During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of emergency declarations were made by the federal government, including but not limited to a declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act (pursuant to Section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act) issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in March 2020. He added: But short of that, what is the logic of thinking that somehow shutting down schools is going to help this pandemic? In Cleveland, parents had been bracing for possible remote instruction since the day before the winter break, when the district closed 14 of its 90 schools because faculty and staff members were out sick. Help paying for water bills is available. Supervision Requirements for Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists: This waiver suspends all statutory and regulatory requirements for licensees of the previously named Boards that call for direct supervision or require contact/interaction that is "in-person," "face-to-face," "on-site," "on the premises" or the like. School responses in Pennsylvania to the coronavirus PITTSBURGH Utility companies across Pennsylvania can begin shutting off services due to unpaid bills. 56. Pennsylvania American Water understands that not all customers meet the requirements, however, we do know that issues arise that may strain finances for everyone. Declaration, Amendments, and Guidance documents issued by HHS for specific information. This waiver allows for hours of clinical experience obtained by individuals working toward licensure as a behavior specialist via telemedicine or teletherapy during the duration of the COVID-19 emergency be recognized as valid and counted towards the 1,000 hours of clinical experience. Check the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development website for the most up-to-date information on resources and loans for businesses. Superintendent Eileen Shafer The House of Representatives has passed bipartisan bills that would reopen, The mayor of Philadelphia says city departments and agencies will be offering flexibility in bill payments to federal workers affected by the partial, Wolf Hesitates To Take More Aggressive Action Despite Accelerating Spread Of COVID-19, Pittsburgh Area Police Confident Businesses Will Comply With Shutdown Order, Some Federal Workers Still Unpaid After Shutdown, Dread Whats Next, A Federal Employee On The Shutdown's Financial Impact, And Bracing For More Uncertainty, Casey, Toomey Split In Votes On Bills To End Shutdown, Federal Government Shutdown Slows Process For Construction Permits In PA, Food Stamp Crisis Looming In PA Because Of Government Shutdown, Casey To Back Bill To Fund Government, Not Border Wall, Sen. Pat Toomey On The Shutdown, Gun Control Legislation, Steel Tariffs, Philadelphia To Offer Bill Payment Flexibility Amid Shutdown, Pennsylvania Senate votes to ban safe injection sites, Dollar Bank says ATM 'skimmer' breached some users' card data, urges customers to monitor accounts, After School Satan Club near Allentown gets go-ahead from judge, Former Amazon exec wants to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., starting in New Kensington, Polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk's archives 'come home' to the University of Pittsburgh. waiver suspending the State Board of Medicine's regulation at 49 Pa. Code 16.92(b)(1), which requires an initial physical examination of a patient prior to prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder. All businesses and individuals are encouraged to follow CDC safety guidance. School Chicago Teachers Union officials have criticized the districts testing, ventilation and staffing plans, and they expressed concern about the potential for breakthrough cases among vaccinated employees. This waiver was sought specifically to complement DDAP's suspension of 28 Pa. Code 715.9(a)(4)). If you are at risk for eviction or loss of utility service help is now available through theEmergency Rental Assistance Program(ERAP). I dont see the logic.. No one was really getting it, until now., Now, Mr. Boren is questioning whether a return to in-person learning makes any sense. Please note: This waiver supersedes a previous waiver, Licensed Professionals such as Certified Public Accountants, Licensed Respiratory Therapists, Massage Therapists, Optometrists, Licensed Osteopathic Respiratory Therapists, Podiatrists, Veterinarians, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Expanded Function Dental Assistants, Psychologists, Licensed Social Workers, Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors; RE: Permissible Amount of Online CEs. extended the pilot program for three additional years). Danger of having utility service terminated (received a notice that service will be shut off within the next 60 days). Stacy Davis Gates, the unions vice president, predicted chaos when classes resume on Monday. Make a gift of $7/month or more to get yours today! They dont give you a playbook at Harvard Business School on the pandemic, said Yancey Spruill, chief executive of the tech company DigitalOcean, which told its staff it will allow remote work indefinitely. In December 2021, Mid Penn announced it would be closing branches as it consolidated former Riverview branches into its system. 7. Important Reminder Regarding Expiration of COVID-19 Waivers on October 31, 2022. Hi @GoogleStadia. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Act 77 of 2021,October 7, 2021), Medical Doctors and the number of institutions with which they can be affiliated:This waiver suspends the institutional-license requirements that limit qualified medical doctors to practice at no more than two affiliated facilities.Expired: May23,2022(nowAct 16 of 2022,April 19, 2022), Out-of-State Health Care Practitioners:This waiver allows for the issuance of expedited temporary licenses to practitioners in other states to provide services to Pennsylvanians. 0 Pennsylvanians can submit applications online atcompass.state.pa.us. As a result, both hospitals will close: Jennersville Hospital effective 11:59 PM on December 31, 2021; and Brandywine Hospital effective 11:59 PM on January 31, 2022. For guidance and recommendations, visit the. According to the most recent utility reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, more than 700,000 customers are at risk of termination for nearly $650 million in unpaid services. Click here to learn more: amwater.com/paaw/customer-service-billing/customer-assistance-programs/. 2022 More by Amelia Winger, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Boosters increase protection against COVID-19. It will continue to be allowable in the same way it was allowable prior to the pandemic. Affected devices will also be unable to place emergency 911 calls after the shutdown takes place. Nearly 300 Schools Will Remain Closed After Winter Break Due These dates may be modified as official changes are announced, so please check back Suspect facing multiple charges after gunfire involving police in For all inquiries, please usethe email addresses found on:Board Contact Information. It also waives the requirement (3) for CRNAs to administer anesthesia in cooperation with a surgeon. September 30, 2021, were extended to March 31, 2022, by Act 73 of 2021. In schools, the spread of Covid-19 has been limited, but Omicron has renewed some fears just as a sense of normalcy seemed within reach. hb```f``Z ",@Q -XB2+&oR8J(EBTD0`c`}Aim5s~{>MZ 88*iF_4 Payment Arrangements & Assistance Programs: If you are having difficulty paying your residential bill, you may be eligible for outside assistance programs and payment arrangements based on your household income level. The CDC bases that characterization on a review of new hospital admissions and inpatient beds occupied due to COVID-19, and new cases over seven days. From New York to California, By the week of Dec. 11, it accounted for about 25 percent of all new infections, according to state data. All of them had been at least partly vaccinated. New laws, ordinances, changes coming to Ohio Licensees attempting to meet Continuing Education Requirements entirely through Online Learning or Distance Education: -For board-specific timelines and additional information. Get the latest vaccine updates and answers to frequently asked questions from the Department of Health. Anyone can read what you share. If they shut down the restaurants, they shut down all the events, every component of the city and state, then hey, Im not going to put my families at risk, Im not going to force them to take their children to school, said Pedro Martinez, the chief executive of Chicago Public Schools. Barbers, Cosmetologists, Accountants and Nursing Home Administrators: Barbers, Cosmetologists, Crane Operators, Nurses and Perfusionists: Suspension of certain regulations for Nurse-Midwives: Chiropractors, Dentists, Optometrists, Pharmacists and Podiatrist who hold Clinical Lab Permits to Order and Administer COVID-19 Tests: State Board of Medicine, State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, State Board of Nursing, State Board of Pharmacy, State Board of Occupational Therapy, State Board of Physical Therapy, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. including one in central Pennsylvania Shutdown in PA | 90.5 WESA But some districts including public schools in Cleveland; Prince Georges County, Md., a suburb of Washington, D.C.; Newark, N.J.; Mt. Were very concerned about short-staffed buildings, Ms. Davis Gates said. Pennsylvanians ages 6 months and older are eligible for the COVID vaccine, and Pennsylvanians ages 5 and older are eligible to schedule a booster. Both her husband and oldest son had been exposed to Covid-19 at separate holiday parties in Florida. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. More information about the federal public health emergency can be found Because experts dont know how long immunity lasts after someone get sick with COVID-19, vaccines still offer important protection to Pennsylvanians who have already had COVID. Copyright 2022 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With Omicrons Rise, Americans Brace for Returning to School The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has left companies across industries from meatpacking to retail with a thinning work force, especially after months of record high resignations. Pharmacists administering Influenza Vaccinations. Pharmacy Practitioners and Pharmacies in Other States: This waiver grants a suspension of certain licensure requirements to allow expedited temporary licensure to pharmacy practitioners and pharmacies in other states to provide goods and services to Pennsylvanians. The fund supports homeowners with a household income at or below 150% of the area median income who are now grappling with unforeseen financial hardships due to COVID. Use the Mental Health Resources guide to find help and information. We will work with you to determine payment plan options that may be available. But not knowing when classes might resume made the uncertainty of the situation unsettling. Lowe's (LOW) is shutting down 20 stores in the US and 31 in Canada. Court Reporters: This waiver suspends the requirement for physical presence of notaries who are court reporters/stenographers participating in criminal, civil and administrative proceedings. By Audra D. S. Burch,Stephanie Saul,Edgar Sandoval and Mitch Smith. Youre unable to view this Tweet because this account owner limits who can view their Tweets. The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund is open to Pennsylvania homeowners as of February 1, 2022. The sections of this waiver that will expire on September 30, 2021 include the suspension of the restrictive definition of "satellite pharmacy" which allowed ancillary sites during the COVID-19 emergency to be considered "satellite pharmacies", the suspension of the statutory emergency prescription section to allow pharmacists to issue a 30-day supply for an emergency script as opposed to a 72-hour supply only for nonscheduled legend drugs and schedule V controlled substances, and allowing pharmacists to dispense a 90-day supply of a medication (nonscheduled legend drugs) at one time by using the refills on the medication. Eligible Supervisors for COVID-19 Vaccinations: This waiver broadens the definition of eligible supervisors to include other licensed and trained healthcare professionals whose current scope of practice allows them to immunize, thereby making it possible for pharmacy interns to administer COVID-19 vaccinations under the direct, immediate and personal supervision of a pharmacist OR certain other health care practitioners (such as physicians and surgeons, physician assistants, nurse-midwives, registered nurses and certified registered nurse practitioners). Pa. hospital shutting down for good today despite omicron wave For the Pharmacists administering COVID-19 Vaccinations: This waiver allows a pharmacist who holds a valid Authorization to Administer Injectables to order and administer a COVID-19 vaccine without the need for an order from a licensed prescriber or a protocol approved/authorized by a physician or the medical staff of an institution; provided that any COVID-19 vaccine administration is performed in accordance with the applicable Emergency Use Authorization. Act 25 of 2022), Individuals working toward licensure as a behavior specialist via telemedicine or teletherapy: High anxiety would be how I would describe what I am feeling, she said. Utility companies across Pennsylvania can begin MOST READ PUBLICSOURCE STORIES Have a tip for the WESA newsroom? We were still wearing our masks, but we were re-engaging with people and attended events, said Ms. Most of the nations largest school districts have decided to forge ahead and remain open, at least for the time being, citing the toll that remote learning has taken on students mental health and academic success. Omicron may become the The omicron variant is now changing expectations for the economy in 2022. This page contains a calendar of all 2022 state holidays for Pennsylvania. Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons Licensed in Other States seeking Short Term Licensure in PA during the COVID-19 Emergency: Individuals working toward licensure as a behavior specialist via telemedicine or teletherapy. Its harder to plan, Ms. Caprinolo said. This waiver increases the ability of Graduate Medical Trainees under the State Board of Medicine and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine to administer the COVID-19 vaccination at various location through Pennsylvania, rather than their assigned medical training facility.Expired:October 31,2022, Pharmacists delegating authority to administer COVID-19 Vaccinations:This waiver allows pharmacists to delegate the authority to administer COVID-19 vaccines to other licensed health care practitioners whose scope of practice includes the administration of injectable vaccines, or who have otherwise been authorized or made eligible to administer COVID-19 vaccinations by way of federal or state government action including but not limited to the PREP Act Declaration and its amendments.Expired:October 31,2022, Out-of-State Osteopathic Physicians: In the first 10 weeks of the LIHWAP, Pennsylvania American Water customers have received more than 4,000 grants totaling more than $2 million in assistance, said Pennsylvania American Water Senior Manager Gary Lobaugh. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. Act 79 of 2021,October 7, 2021), Barbers satisfying their 'theory course work' requirement hours through distance education:This waiver expands distance education hours permitted for barbers.Expired: May23,2022(nowAct 76 of 2021,October 7, 2021), Cosmetology Students satisfying their education hours requirement through distance education:This waiver expands distance education hours permitted for cosmetology students.Expired: May23,2022(now Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Gay, 45, a grants director at the Port of Miami who lost two relatives to Covid in 2020. Virus testing last week in Norristown, Pa. Kriston Jae Bethel for The New York Times. Volunteers administering the COVID-19 Vaccination: This waiver allows licensed volunteers under the State Board of Medicine, the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, and the State Board of Nursing to administer vaccinations in settings that fall outside the definition of "approved clinic," including community-based, primary-care clinics and clinics in medically underserved areas. @A QF&m Others, including major companies like Apple and Google, have extended their work-from-home arrangements. Theres also a text feature. She is telling solutions-oriented stories that combine human experiences with broader context about data and policies. Eligible Supervisors for COVID-19 Vaccinations:This waiver broadens the definition of eligible supervisors to include other licensed and trained healthcare professionals whose current scope of practice allows them to immunize, thereby making it possible for pharmacy interns to administer COVID-19 vaccinations under the direct, immediate and personal supervision of a pharmacist OR certain other health care practitioners (such as physicians and surgeons, physician assistants, nurse-midwives, registered nurses and certified registered nurse practitioners).Expired:October 31,2022, Nursing Students administering COVID-19 Vaccinations:This waiver permits nursing students who have expertise in the technical details of administering vaccines to serve as technicians, separate and apart from their clinical placements but without being licensed, to administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccines with supervision by a licensed healthcare practitioner.Expired:October 31,2022, Volunteers administering the COVID-19 Vaccination:This waiver allows licensed volunteers under the State Board of Medicine, the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, and the State Board of Nursing to administer vaccinations in settings that fall outside the definition of "approved clinic," including community-based, primary-care clinics and clinics in medically underserved areas.Expired:October 31,2022, Clinical Clerks administering COVID-19 Vaccinations:This waiver allows clinical clerks licensed under the State Board of Medicine and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine to assist in administering COVID-19 vaccinations across Pennsylvania, rather than just in the hospitals to which they have been assigned.Expired:October 31,2022, Graduate Medical Trainees administering COVID-19 Vaccinations: