturn Wolf’s veto of a bill that would have allowed hundreds of businesses across the commonwealth to reopen.
COVID-19 outbreak in Pa.: What’s open and what’s closed
This story will be updated with the latest COVID-related re-openings. Last update: Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Update: Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a three-week restrictions, prohibiting indoor dining at bars and restaurants, closing gyms and entertainment venues, and limiting retail shopping to 50 percent capacity as the state’s healthcare system struggles to keep up the […]
Pa. Rep. Metcalfe calls for Wolf’s impeachment over COVID-19 response
In a Friday memo to his colleagues, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, said that Wolf “has violated so many of our fundamental rights as citizens of the Commonwealth” in his COVID-19 response.