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Coronavirus

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

Gov. Tom Wolf, flanked by advocates for nursing home operators and workers, in July celebrated the $600 million investment in long-term care facilities.

Thousands of Pa. nursing home workers may strike despite $600M for care in state budget

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Illustration of Pennsylvania COVID guide to finding resources on cases, vaccines, and tests.

Pa. COVID updates: Your guide to finding resources on cases, vaccines, and tests

by Spotlight PA Staff

Medical copays and limited in-person visitation have returned for people in Pennsylvania state prison, while restrictions remain for meals and other activities.

Despite high vaccination rates among Pa. prisoners, some COVID restrictions remain in place

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Despite spikes in coronavirus infections and low child vaccination rates, schools across Pennsylvania have been slow to enroll in a free testing program offered by the state health department.

As virus surged, few Pa. schools signed up for free COVID-19 testing

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Lisa Stagon had to quit her job to care for her son, Chris, who is 26 and has Down syndrome.

Low pay is causing a staffing crisis for disability care. Advocates say Pa.’s plan to raise wages isn’t enough.

by Juliette Rihl for PublicSource and Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

Medical leaders at health systems across Pennsylvania send the same message: If you’re planning to gather for the holidays, get vaccinated.

Everything you need to know to stay COVID-safe during a second pandemic winter

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

With preexisting conditions that limit her mobility and increase her risk of getting seriously sick from COVID-19, Cheryl Gibson of Schuylkill Haven relies on telehealth appointments.

Lack of telehealth law in Pennsylvania a major headache for patients who need it most

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Officials around the world are united in their No. 1 recommendation: Get vaccinated if you aren’t already, and if you are, get a booster shot.

Omicron variant detected in Pennsylvania. Here’s what you need to know.

by Spotlight PA Staff

The Willow School in Montgomery County is unable to serve as many children as it could because of a staffing shortage.

Pennsylvania’s child care and staffing crisis, by the numbers

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Kym Ramsey had to close the infant room at her Montgomery County child care facility because of a staffing shortage.

A staffing crisis at Pa. child care centers is upending family routines and slowing the economic recovery

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

"Many of the administrative laws, quite frankly, simply handed that power over to the executive agencies, sometimes to avoid difficult decisions," House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) said Tuesday.

Top Pa. House Republican wants to greatly expand lawmakers’ power over the governor, executive branch

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf

Pa. mask mandate for public and private schools expected to end in January, Wolf says

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

In most of Pennsylvania, there are no formal rules to protect tenants from ending up in court during the often months-long wait for assistance.

Why $1 billion in rent relief isn’t keeping some Pa. tenants safe from eviction

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Experts say testing is one way to verify whether mitigation efforts, like masks and social distancing, are working.

Many Pa. school districts are passing up free coronavirus testing even after a rise in cases

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

People 65 and older, those with certain medical conditions, and workers in high-risk jobs who received a second Pfizer dose more than six months ago are now eligible to receive a booster.

Eligible for a COVID-19 booster? Here’s how to get one in Pa.

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Wednesday’s action will keep the waivers in place until March 2022 while the legislature considers a number of bills that would make the regulatory suspensions permanent.

At last minute, Pa. lawmakers vote to extend dozens of COVID-19 waivers

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor says the Wolf administration's COVID-19 business waiver program was inconsistent and sowed confusion.

Gov. Wolf’s coronavirus business waiver program was flawed, secretive, Pa. auditor says

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

One waiver expanded who could administer a vaccine dose.

Expiring COVID-19 waivers could make Pa. health-care staffing shortages worse

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

The Amistad Project firm has led litigation to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, including in Pennsylvania.

Pa. school mask lawsuit backed by group that challenged 2020 election results

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf previously asked the legislature to institute a school mask mandate, but GOP leaders said no.

Gov. Tom Wolf mandates masks in Pa. schools, daycares

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Cases of the coronavirus are steadily climbing in Pennsylvania to levels not seen since the beginning of the year, driven by the highly contagious delta variant.

Your questions about climbing COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, answered

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

“For most of the past 18 months, the legislature has asked for my administration to defer to local governments and local organizations when making mitigation decisions,” Gov. Tom Wolf wrote in a letter to Republican leaders. “It is clear that action is needed to ensure children are safe as they return to the classroom.”

Republican leaders reject Wolf’s call to pass school mask mandate

by Jamie Martines and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Contact tracing is a public health tool used to contain outbreaks of infectious diseases by alerting people who might have been exposed to an infected person.

Pa. will hire 100 coronavirus contact tracers to replace 1,000. Experts say it’s not enough.

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

The state is launching initiatives to urge Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated, including setting up vaccine booths at county fairs.

WATCH: A free reader Q&A on rising COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania

by Spotlight PA Staff

As of Tuesday, tenants in most of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties were safe from being evicted if they’ve fallen behind on rent because of the pandemic and have tried to apply for government help to catch up.

What renters in Pa. need to know about available relief, the new eviction ban

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Holley Snyder, 45 of Hanover Township in Luzerne County, received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the Wayne County Fair.

Pa. is trying county fairs, text messages, and door-knocking to raise the vaccination rate. Success is slow coming.

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Stacey Horrocks is one of thousands of Pennsylvania tenants still waiting for rent relief.

High court gives Pa. county OK to delay eviction cases while tenants wait for rental relief

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

After a slow start, Pennsylvania used the emergency procurement process to hire a consulting firm to help with the state's vaccine rollout.

Tracking Pa.’s pandemic spending, by the numbers

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Stacey Horrocks (seen here at her home in Boyertown) applied for rent relief in March, but her application stalled in April when Berks County’s program began trying to contact her landlord, Rose Gross.

Thousands of Pa. households still waiting for rental relief as eviction ban nears its end

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

The federal eviction moratorium lifts July 31.

WATCH: A free panel on what we know about evictions and rental assistance in Pennsylvania.

by Spotlight PA Staff

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