COVID-19
Senate Democrats introduce legislative solutions for working families during the COVID-19 outbreak and business closures.
Continue below to view legislation, stay up-to-date on the latest news, find important resources and more.
Restaurant & Tavern COVID-19 Assistance
Senators Jim Brewster & Pam Iovino Propose $100 Million COVID-19 Grant Program & Financial Relief Package for PA Restaurants & Taverns
Allegheny County, PA – July 23, 2020 – Today, State Senators Jim Brewster and Pam Iovino announced a comprehensive proposal to provide emergency relief to Pennsylvania’s restaurants and taverns, which have seen significant financial loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdown. The seven-point plan includes a $100 million grant program to retail liquor licensees using federal CARES Act funds, as well as a suite of policy changes to financially benefit these struggling businesses.
“Restaurants and taverns are not only favorite neighborhood destinations and community staples, they are the job creators and the cornerstone of vibrant main streets across Pennsylvania, representing the third-largest sector of the state’s economy – and they are in dire need of assistance,” said Senator Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington). “As these small business owners struggle to determine if they can hang on, they need to know that there are lifelines available to them. This plan would direct financial relief to this specific retail sector and will help position our Commonwealth for a full and lasting economic recovery.”
“Restaurants, bars and the hospitality industry has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and we have to provide relief,” said Senator Brewster (D – Allegheny & Westmoreland). “Too many bars and restaurants are imperiled, cannot survive under strict mitigation, or have closed their doors putting men and women out of work. We have an obligation and responsibility to move aggressively and provide help now. The assistance package we are offering today is critical for bars and restaurants and their employees.”
Pennsylvania Needs a Just Recovery
The Pennsylvania Senate & House Democratic Caucuses joined workers for virtual press events “based” across the state to highlight that Pennsylvania needs a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and justice for black lives. These events were able to bring together members of both legislative chambers to discuss the issues that constituents in their regions have brought to them as the major areas that they want to see change and assistance in as we create our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out the events below.
Southeastern PA
Hosted by Senator Muth, Senator Santarsiero, Representative Bradford, Representative Comitta and Representative Otten
Allegheny
Hosted by Senator Costa, Represenative Dermody, Represenative Gainey, Represenative Davis and Represenative Miller
Lehigh / Northeastern PA
Hosted by Represenative Madden, Represenative Pashinski and Represenative Schlossberg
Southeastern PA (Delco)
Hosted by Senator Kearney, Represenative McClinton and Represenative Krueger
June 18 • 10 am
Location: Southeastern PA
Hosted by Senator Muth, Senator Santarsiero, Representative Bradford, Representative Comitta and Representative Otten
Meeting ID: 819 3979 1362
Password: 264672489
June 18 • 11:00 AM
Location: Philadelphia
Hosted by Represenative Harris, Represenative Dawkins and Represenative Rabb
Meeting ID: 976 0394 1503
Password: 075347
June 18 • 2:00 PM
Location: Allegheny
Hosted by Senator Costa, Represenative Dermody, Represenative Gainey, Represenative Davis and Represenative Miller
Meeting ID: 868 9581 3709
Password: 664954553
June 18 • 2:00 PM
Location: Lehigh / Northeastern PA
Hosted by Represenative Madden, Represenative Pashinski and Represenative Schlossberg
Meeting ID: 824 5670 0008
Password: 026015692
June 18 • 3:00 PM
Location: Southeastern PA (Delco)
Hosted by Senator Kearney, Represenative McClinton and Represenative Krueger
Meeting ID: 846 2996 9103
Password: 917287918
COVID-19 Response Priorities
Healthcare System and Protecting Front Line Workers
We are facing unprecedented challenges as we fight the spread of COVID-19. As the country and the world institute policies and procedures on how to keep our communities safe, our front-line workers continue to operate in dangerous working conditions on a daily basis. Workers in healthcare facilities, public assistance workers and other direct support professionals, first responders and public safety personnel, transportation employees, and other essential retail staff such as grocery store workers, face increased risk to their health as we rely on them to provide life-sustaining services to our communities.
We must provide front-line workers with the tools necessary for maintaining strong mental and physical health and to mitigate the spread of coronavirus on work sites that are still in physical operation.
Our legislation would do so in several ways:
- Provide emergency funding for safety equipment, including personal protective equipment such as N95 masks, and mental health supports for front line employees;
- Create clear standards for the implementation of containment control plans in healthcare facilities, including emergency standards and accountability;
- Prioritize front-line workers in COVID-19 testing;
- Suspend, or limit, in-person services to the greatest extent possible by shifting to virtual assistance working standards and requiring telemedicine coverage by insurers for public workers classified as essential;
- Require cleaning standards for workplaces that remain open during this crisis to meet or exceed state and federal standards for COVID-19 prevention.
- Require employers to adopt social distancing policies by making available more spaces for employees to take their breaks and meal periods.
- Create the COVID-19 Crisis Fire and EMS grant program to provide an additional, one-time grant to each fire and EMS company agency that has been approved by the PA Emergency Management Agency and the Office of State Fire Commissioner for an annual grant for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
Assistance for Working People and Families
As protective measures are implemented statewide to protect our constituents from Covid-19 we must also act to protect all working people them from economic fallout as a result of this crisis. All working people and families deserve to be protected during this time of crisis.
Our legislation would do so in several ways:
- Emergency paid sick leave for all employees not covered by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
- Extending paid sick leave for an additional 4 days to cover the full two-week quarantine period as the federal bill only covers 10 days.
- The state will cover the additional 1/3 pay rate for those who must take leave to care for a child whose school has closed so employees receive 100% of pay.
- Extend family medical leave to all employees at 100% wage rate starting immediately upon starting leave to cover the unpaid time under the federal bill and then the additional 1/3 pay to fill the gap for 100% pay rate though the term covered by the Family Medical Leave Act.
- Requiring employers to reinstate workers returning from leave.
- Provide a presumption that all workers are eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits if they contract the Coronavirus in the workplace.
- Ensure that all workers can not be fired for any reason related to the Coronavirus.
- Require protocols for sterilizing workplaces where known cases of COVID-19 have been identified
- Ensure that all contract employees of public agencies, including school districts, are compensated for time off during the emergency order.
- Make it illegal to evict or foreclose on a family suffering unemployment due to an emergency disaster declaration.
- Ensure that students that are not in school receive continuity of education service and are provided online education opportunities.
- Ensure receipt of a stimulus check from the Federal government is not included in consideration of an individuals income for purposes of qualifying for social safety nets.
- Exempt stimulus checks from the Federal government from State and local taxation, making those payments exempt from all levels of taxation.
Economic Stimulus
- Provide additional working capital availability under the newly created COVID Working Capital Program – access to the current program can be found at https://dced.pa.gov/
- Making sure that school districts have the resources necessary to educate and fee students in a safe environment, including address toxic buildings
- Providing resources through PennVest for water utilities, and other utilities, to make infrastructure improvements
- Provide $100 million to childcare centers to cover administrative expenses, including payroll, and fill the loss of tuition payments from families.
- Provide $17 million for Pre-K and Head Start to cover administrative expenses, including payroll to compensate for lost co-payments that would otherwise have been collected.
- Appropriate $50 million to extend Pre-K and Head Start programs into the summer to mitigate early childhood learning losses for students.
- Create a Common Wealth Fund to all for citizens and businesses to make donations to provide essential services to those in need.
PA Senate Democrats Protecting Pennsylvanians During COVID-19
PA Senate Dems COVID-19 Response Legislation
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Our Members at Work
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COVID-19 Resources
Department of Health Resources
LIVE daily briefings from the PA Department of Health:
pacast.com/live/doh or www.governor.pa.gov/live/ or watch on Facebook
Below, please find links to state and federal sites that can help you navigate health recommendations, closures, and resources.
- Economic Assistance:
- Information for PA Employees Impacted by COVID-19
- U.S. Small Business Administration: COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- Hebrew Free Loan Association’s Coronavirus Financial Bridge Loan Program
- Business Resources from the PA Dept. of Community & Economic Development
- Emergency assistance to service industry employees who are parents
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- PA Chamber of Commerce
- Honeycomb Crowdfunded Small Business Relief Loan
- COVID-19 Loan Programs Quick Guide
- Federal Information
- FAQ – Federal Stimulus Package (U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb)
- Emergency Family & Medical Leave Expansion Act and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
- IRS Information
- CDC
- CDC Coronavirus Self Checker Tool (click on the orange self-checker box in the lower right hand corner of the page)
- U.S. Treasury Department (Paycheck Protection Program and other resources for small businesses)
- Seniors
- Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program can help older adult enrollees with prescription refill extensions
- PA Department of Health
- Apply for a mail in ballot for the April 28 primary
- Covid-19 Community Preparedness and Procedures Materials
- COVID-19 & the Census
- School Guidance/Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- COVID-19 Unemployment Compensation Guidance & Resources
- PA Government general guidance and information
- PA 211
Latest State News & Updates
Department Of State Releases COVID-19 Enforcement Actions, Dec. 6 – Dec. 13
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of State's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI) today released data related to COVID-19 enforcement actions from Dec. 6 through Dec. 13. With COVID cases increasing across the commonwealth, the Department of State is...
Department Of Health: Seven More Hospitals Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today announced as of 12 PM, December 16, seven additional hospitals have received a shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and will begin distributing it to health care workers as outlined in the state’s...
Department Of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, December 7 – December 13
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from December 7 through December 13, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants including social...
Department Of Health Announces Week-Three Of Regional Testing Extension Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Friday, December 18, regional drive-thru and indoor walk-in testing clinics will be held in Cambria, Franklin, Mercer, Montour, and Luzerne counties. The counties with testing sites...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 6,295 Patients Hospitalized And 1,264 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 16, that there were 10,049 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 519,369. There are 6,295 individuals hospitalized with...
Advocacy Organizations, Others Show Support for Latest COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts
Last Thursday, Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced time-limited mitigation measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. These mitigation measures went into effect on Saturday, December 12, to protect...
Wolf Administration Warns More Than 500,000 Pennsylvanians Will Lose Unemployment Benefits Dec. 31 If Congress Fails To Extend CARES Act Programs
Harrisburg, PA – With only 15 days remaining before the federal CARES Act expires, Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier today again urged Congress to act immediately to pass an extension to the federal Pandemic...
Department Of Health: Seven More Hospitals Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today announced as of 12 PM, December 15, seven additional hospitals have received a shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and will begin distributing it to health care workers as outlined in the state’s...
Department Of Health Highlights November 2020 Nursing Home Inspection, Sanction Information Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
Harrisburg, PA - In the November 2020 report, Pennsylvania Department of Health nursing home surveyors conducted 395 inspections of 236 unique nursing homes, including 312 complaint investigations. Of these, 173 were COVID-19-specific compliant...
Department Of Health: All 67 Counties In Pennsylvania Received Rapid Antigen Test Cards As Of Week 10
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today began distribution of the 10th allotment of COVID-19 antigen test kits provided by the federal government to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified institutions in the remaining 20 counties that...
Department Of Health Encourages Food Safety, COVID-19 Precautions For Upcoming Holidays
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today urged Pennsylvanians to take COVID-19 and food safety precautions as they plan household celebrations during the upcoming holidays. “We know that one of the best parts of the holiday season is spending...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 6,026 Patients Hospitalized And 1,249 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 15, that there were 9,556 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 509,320. There are 6,026 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19,...
Department Of Health: Pennsylvania To Receive 97,500 Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine Going To 87 Hospitals; Philadelphia County To Receive 13,650 Doses
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced that Pennsylvania is slated to receive 97,500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 66 counties, with Philadelphia County receiving its own allotment of 13,650 doses, for a total...
State Police Bureau Of Liquor Control Enforcement December 11-13: 526 Compliance Checks; 14 Notices Of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 526 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, December 11 through Sunday, December 13 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements, including the...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,970 Patients Hospitalized And 1,227 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 14, that there were 7,962 new cases, in addition to 10,684 new cases reported Sunday, December 13 for a two-day total of 18,646 additional positive cases of...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Dec. 4 – Dec. 10: Case Increases Above 60,400; Percent Positivity at 16.2% and All 67 Counties with Substantial Transmission
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, highlighting a seven-day case increase of 60,412 cases, a...
Gov. Wolf, NJ Gov. Murphy, Protect Our Care Coronavirus War Room Call on Congress to Provide COVID-19 Relief Package Now
Governor Tom Wolf participated in a media call today with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Protect Our Care Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas to make the case for immediate passage of a much-needed state and local bipartisan Congressional COVID relief...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19: 5,668 Patients Hospitalized And 1,151 Patients In The Intensive Care Unit
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 12, that there were 11,084 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 481,118. There are 5,668 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of...
Secretary Of Health Testifies On COVID-19 Vaccine In Front Of Congress
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine yesterday testified in front of the Senate, Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety at a hearing entitled, “The Logistics of Transporting a COVID-19 VaccineOpens In...
Gov. Wolf Receives Second Negative COVID-19 Test
Governor Tom Wolf announced that on Thursday evening, he received his second negative PCR test since his diagnosis. The governor had a positive PCR test on Tuesday and negative PCR tests on Wednesday evening and Thursday evening. It appears the positive PCR test on...
Health Care Systems, Others Show Support for Latest COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts
One day after Governor Tom Wolf and Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced stricter mitigation measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 cases to protect Pennsylvanians and the state’s health care systems, workers and businesses, health care organizations and...
FAQ’s
During the past few weeks, the PA Senate Democrats have hosted dozens of virtual town halls to provide information, build community and answer question. We wanted to share a few of the most frequently asked questions related to COVID-19.
STAY CALM. STAY SAFE. STAY HOME.