COVID-19 DEATHS INCREASE AS PRIOR WEEK DATA IS COLLECTED
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has announced that as of yesterday as of midnight there are 1, 215 new cases of COVID-19 in the state bringing a statewide total of cases of 32, 284. According to the numbers that have just come in, there has been a significant increase in deaths reported, but these did not occur in the last 24 hours. Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine announced 356 new deaths for the commonwealth, bringing a statewide total to 1, 112, but the data about 148 of those cases represents the last 7 days. Lycoming county has 37 cases and no deaths at this time. Details about the positive cases and number of negative tests in Pennsylvania can be found at health.pa.gov

In order to keep the workforce in food production sites healthy from outbreaks of COVID-19, state agencies have made procedure recommendations for facilities to maintain operations as life-sustaining businesses. According to the Agriculture Secretary, Russell Redding, management and employees at food processing facilities should undergo daily wellness screening, and have protective equipment like masks and gloves provided, increase cleaning regimens, enforcing social distancing, staggering shifts and other mitigations. The complete list is available at agriculture.pa.gov/COVID

Curbside pickup may be available from some Fine Wine & Good Spirit stores in Pennsylvania starting today. The locations in the Loyal Plaza on E Third Street, on Hepburn Street in Williamsport, and E. Penn Street in Muncy. will take a limited number of orders by phone from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m and allow one order per call per day, with a limit of 6 bottles. A complete list of locations is listed online at www.lcb.pa.gov
After the announced last week that last night that wearing masks mandatory for public places including grocery stores, markets and pharmacies, some places will have free masks available for residents today. According to the Sun Gazette, Lilyana’s Clothing Store, at 428 Pine St., in downtown Williamsport will be distributing masks today beginning at 11 a.m. The owner of the store, Joseph Lyles bought 600 masks to distribute out of his store today to help residents comply with the order issued by the Governor.

There will be a drive-thru corona-virus testing site available starting today at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre for emergency and health workers and older commonwealth residents with symptoms, state officials announced Saturday. According to Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency of PEMA, registration will be required, but patients won’t need a doctor’s prescription. In response to an increase of cases of coronavirus in Luzerne County, the PA Department of Health, will begin testing first responders and health care workers who have symptoms of COVID-19, and Tuesday, the site will test northeastern Pennsylvania residents over age 65 with symptoms. They say results should be available in two to three business days, and patients will receive an email to log on to the registration site and access their results. Registration information here.

Keystone Central School District Superintendent Jacquelyn Martin, in an email released yesterday, announced that commencement ceremonies for seniors at Central Mountain and Bucktail High Schools, are postponed until August. The decision was made after much deliberation, plus out of an abundance of caution to protect the safety of students and families during the pandemic.

Knoebels Amusement Park won top honors in the 34th annual National Amusement Park Historical Association’s Amusement Park (NAPHA) and Attractions Survey. The Phoenix was named NAPHA members’ favorite wooden coaster for the 9th consecutive year and the park’s Hallo-Fun fest in October,was named NAPHA’s favorite post-summer season event. The park is delaying its opening for its 94th season indefinitely due to the COVID-19 crisis. NAPHA members are typically experienced riders who have visited countless amusement parks and have ridden a diverse assortment of roller coasters and other rides.The National Amusement Park Historical Association, founded in 1978 .