NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

COUNTY PRISON: The Director of Corrections reports that, since the beginning of the outbreak in March, 18 inmates at the Northampton County Prison (NCP) have tested positive for COVID-19. All but two have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer in the institution.

Seventeen NCP employees have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic. Fourteen have finished their quarantine periods and have returned to work.

The prison’s vendor, PrimeCare Medical, is closely monitoring the health of the inmates. Employees and inmates are following guidelines established by PrimeCare Medical to prevent further transmission of the virus. All inmates and employees have their temperatures checked multiple times a day. NCP began universal testing for COVID-19 on July 20th.

To protect the health of inmates and staff, volunteers, visitors and tours were banned from the prison March 10. Inmates may still contact their loved ones via phone, tablets or mail. To reduce chances of transmission, NCP has suspended programming provided by Pinebrook, LEAP and MARS and will re-evaluate restarting those services in January.

There are currently 538 inmates in residence at NCP.

CORONER’S REPORT: As of Nov. 27, the Northampton County Coroner has reported 313 COVID-19 related deaths in Northampton County (280 residents/33 non-residents). An additional 64 deaths of Northampton County residents have been reported by the Lehigh County Coroner as of Nov. 12. Between the two counties, we have recorded 344 deaths of Northampton County residents from COVID-19.

A COVID-19 drive-through testing site is available at 3100 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem Township. Hours of operation are Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday/Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The site is open on every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 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. The majority of patients tested at this site received their results in one to two days.

PENNSYSLVANIA

PLCB ENFORCEMENT: Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 314 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 29 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 10 notices of violation and 22 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements 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.

DAIRY FARM RELIEF: Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding has announced that the CARES Act-funded Dairy Indemnity Program has distributed $7.6 million in direct relief payments to 1,550 dairy farmers in the commonwealth. Any dairy farmer who experienced losses due to discarded or displaced milk during the COVID-19 pandemic was eligible to apply.

To qualify for direct relief payments, farmer’s losses must have occurred between March 6, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2020. Farmers were eligible for an immediate $1,500 in direct relief upon applying, followed by additional relief dollars with the remaining funds in the program.

For information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID.