INSIDE THIS REPORT:

• Governor announces eight more counties planned for green phase June 19
• Thursday’s COVID-19 numbers and links
• DHS issues request for application for Regional Response Health Collaboration Program
• Senate Leaders applaud Court decision to expedite HR 836 emergency lawsuit

Governor announces eight more counties planned for green phase June 19
Governor Tom Wolf today announced that eight more counties will move to the green phase of reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, June 19. These counties include Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike, and Schuylkill.  When these eight counties go “green,” even though it's 54 of 67 counties, only half of the state's population will be living in the green phase next Friday.  Effective today, there are 46 counties in green and 21 in yellow.

As counties reopen, Pennsylvania continues to see a steady decline in cases, a positive indicator that its phased, measured reopening plan is working to balance public health with economic recovery. The data dashboard of county cases and criteria for reopening consideration can be found here.

According to analysis by the New York Times, new COVID-19 cases are declining in less than half of all U.S. states and territories.

“In Pennsylvania, not only did we flatten the curve, but we are continuing to keep case counts down even as we open our commonwealth,” Gov. Wolf said. “We will continue to take a measured, phased approach to reopening that relies on science and health experts.”

As of June 12, these 21 counties are in the yellow phase: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna.

These 46 counties are in the green phase: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Elk, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Juniata, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, and York.

The state continues to use risk-based metrics from Carnegie Mellon University and the Department of Health and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency data dashboard available here.

The state continues to increase testing and ramp up contact-tracing efforts. As of June 11, there are a total of 496 contact tracers, and a total of 2,777 contacts being monitored. The Department of Health received a total of 80,498 test results in the past seven days, an average of 11,500 a day. The 30-day average of test results received is more than 10,500.

Thursday Data Report from the Department Of Health
On Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed that as of 12:00 a.m. June 12 there were 686 new coronavirus cases, for a total of 77,999 since the first positive cases were discovered in Pennsylvania on March 6.

There have been 6,162 total Pennsylvania deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 49 new deaths. Out of the state’s total deaths, 58% were adults over 80 years of age, and 4,249 (69%) were residents from nursing or personal care facilities. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here.

There were 488,385 patients who had tested negative to date. Estimates are that 73% of all patients testing positive have now recovered.

There were 3,371 new cases added to investigations for the week of June 4 through 11.  The state continues to increase testing and ramp up contact-tracing efforts. As of June 11, there are a total of 496 contact tracers, and  a total of 2,777 contacts being monitored. The Department of Health received a total of 80,498 test results in the past seven days, an average of 11,500 a day. The 30-day average of test results received is more than 10,500.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

There have been 16,450 resident cases of COVID-19 in nursing and personal care homes, and 2,899 cases among employees, for a total of 19,349 at 635 distinct facilities in 46 counties. A county breakdown can be found here.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the yellow or green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, June 10:

• Provided the latest CMU metrics report.
• Provided an update from Pennsylvania State Police on business closure enforcement actions.
• Provided user guide for provider staff COVID-19 tracking forms.

Senate Leaders applaud Court decision to expedite HR 836 emergency lawsuit
Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) today applauded the Commonwealth Court’s decision to expedite consideration of the emergency case filed to force Governor Wolf to comply with House Resolution 836, which was passed by the General Assembly with bi-partisan support. The Court issued an Order this morning mandating a response from the Administration on this matter by June 18. 

In the court filing from earlier this week, the leaders explained that despite a majority of the Senate and the House of Representatives adopting HR 836, Governor Wolf has refused to perform the mandatory and ministerial duty of issuing an executive order or proclamation ending the state of disaster emergency originally declared March 6, 2020 and amended and renewed on June 3, 2020.

“We are pleased that the Court has recognized the urgency of this matter and will be expediting review of the case.  Protecting civil liberties is a crucial issue that impacts the lives of every Pennsylvanian.  Our Constitution established three equal branches of government to provide checks and balance. The unilateral decisions made by the executive branch are causing hardships for families and communities in every corner of the Commonwealth and it is time that balance is restored.”

The Senate also announced that it has canceled session dates for June 15, 16, and 17.

DHS issues request for application for Regional Response Health Collaboration Program
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for its new Regional Response Health Collaboration Program (RRHCP). The RRHCP is designed to directly support COVID-19 readiness and response in long-term residential care facilities, improve infection prevention, and facilitate continuity of care and other services provided by long-term care facilities in a manner that mitigates risk of spread of COVID-19 to staff or residents.

"Long-term care providers provide a home and care for some of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. We want these providers to know that the Wolf Administration will do everything it can to support them during this pandemic and beyond,” said DHS Secretary Teresa Miller. “We hope that this new collaboration program will provide long-term care facilities with additional support they need to fight COVID-19 and learn, respond, and prepare for future health crises.”

More than 45,000 Pennsylvanians live in more than 1,200 personal care homes and assisted living residences, and more than 80,000 residents live in 693 skilled nursing facilities throughout the commonwealth. These residents are often some of the most vulnerable and susceptible to COVID-19 due to age, presence of existing health conditions that may lead to complications, and the congregate nature of these facilities.

The RHCCP will provide operations, management, and administrative support to protect residents in long-term care facilities from COVID-19. It will help those facilities implement best practices in infection control, implement contact tracing programs in facilities, support clinical care through on-site and telemedicine services, provide remote monitoring and consultation with physicians, and enhance testing capability for both individuals in care and staff at facilities. The RRHCP will assist in identifying alternate care arrangements for hospitalized COVID-19  patients until they are considered no longer infectious and can be safely returned to their long-term care facilities.

The RRHCP is based on the Educational Support and Clinical Coaching Program (ESCCP), a learning network that provides technical assistance and educational support to long-term care facilities in light of the current pandemic. Unlike the ESCCP, which operates on a voluntary basis, the RRHCP will operate under grant agreements. Selected grantees will be awarded $175 million collectively, with funding approved by the General Assembly.

Responses to this RFA are due by June 25, 2020. Applicants can submit questions by no later than June 15, 2020.  Applications can be found online through eMarketplace. DHS hopes to have agreements in place for the RRHCP by July 1, 2020.