Governor Tom Wolf announced the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force less than one month ago. Since that time, the task force and Wolf Administration have accomplished bi-partisan initiatives to help advance the state’s vaccination rollout and COVID fight.
Last week, the task force announced a special initiative to vaccinate teachers, school staff and child care workers, helping to get children back in the classroom and further protecting our educators and communities.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 11, there were 2,652 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 958,382.
There are 1,513 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 326 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. 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.
Harrisburg, PA – Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam today marked the one-year anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, and recognized the Department of Health’s work in preparing for and responding to the pandemic over the last year.
“It has been one year since the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic,” Acting Secretary Beam said. “It has been an incredibly challenging year for so many. The unimaginable loss of far too many lives. We remember them today and every day, those left to grieve and rebuild, and those who struggle to this day.”
Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Education Acting Secretary Noe Ortega today commended U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for his proactive measure to extend several national waivers that provide schools with meal distribution flexibility.
Families across the nation and the commonwealth continue to face uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, and this extension will ensure all Pennsylvania children 18 and under have consistent access to breakfast and lunch as school lets out soon for the 2020-21 school year.
Governor Tom Wolf visited Family First Health in York today to thank staff and to tour the federally qualified health center’s vaccination area, learning first-hand how the facility is vaccinating Pennsylvanians amid equity issues.
“Pennsylvania’s federally qualified health centers are crucial community partners focused on community-based care that serves some of the most vulnerable communities in the commonwealth,” Gov. Wolf said. “The community connections that federally qualified health centers such as Family First Health build and the equity-based care they provide make them an important part of our efforts to administer an efficient, ethical, and equitable vaccine rollout.”
As COVID-19 vaccines become more available and as counties prepare to open mass vaccination sites, Governor Tom Wolf today reminded the public that public transit, often free or subsidized, is available in every county to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens can get vaccinated.
“Every Pennsylvanian who wants a vaccine will be able to get one. We are working to ensure that the most vulnerable populations have access to the vaccine as soon as possible,” Gov. Wolf said. “As vaccine supply continues to increase, we want to remind the public that free and subsidized transportation options are already available throughout the commonwealth and Pennsylvanians can make use of these programs to access vaccine sites. I want to thank our transit authorities for eliminating barriers for these populations, not just throughout the pandemic, but every day.””
