BETHLEHEM

MULCH AND COMPOST: Mulch and compost will be available for pick-up and loading at the city’s Yard Waste Facility, 1480 Schoenersville Road.

The materials will be available Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The facility will be closed on Sundays.

People wishing to utilize the facility are required to wear a mask for their safety as well as the safety of city employees. People not wearing a mask will not be permitted to enter the facility.

VISTORS CENTER: We are looking forward to welcoming you back to shop in person at the Visitor Center & Museum Store starting June 5. Effective June 5 our hours will be: Wednesday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. ?Masks covering the mouth and nose will be worn by all employees, and expected to be worn by visitors entering the store. The number of visitors allowed in the store at one time will be limited. Other museums and sites will remain closed for visitation until proper social distancing regulations can be put into place to keep the spaces safe for both staff and visitors.

BACK TO BETHLEHEM: The Bethlehem Chamber, Downtown Bethlehem Association, Southside Arts District and Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem have come together to launch the #BacktoBethlehem campaign as their counties move to the Yellow Phase.

This campaign is all about preparing both the merchants and the community for getting back to business. “We want to make sure our business community is equipped with all the information and supplies they need in order to safely re-open.” said Tammy Wendling, Downtown Bethlehem Association Manager.

For more information on this campaign visit : https://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/backtobethlehem.html

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

CORONER REPORT: As of June 1, data collected by the Northampton County Coroner shows that 218 people have passed away due to COVID-19 in Northampton County (195 Northampton County residents, 23 residents of other counties and states). One death from Washington Township was removed from previous lists after it was determined the individual did not have Covid19.

As of May 21, the Lehigh County Coroner released data of 42 COVID-19 related deaths of Northampton County residents.

Residents: Allen Twp., 1; Bangor, 1; Bethlehem Twp., 52; City of Bethlehem, 16; City of Easton, 38; Forks Twp., 6; Freemansburg, 1; Hanover Twp. 1; Hellertown, 5; Lehigh Twp., 2; Lower Nazareth Twp., 3; Lower Saucon Twp., 1; Moore, 1; Nazareth, 2; Northampton Twp., 3; Palmer Twp., 29; Plainfield Twp., 1; Tatamy, 1; Upper Nazareth Twp., 67; Williams Twp., 3; Wilson, 2; Wind Gap, 1.

Non-residents: Astoria, NY, 1; Bronx, NY, 1; Bucks County, 4; City of Allentown, 3; Lopatcong Twp. NJ, 1; Lower Macungie Twp., 1; Millersburg, PA, 1; Monroe County, 6; Montgomery County, 1; Phillipsburg, NJ, 2; Upper Macungie. 1; Washington NJ, 1.

Demographic data for 180 deaths reported by the Northampton County Coroner:

Average age of the deceased is 82.6 years.

Gender – 53% female; 47% male.

Race: 86% white; 7% African-American; 2% Asian; 5% Hispanic .

TESTING CENTER: In its first 17 days of operation, the drive-through testing center at Easton Hospital tested 1,123 Northampton County residents for Covid-19, an average of 66 tests/day. Five percent of the completed tests showed a positive result for the Coronavirus.

The Northampton County sponsored COVID-19 drive-thru testing site at Easton Hospital will remain open until June 26th. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The coronavirus testing site is located in the main parking lot at Easton Hospital, 250 S 21st St., Easton, and the tests are free. The risk of viral transmission at a drive-thru site is much lower than at a walk-in clinic.

As of June 3, the site had performed 1,237 tests, 6 percent of which showed positive results for Covid-19.

Only residents from Northampton County will be accepted for testing and they must show at least one of the following CDC recognized symptoms of COVID-19 to be eligible: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or loss of taste and/or smell. A prescription from a doctor is not required. Although insurance is not required to be tested, participants should bring a photo ID and their insurance card, if they have one, with them.

BLOCK GRANTS: Northampton County is slated to receive $27,631,662.79 in block grants from the state budget to help address the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will assist the county with the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment, help local governments and provide grants to small businesses.

LEHIGH VALLEY

TRANS-BRIDGE: The company resumed a limited service June 8. Buses are limited to no more than 25 passengers, and all passengers are being asked to wear masks.

A modified schedule is posted on the Trans-Bridge website. That schedule will change as restrictions are lifted in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

PENNSYLVANIA

REOPENING DASHBOARD: The Department of Health has launched an online dashboard at www.health.pa.gov to show county progress as Pennsylvania moves through the COVID-19 phased reopening plan. The dashboard breaks down four main categories that are used to determine if a county can move into the next phase of reopening.

ALERT PA: All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANTS: Governor Tom Wolf announced that the Office of State Fire Commissioner will be working to enact recent legislation to provide $50 million in direct financial relief to fire and emergency medical service (EMS) companies negatively impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Of the $50 million in funding set aside for this new program, $44 million will be made available to fire and rescue companies and the remaining $6 million will go to EMS companies. Though the legislation took immediate effect, the Office of State Fire Commissioner must now establish the protocols for application, review and disbursement of grant funds.

In the coming weeks, detailed information about the program and instructions on how to apply will be available online at the Office of the State Fire Commissioner’s website. Companies are advised to check back regularly for updated information.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION: Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that the Department of Agriculture has received approval to continue operating the Disaster Household Distribution program, through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), to provide food to Pennsylvanians adversely affected by COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Originally approved by the USDA March 27, the Disaster Household Distribution program, set to expire the end of May, has been approved through June 25.

WORKING CAPITAL PROGRAM: Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin announced Friday that 133 companies have been approved for funding in the final disbursement of the COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program (CWCA). The latest cohort of businesses to receive funding includes chiropractors, restaurants, breweries and wineries, salons, fitness facilities. Over the course of the program, nearly $61 million was awarded to businesses across Pennsylvania. In total, 745 businesses were approved for loans totaling $60,722,641.

A list of approved projects can be found at https://dced.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CWCA-Fund-Disbursements.pdf. New projects are highlighted in yellow.

PRICE GOUGING: Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that the office has received more than 5,000 complaints from Pennsylvanians reporting price hikes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Attorney General’s office has followed up on every verifiable tip -- issuing 466 cease and desist letters, issuing subpoenas to 200 targets for further investigation, and finding 27 businesses where the Attorney General’s office believed actual price gouging occurred.

Any instance of price gouging should be reported to pricegouging@attorneygeneral.gov

CONGREGATE CARE RESTRICTIONS: The Pennsylvania departments of Health and Human Services issued guidance for nursing homes, personal care homes, and other long-term and congregate care facilities as counties enter the green phase of the Governor’s Process to Reopen Pennsylvania. To further prevent outbreaks within these vulnerable populations, ongoing restrictions in long-term and congregate care facilities will remain in place at least 28 days after the respective facility’s county enters the green phase.

DHS has issued guidance restricting visitation to its licensed intermediate care facilities, assisted living residences as well as DHS’ 17 state-run facilities, which include state centers, state hospitals, youth development centers, and youth forestry camps. Individuals served by these facilities often have chronic medical conditions and are at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19, so caution and care must be taken to keep residents and staff at these facilities safe from the virus. Guidance to DHS providers is available here.

The Wolf administration has taken a three-pillar approach to protecting the vulnerable residents living in long-term living settings from COVID-19:

•Ensuring resident safety through testing, education and resources;

•Preventing and mitigating outbreaks; and

•Working in partnership with state agencies, local health departments and long-term care facility operators.

PENNDOT: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announceD that beginning June 5 additional Driver License and Photo License Centers in yellow phase counties will reopen, adhering to restrictions on work and social interaction set by Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

• Lehigh Valley Driver License Center, 1710 Hoover Ave, Allentown;

• Whitehall Driver License Center, 1101 MacArthur Road, Allentown;

• Easton Driver License Center, 2473 Nazareth Road, Easton;

Hours of operation at the above locations will be Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.. Wednesday and Thursday between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. will be designated times for customers 60 years or older.

For more information, visit www.dmv.pa.gov or www.PennDOT.gov.

LIQUOR STORES: The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced that 176 more Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in counties designated in the yellow phase of COVID-19 mitigation efforts will resume limited in-store public access beginning June 5, abiding by guidance for businesses issued by the Wolf Administration detailing social distancing requirements and other best practices in the interest of public health and safety. This includes 17 stores in Lehigh County and 13 in Northampton County.

The PLCB had intended open all Fine Wine & Good Spirit stores across Pennsylvania June 5; however, store damage and looting, primarily in Philadelphia, has disrupted operations at a number of stores.