United Way of PA is offering the following resources to local United Ways and all community partners who have a role in serving health and human service needs related to the pandemic. This hub is updated several times per day everyday with new information including policy direction from the state and federal government which impacts community response.
High Priority Information
COVID-19 Case Counts
To get the most up-to-date infromation, please use the following links:
Economic Impact Payments
- Individuals must have a Social Security number (SSN) or adoption tax identification number (ATIN) to receive the Economic Impact payment.
- According to the guidance released from the IRS, 2019 tax returns, 2018 tax returns, Social Security 1099 tax forms (SSA-1099), and Railroad Retirement Board 1099 forms (RRB-1099) will be used to determine who receives an Economic Impact Payment. Form SSA-1099 is provided to those who receive Social Security benefits, including monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits.
- SSI recipients will also automatically receive their payments.
- Those who have not filed 2019 or 2018 taxes and do not receive Social Security benefits will need to file a simple tax return for 2019 to receive payment, even if they are not normally required to file.People who receive SSI, SSDI, or other benefits and do not usually file for taxes, but also have dependents, need to inform the IRS to be eligible for the $500 payment per child. You can do so here.
- Individuals with adjusted gross incomes of $75,000 or less will receive $1,200; married couples that earn $150,000 or less will receive $2,400. Filers with incomes above those amounts may still receive a payment, though the amount will be reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds.
- Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and married couples earning $198,000 with no children are not eligible.
- Households will also receive $500 for each child under 17 years old. Dependents older than 16 are not counted when calculating a household’s payment amount.
- Economic Impact Payments will be deposited into the same bank account individuals have provided to the IRS or the Social Security Administration. If the IRS and/or SSA do not have an individual’s bank information, a check will be sent in the mail to the mailing address on file with the IRS and/or SSA. The fastest way to receive an Economic Impact Payment is through direct deposit, and the Treasury is developing an online portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online.
- Mixed-status households, which include those with ITINs on their tax return, will not receive an Economic Impact Payment.
- Check the IRS page for the most up-to-date information.
- The Pennsylvania Treasurer announced that Wells Fargo and PNC, Pennsylvania Treasury’s two largest active depositories, have agreed to cash stimulus checks – for both customers and non-customers – without fees, and will not offset stimulus payments to customers against penalty fees. PA Treasurer Torsella also called on other Pennsylvania financial institutions to do the same.
Avoiding and Reporting Scams & Fraud
The Federal Trade Commission has issued guidance to spot potential scams/fraud related to COVID-19. CISA has also issued guidance.
- The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to obtain Economic Impact payments.
- The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.
- Scammers are offering COVID-19 tests to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for personal details, including Medicare information. However, the services are unapproved and illegitimate.
- Attorney General Josh Shapiro warned Pennsylvanians that scammers are trying to take advantage of the historic rise in unemployment across the Commonwealth by using fake unemployment filing websites in order to steal personal information or to harvest the data to sell to others for uses not properly disclosed to the user.
- The United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the formation of a joint federal and state Western Pennsylvania COVID-19 Fraud Task Force to investigate and prosecute coronavirus-related fraud.
- If you suspect fraud please report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at: 1-866-720-5721 or email disaster@leo.gov.
Three Phase Reopening Plan
Reopening PA will involve three-phases. Regions and counties will move into and out of phases based on when they meet certain benchmarks. To see the full plan, please click here.
On May 8th, 24 counties moved from Red to Yellow. Those counties are: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren.
On May 15th, 13 additional counties moved from Red to Yellow. Those Counties are: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland.
On May 22nd, 12 additional Pennsylvania counties moved to the yellow phase. Those counties include Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Wayne, and York.
On May 29th, 8 additional counties will move from Red to Yellow: Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Schuylkill. 18 counties will move from Yellow to Green: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango and Warren.
On June 5th, all remaining Red counties are expected to move to yellow: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
Governor Wolf has issued Executive Orders on re-opening, which some county commissioners and state elected officials are now challenging by arguing that they have the ability to move their counties from red to yellow. The Governor stated on May 11 that he will impose consequences for not following his re-opening plan using the administrative branch’s existing authorities. Businesses who choose to re-open at odds with the Governor’s executive orders may experience loss of insurance protections for property, liability or other losses. The Governor also announced that employees who are asked to return to work in counties where the Governor’s red phase, stay-at-home order remains in place can continue to collect unemployment if they feel unsafe returning to work.
Red Phase
- Life sustaining businesses only
- There is a detailed list of what is or is not considered life-sustaining. It was amended on April 28, 2020
- This guidance applies to all businesses whether or not they’re open to the public.
- This prohibition does not apply to virtual or telework operations as long as social distancing protocols are followed.
- Life-sustaining operations may remain open but must follow social distancing protocols. “Life-Sustaining” it is not business as usual. For those employers that are life sustaining or have received a waiver; the administration states they must operate business in a way that minimizes exposure and spread.Secretary Levine has signed an order providing direction for maintaining and cleaning buildings for businesses authorized to maintain in-person operations under her and the governor’s life-sustaining business orders
- Many non-profits will have operations that fall under life-sustaining. If you are uncertain whether or not this guidance applies to you, your organization, or your business, please seek legal counsel. Non-profits may specifically fall under these categories of “life-sustaining” operations: religious or social advocacy organizations, most healthcare services, most nursing and residential care facilities, and most social assistance agencies (except child day care services)
- Congregate care and prison restrictions in place
- Schools (for in-person instruction) and most child care facilities closed
- Stay at home orders in place
- Large gatherings prohibited
- Restaurants and bars limited to carry-out and delivery only
- Individuals may leave their residence ONLY to perform allowable individual activities and allowable essential travel such as:
- Obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home.
- Getting food and household consumer products, pet food, and supplies necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences. This includes volunteer efforts to distribute meals and other life-sustaining services to those in need.
- To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business
- To care for a family member or pet in another household.
- If you must leave your home, the Governor and the Department of Health ask that you wear a face mask. Masks can be made at home or bandannas and scarves worn over the mouth can be used instead. Please see the guidance on masks at the Department of Health’s website.
- Masks are required by workers and customers in certain life-sustaining businesses per a signed order by Secretary Levine.
Yellow Phase
- Telework Must Continue Where Feasible
- Businesses with In-Person Operations Must Follow Business and Building Safety Orders
- Child Care Open with Worker and Building Safety Orders
- Congregate Care and Prison Restrictions in Place
- Schools Remain Closed for In-Person Instruction
- Stay at Home Restrictions Lifted in Favor of Aggressive Mitigation
- Large Gatherings of More than 25 Prohibited
- In-Person Retail Allowable, Curbside and Delivery Preferable
- Indoor Recreation, Health and Wellness Facilities (such as gyms, spas), and all Entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) Remain Closed
- Professional sports, defined as any sporting event at which the participants are paid by a league or team, or at which individuals or teams receive prizes or purse, are allowed to practice or play in the yellow and green phases of reopening without on-site or venue spectators if the team (or league on behalf of the team) has developed a COVID-19 safety plan.
- Restaurants and Bars Limited to Carry-Out and Delivery Only
- Beginning June 5, restaurants and retail food service businesses located in counties designated as being in the yellow phase are permitted add dine-in service in outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, including maximum occupancy limits
Green Phase
- Continued Telework Strongly Encouraged
- Businesses with In-Person Operations Must Follow Updated Business and Building Safety Requirements
- All Businesses Operating at 50% Occupancy in the Yellow Phase May Increase to 75% Occupancy
- Child Care May Open Complying with Guidance
- Congregate Care Restrictions in Place
- Prison and Hospital Restrictions Determined by Individual Facilities
- Schools Subject to CDC and Commonwealth Guidance
- Restaurants and Bars Open at 50% Occupancy
- Personal Care Services (including hair salons and barbershops) Open at 50% Occupancy and by Appointment Only
- Indoor Recreation, Health and Wellness Facilities, and Personal Care Services (such as gyms and spas) Open at 50% Occupancy with Appointments Strongly Encouraged
- All Entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and shopping malls) Open at 50% Occupancy
- Professional sports, defined as any sporting event at which the participants are paid by a league or team, or at which individuals or teams receive prizes or purse, are allowed to practice or play in the yellow and green phases of reopening without on-site or venue spectators if the team (or league on behalf of the team) has developed a COVID-19 safety plan.
- Construction Activity May Return to Full Capacity with Continued Implementation of Protocols
- Any gathering for a planned or spontaneous event of greater than 250 individuals is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, a concert, festival, fair, conference, sporting event, movie showing, or theater performance.
- All businesses must follow CDC and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning
- Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary
Resources for Businesses
- Pennsylvania COVID-19 PPE & Supplies Business-2-Business (B2B) Interchange Directory
- CDC Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes
- PA Guidance from Businesses Permitted to Operate in Red and Yellow Phases during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Sample Return to Work Action Plan
- Screening Employee Temperatures Upon Return to Work
- How to Wear a Cloth Face Covering
- Keeping Surfaces Clean
Emergency Declarations
Governor Tom Wolf declared a state of emergency Friday, March 6 in order to authorize Commonwealth agencies to use all available resources and personnel, as necessary, to cope with the magnitude and severity of the situation.
President Trump declared a Major Disaster in Pennsylvania on March 30th after Wolf’s request on the 28th. Trump’s order allows for federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Text PACOVID to 898-211
Get updates and resources to help you stay informed during the COVID-19 crisis: Text PACOVID to 898-211 and this will sign you up to receive text alerts from PA 211, to include:
- Breaking news
- Guidance on federal and state relief legislation
- Access to resources that can help you meet your basic needs
PA211 is prepared to assist individuals who are impacted by loss of work and are struggling to provide basic needs for their families. PA 211 has procedures in place to track and triage coronavirus calls. 211 centers are currently referring to CDC and PA Department of Health for clinical questions.
We are asking that you promote people text their zipcode to 898-211 instead of calling, text messages are more efficient for remote workers to answer and will help decrease call volume during this time.
It is essential that community partners who continue to provide services during the pandemic communicate with 211 about available services as they expand or contract due to public health response. You can update us at any time using this simple form:
PA 211 Counts
PA211 Counts is a program that allows you to track needs in your community. To see how many people are calling 211 about COVID-19, take the following steps:
- Go to https://pa.211counts.org/
- Click on “healthcare”
- On the right, you will see a category called “COVID-19”
Links to Resources & More Information
Resources for Local United Ways Only
State of Pennsylvania Resources
Other Resources
What is Coronavirus (COVID 19)?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others circulating among animals, including camels, cats and bats. The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new virus that causes respiratory illness in people and can spread from person-to-person. This virus was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.
Symptoms of COVID-19
Symptoms are similar to the cold or flu. They include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.
How does COVID-19 Spread?
It spreads similarly to the cold or flu:
- Through the air by coughing or sneezing;
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it;
- Occasionally, fecal contamination.
Preventing COVID-19
- Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do not use your hands!
- When leaving your home, wear a mask
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones, remotes, and other frequently touched items.
- Contain: if you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.