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
State Police Bureau Of Liquor Control Enforcement October 13-15: 315 Compliance Checks; Seven Notices Of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 315 licensed liquor establishments from Tuesday, October 13 through Thursday, October 15 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include...
Department Of Health Expands COVID-19 Testing Sites Through Faith-Based Partnerships
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Saturday, October 17, COVID-19 testing sites will be launched in communities in Allegheny and Dauphin counties in faith-based settings. “Research shows that geographically,...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,566 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 179,086
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 16, that there were 1,566 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 179,086. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Department Of Health Highlights September 2020 Nursing Home Inspection, Sanction Information Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
Harrisburg, PA - In the September 2020 report, Pennsylvania Department of Health nursing home surveyors conducted 543 inspections of 361 unique nursing homes, including 366 complaint investigations. Of these, 230 were COVID-19 specific....
Gov. Wolf: Amid a Resurgence of COVID, We Must Protect the ACA, People and Our Health Care System
As the number of positive COVID-19 cases rise in Pennsylvania and as we enter flu season, protecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and ensuring that all Pennsylvanians have access to health coverage are more important than ever, Governor Tom Wolf said today in Chester...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,598 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 177,520
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 15, that there were 1,598 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 177,520. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Department Of Health Adds Testing Site In Northumberland County To Help Contain Local Spread Of COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced beginning Friday, October 16, an outdoor testing clinic will be held in the lower parking lot at POLAR TECH in Ralpho Township, Northumberland County to contain the recent rapid increase in...
Department Of Health Prepared For Fall Surge In COVID-19 Cases, Working To Protect Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today highlighted the work under way to prepare Pennsylvania for a fall resurgence in COVID-19 cases, and to make sure all Pennsylvanians are as protected as possible from both COVID-19 and influenza. “We...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,276 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 175,922
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 14, that there were 1,276 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 175,922. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Department Of Health Announces Rapid Antigen Test Card Distributions Across The Commonwealth
Harrisburg, PA - The Wolf Administration today began distributing the first allotment of 250,000 COVID-19 antigen test kits provided by the federal government to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified institutions across Pennsylvania....
Department Of Health Shares Weekly Update On COVID-19 Investigations, Contact Tracing, Monitoring Efforts
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today shared its weekly update on Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing data and encouraged Pennsylvanians to download the COVID Alert PA app to aid in contact tracing efforts. “As Pennsylvania...
Department Of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, October 5 – October 11
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from October 5 through October 11, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants including social...
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for Oct. 2 – Oct. 8
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. The update includes the following: Level of community...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,342 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 174,646
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 13, that there were 1,342 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 174,646. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 2,254 Two-Day Positives Bring Statewide Total To 173,304
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 12, that there were 1,088 new cases, in addition to 1,166 new cases reported on Sunday, October 11 for a two-day total of 2,254 additional positive cases of COVID-19,...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,742 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 171,050 Pennsylvanians Urged To Download COVID Alert PA App
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 10, that there were 1,742 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 171,050. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of...
First Lady Wolf: Free School Meals Extended Throughout the School Year
First Lady Frances Wolf is proud to recognize the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s announcement that allows schools to provide free meals to all students for the rest of the school year. These flexibilities, for which First Lady Wolf recently...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,380 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 169,308
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 9, that there were 1,380 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 169,308. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Department Of Health Adds Testing Site In Berks County In Effort To Contain Local Spread Of COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA - Today, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that beginning Tuesday, October 13, an outdoor testing clinic will be held in the Front Street parking lot at FirstEnergy Stadium in Berks County to contain the recent rapid increase in...
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,376 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 167,928
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 8, that there were 1,376 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 167,928. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Department Of Health Provides Update On COVID-19, 1,309 Positives Bring Statewide Total To 166,552
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 7, that there were 1,309 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 166,552. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
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.