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Coronavirus

The latest reporting on the Pennsylvania state government's response to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Sept. 24, 2020

In 2017, Pennsylvania had the most severe death reporting lags in the country. That's because the state was still doing much of its death registration by hand, relying on a cumbersome system of faxed paper and manual data entry. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

Pa.'s failure to mandate quicker death reporting before the coronavirus fueled wild data fluctuations, mistrust

by Sara Simon of Spotlight PA and Ryan Briggs and Nina Feldman of WHYY News

Sept. 21, 2020

Property management signs advertise student housing for rent on Willington Street near West Oxford Street, a neighborhood adjacent to Temple University, in North Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Development has introduced multi-unit luxury student housing to blocks formerly lined with rowhomes. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Everything you need to know if you’re facing eviction in Pennsylvania (full guide)

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Sept. 17, 2020

The Wolf administration on Wednesday filed a motion to stay the decision in order to ensure “life-saving mitigation tools ... remain in place.” — Commonwealth Media Services

Why the ruling against Wolf’s COVID-19 restrictions faces long odds on appeal, explained

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Paula Reed Ward of the Tribune-Review

Sept. 14, 2020

In March, Gov. Tom Wolf shuttered all but "life-sustaining" businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19. — Commonwealth Media Services

Wolf’s COVID-19 business closures, limit on gatherings unconstitutional, federal court rules

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA, Jeremy Roebuck of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

Sept. 12, 2020

As advocates rush to parse the often ambiguous language of the federal order, gray areas remain. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

From relief to despair, one Pa. family struggles with the ambiguity of federal eviction ban

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Sept. 10, 2020

Lawmakers in Harrisburg say it's too early to discuss the budget. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Huge budget cuts could hurt people with mental illness, disabilities most, Pa. providers fear

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Sept. 8, 2020

On Sept. 21, restaurants can increase indoor dining to 50% of overall capacity. — MONICA HERNDON / Philadelphia Inquirer

Wolf allows restaurants to serve more customers indoors, but timing raises eyebrows

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Sept. 8, 2020

There’s widespread agreement in the Capitol that Pennsylvania’s $150 million rental assistance program to keep families in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic isn’t working. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

Want to help Pa. renters avoid eviction? Give them cash directly, experts say.

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Sept. 2, 2020

Gov. Tom Wolf is still calling on the Pennsylvania legislature to pass a state moratorium on evictions and foreclosures. — DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Federal order protects many Pa. renters from eviction, though legal challenges may arise

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Sept. 2, 2020

An at-times tense debate was the latest in what’s become a war between the executive and the GOP-controlled legislative branch over the state’s coronavirus response. — Kalim A. Bhatti / Philadelphia Inquirer

Latest Pa. GOP attempt to strip Gov. Tom Wolf of his coronavirus emergency powers fails

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Sept. 2, 2020

Weekly reports released by the Department of Health are consistently missing data for more than 100 of the state’s 693 nursing homes. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Nursing home COVID-19 case, death data still missing from Pa.’s public reports

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Sept. 1, 2020

Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday dashed any hope of a last-minute reprieve for the thousands of Pennsylvanians who have fallen behind on rent during the coronavirus pandemic. — Commonwealth Media Services

After waffling, Gov. Tom Wolf says he can’t extend Pa.’s eviction ban, looks to lawmakers

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Aug. 27, 2020

James Pride needed help to pay rent on his Lebanon apartment. His landlord, Morgan Properties, told him it won’t take part in the state's rental assistance program. — Cheyenne Snow / For Spotlight PA

A vital rental assistance program is riddled with problems as Pa. prepares to resume evictions

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Aug. 26, 2020

Many people are also reluctant to seek treatment right now, fearing they’ll contract COVID-19. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

‘You’ve got to do something’: Pa. rehabs buckle, begin to close under COVID-19 strain

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Aug. 25, 2020

In June, the legislature voted to force Wolf to end the state’s COVID-19 disaster declaration, which greatly expanded the Democratic governor’s powers. — KALIM A. BHATTI / For Spotlight PA

Thwarted at every turn, Pa. GOP lawmakers hatch new plan to curtail Wolf’s emergency powers

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Aug. 21, 2020

Advocates say prisons and jails need to release more inmates to ensure proper social distancing. Protesters rallied in Philadelphia this April to make that demand. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

Review of COVID-19’s effect on communities of color largely ignores Pa. inmates

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA

Aug. 19, 2020

State Sen. Andy Dinniman (D., Chester) questioned whether the state's recommendations, in reality, operate as mandates because districts are concerned about being sued. — Office of Sen. Andrew W. Dinniman

Pa. lawmakers concerned ‘guidance’ for schools could open the door to COVID-19 lawsuits

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Aug. 19, 2020

Early on in the pandemic, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine cited a decades-old law as a reason for withholding the number of COVID-19 tests the state was conducting and the number of cases in nursing homes. She later reversed course. — Commonwealth Media Services

A decades-old law is shielding the Wolf administration from scrutiny of its coronavirus response

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA

Aug. 17, 2020

The PCR test, shown here, is the current gold-standard for detecting active coronavirus infections. Pennsylvania wants to expand the use of another, less precise test — known as an antigen test — to combat delays in getting test results. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Are antigen tests the silver bullet to Pa.’s coronavirus testing delays? Not so fast.

by Sara Simon of Spotlight PA

Aug. 14, 2020

Spotlight PA reporter Sara Simon breaks down some of the most pressing questions about the coronavirus in Pennsylvania. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

WATCH: Answers to the most frequently asked questions about COVID-19 in Pennsylvania

by Sara Simon, Yaasmeen Piper and Kent Wilhelm of Spotlight PA

Aug. 13, 2020

Penn State officials said Thursday they never intended a student agreement regarding the coronavirus to be a waiver of the university's potential liability. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Penn State reverses course, plans to provide modified COVID-19 agreement for students

by Sara Simon of Spotlight PA

Aug. 13, 2020

Many rehab patients in Pennsylvania are forced to choose between going to treatment and risking getting the virus, or staying at home and struggling with substance use alone. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Inside some Pennsylvania rehabs, ‘it’s like COVID doesn’t exist’

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA

Aug. 12, 2020

Penn State, which plans to hold in-person classes for the fall semester, is requiring all students to sign a waiver freeing the university of any responsibility should they contract COVID-19 while on campus. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Students at Penn State forced to sign COVID-19 liability waiver to participate in fall semester

by Sara Simon of Spotlight PA

Aug. 7, 2020

One major pain point in Congress’ current negotiations is whether the feds will provide any additional money to states. — Carolyn Kaster / AP

How arguments in Washington are holding up coronavirus relief in Pennsylvania

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Aug. 4, 2020

Through a patchwork system of state health nurses, county health departments, and nonprofits, there are about 650 people currently doing contact tracing in Pennsylvania. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Pa. cancels on volunteer coronavirus contact tracers, moves to hire 1,000 paid staff

by Sara Simon of Spotlight PA and Sarah Gantz of The Philadelphia Inquirer

Aug. 3, 2020

Pent-up demand from shoppers (like those seen here at the King of Prussia Mall) buoyed sales taxes. — ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

Tax collections in Pa. rebound on pent-up shopper demand, but state still faces huge budget deficit

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Aug. 3, 2020

The money will fund a pilot program in the Capitol Complex with “superior results in comparison with standard cleaning and disinfection methods.” — Kalim A. Bhatti / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. pursuing huge cleaning plan for Capitol Complex after custodial worker tests positive for the coronavirus

by Julia Shanahan for Spotlight PA

July 31, 2020

Karen Sawyer, seen here at The Party Palooza in York, is the kind of small business owner the state is trying to reach with a new grant program. Still, she hasn't applied. — Dan Gleiter / PennLive for Spotlight PA

Minority-owned small businesses were largely shut out of Pa.’s first coronavirus loan program

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

July 30, 2020

Rep. Russ Diamond (seen here at a Capitol demonstration on May 15, 2020) has been one of the loudest opponents of a Wolf administration order requiring most people to wear a mask while in public. — YONG KIM / Philadelphia Inquirer

Lawmaker mimics top health official’s call for transgender acceptance to defend not wearing a mask

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Julia Shanahan for Spotlight PA

July 28, 2020

Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said transphobic remarks and actions hurt all LGBTQ Pennsylvanians. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. health secretary denounces transphobic attacks: ‘Our children are watching’

by Sara Simon of Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA

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