Daily Update: March 31, 2020 4 PM
Pennsylvania
- 4,843 confirmed cases, 37,645 tested negative, Deaths 63
Cases by county in the 10-county region per Pennsylvania Department of Health
* case count last updated at 12:00 p.m. on 3/31/2020
| Cases | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny: | 325 | 2 |
| Armstrong: | 5 | 0 |
| Beaver: | 52 | 0 |
| Butler: | 60 | 2 |
| Fayette: | 14 | 0 |
| Greene: | 9 | 0 |
| Indiana: | 6 | 0 |
| Lawrence: | 13 | 2 |
| Washington: | 33 | 0 |
| Westmoreland: | 61 | 0 |
State Updates
- Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine updated PA’s stay at home order today to include Cameron, Crawford, Forest, Franklin, Lawrence, Lebanon and Somerset counties. This brings the state total to 33 counties under the order, which will continue until at least April 30.
- PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced today that First Commonwealth Bank has agreed to join the “PA CARE Package”. The PA CARE Package is a consumer relief initiative of banks and financial institutions working with the Attorney General’s Office of Bureau of Consumer Protection to both comply with the recently-passed CARES Act to offer protections for consumers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To commit to the PA CARE Package program, financial institutions and banks must offer additional assistance to Pennsylvanians facing financial hardship due to impacts of COVID-19. You can find out more about this program here.
- Today, the PA Supreme Court asked a number of organizations to submit an answer to a petition filed that was seeking the release of people being held in county jails across the state. County jails hold inmates who are awaiting trial, serving sentences of less than two years, or who have violated terms of probation. The petition argued that the nearly 40,000 inmates are at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 because they are unable to take the precautions recommended by medical experts to prevent its spread. The court has not given a time frame for when it might rule.
- Nearly 200,000 Pennsylvanians have signed up online to vote by mail ballot in the June 2 primary election.
Regional Coronavirus Updates
- City of Pittsburgh
- Councilman Corey O’Connor led efforts to enable borrowing to support the city and help prevent further economic downturn during coronavirus. Councilman O’Connor’s bill authorizes the mayor and directors of the Office of Management and Budget and Department of Finance to pursue lines of credit related to operational needs. The vote tentatively passed council on Tuesday and final approval is expected the first full week of April.
- Allegheny County
- Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen confirmed that the David L. Lawrence Convention Center has been assessed by the Army Corps of Engineers for use as a potential field hospital
Federal Coronavirus Updates:
Department of the Interior:
- Congressional Democrats are asking the Interior Department for additional national park and public land closures, including the Grand Canyon. These are all efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and limit the size of gatherings.
Federal Trade Commission:
- Over 1,000 Americans have filed complaints with the FTC after being unable to cancel or be refunded on travel and vacation trips.
Congress:
- Three days after speaking on the House floor and interactions with leadership, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) has been diagnosed with a presumed case of coronavirus. To date, five members of Congress have tested positive — Reps. Joe Cunningham, D-SC; Mario Diaz-Balart, R-FL.; Mike Kelly, R-PA; and Ben McAdams, D-UT as well as Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- 250 ambulances and 500 EMT’s and paramedics are being sent to New York City to help with the overwhelming number of 911 calls and assist with transferring patients from overcrowded medical facilities to facilities with more room.