BETHLEHEM

VACCINATION CLINICS: Mayor Bob Donchez announced that the Bethlehem Health Bureau is partnering with UBMe to help operate their mass vaccination clinics in a manner that will ensure that clients are safe and appropriately distanced. UBMe, a Bethlehem-based technology company, recently augmented an already existing app to provide a safer environment for employees and customers during the pandemic.

The Bethlehem Health Bureau is planning on holding several childhood immunization and flu vaccine clinics over the next few months. The health bureau collaborated with UBMe to incorporate the necessary social distancing component into the clinics. The UBMe app will allow clients to virtually “check in” when they arrive at the clinic. The clients will remain in their vehicle until they are ready to be seen by health bureau staff. The technology will also allow users to communicate with staff from inside their own vehicle.

The city’s Community and Economic Development Department has provided over $45,000 of funding to UBMe through the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone. “This is a great example of our entrepreneurs pivoting to meet the demands of the community” says Donchez. “Sometimes the return on investment in these companies can come years down the road, but in this case, it has happened immediately.”

ARTSQUEST-MUSIFEST DONATIONS: As ArtsQuest gets set to kick off the 37th year of Musikfest, the nonprofit’s foundation is asking the community to help it raise $1 million over the next two weeks to support the festival and its year-round arts and education programming for the community.

Through Aug. 10, the day after Musikfest 2020 concludes, the ArtsQuest Foundation is encouraging the community and festival fans to donate to support ArtsQuest with a special incentive. Every contribution up to a total of $500,000 will be matched dollar for dollar by the ArtsQuest Foundation Board of Trustees, effectively doubling the donations. Contributions can be made in one of two ways:

Donating at [http://www.artsquest,org/donate]www.artsquest.org/donate.

Making a donation via the DUZY online giving platform that will be part of the Virtual Musikfest streams at www.musikfest.org starting at 7 p.m. each night of Musikfest July 31-Aug. 9.

HANOVER (NORCO) TOWNSHIP

COMMUNITY CENTER: The Board of Supervisors has made the difficult decision to temporarily close the Hanover Township Community Center effective Aug. 8. The township has made this decision after careful consideration of all alternatives.

As a result of the current economic impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and in light of future uncertainties regarding the sustainably safe operation of public activities hosted by and at the Community Center, Hanover Township is implementing measures to ensure the financial stability of the township. The current pandemic situation has impacted operations significantly, and as a result, they find that they must make some difficult decisions.

They found it impossible to balance the health and safety needs of all members of the Community Center and remain compliant with the requirements of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DoH) and the governor’s orders.

They understand this decision will cause hardship to some, but must consider everyone’s health, safety and welfare. Hanover Township will continue to monitor this fluid situation and will make decisions as events dictate.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

DRIVE-THRU TESTING SITE: A new COVID-19 drive-through testing site opened July 27 at Coordinated Health-3100 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem Township. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.. Saturday hours will be available twice a month from 9 a.m. – noon. The drive-through testing center is located in the parking area to the rear of the Coordinated Health building and is separate from patient parking and routine patient care.

A physician’s order is not required but, to be eligible for testing, individuals must report or display one or more CDC-recognized symptoms of COVID-19: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or loss of taste and/or smell. The drive-through site is open to everyone, but only residents of Northampton County will receive a free test if they do not have health coverage. All testing will be through HNL Lab Medicine unless insurance requires an alternate laboratory. Participants should bring a photo ID and their insurance card, if they have one, with them to the testing site.

PENNSYLVANIA

PLCB ENFORCEMENT: Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control enforcement officers visited 973 licensed liquor establishments from Wednesday, July 29, through Thursday, July 30 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social distancing, masking, and other health and safety requirements of the liquor code.

Liquor Control Enforcement Officers issued two notices of violation and 32 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. Compliance checks are unannounced and can occur anywhere in the commonwealth, although the focus is on areas experiencing higher coronavirus transmission rates. Among other requirements, all businesses and employees in the restaurant and retail food service industry authorized to conduct in-person activities are mandated to:

• Require all customers to wear masks while entering, exiting or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail food service business (face masks may be removed while seated). Further, employees are required to wear masks at all times.

• Provide at least six feet between parties at tables or physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back.

• Ensure maximum occupancy limits for indoor and outdoor areas are posted and enforced.

Complaints regarding licensees not complying with COVID-19 mitigation mandates may be directed to the BLCE at 1-800-932-0602 or reported through the BLCE’s online complaint form.

PRE-SCHOOL PANDEMIC SUPPLIES: Governor Wolf is dedicating approximately $3 million for preschool early intervention programs serving children 3 to 5-years-old to purchase personal protective equipment and other pandemic-related supplies. The funding will help to keep students and staff safe and meet the unique challenges of COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizes governors to determine the educational use of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds.

Preschool Early Intervention Programs offering classroom services to eligible children may request GEER funds to provide personal protective equipment, sanitization and disinfecting supplies, and additional staff to support COVID-19 mitigation and training on health and safety practices. PEIPs will receive direct communication from PDE with eGrant application instructions.

REPORTING MITIGATION VIOLATIONS: Throughout the commonwealth, businesses and residents of Pennsylvania are doing their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep themselves, their families, their customers and their communities safe – most notably by wearing masks in all businesses and whenever leaving home. The Wolf administration has issued a series of orders since March with the single goal of protecting Pennsylvanians from COVID-19, which has claimed more than 7,000 lives in the state.

The Wolf administration has stressed the importance of mask-wearing as paramount to helping stop the spread of COVID-19. Combined with social distancing, this simple act can protect people and businesses and help increase our freedoms.

Per the Secretary of Health’s order, businesses must require all customers to wear masks while on premises, and deny entry to individuals not wearing masks, unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, in which case the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of such goods.

There are limited exceptions to the mask order, which include those who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition, those for whom wearing a mask would create an unsafe condition, individuals who would be unable to remove a mask without assistance, individuals under the age of two, and individuals who are communicating or seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired or has another disability where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.

Pennsylvanians can play a role by appropriately reporting suspected violations of these orders put in place to keep people safe.

MASKS AND CHILDREN: Pediatricians with the American Academy of Pediatrics and a child advocacy organization are weighing in on the importance of wearing masks for all, including children older than 2. This guidance mirrors that of Governor Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine as a required mitigation effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

“We saw cases rise recently in Allegheny County and due to all of us wearing masks, practicing physical distancing and hand hygiene, cases are coming back down,” said William Keough, MD, MSc, FAA, Co-Chair, PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Advocacy Committee, Medical Director, UPMC Health Plan. “For everyone over 2 years of age, wearing a face covering when outside your home along with hand and cough hygiene and physical distancing are decades old, scientifically proven ways to slow the spread of infection. Please, for the health of everyone, do your part to slow the spread of this deadly virus.”

VEHICLE AUCTION: As Pennsylvania continues its efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect its citizens, the commonwealth announced that the Vehicle Auction scheduled for Aug. 11 at Manheim Keystone Pennsylvania will not be held.

The August auction was the fourth of six vehicle auctions scheduled for 2020. The next auction is scheduled for Oct. 13.