FILE PHOTO: Boxes of food are distributed by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, at a drive thru distribution near PPG Arena in downtown Pittsburgh, Friday, April 10, 2020.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Updated: 2020-04-11 13:40:05
Your daily coronavirus update: New unemployment benefits being implemented in Pennsylvania
-
The Associated Press -
Staff
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
FILE PHOTO: Boxes of food are distributed by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, at a drive thru distribution near PPG Arena in downtown Pittsburgh, Friday, April 10, 2020.
What you should knowWith our coronavirus coverage, our goal is to equip you with the information you need. Rather than chase every update, we’ll try to keep things in context and focus on helping you make decisions. See all of our stories here.
» Coronavirus facts & FAQ
» Day-by-day look at coronavirus disease cases in Pa.
» What the governor’s stay-at-home order means
Gov. Tom Wolf says the state labor department has started sending out expanded federal unemployment compensation payments provided by the coronavirus relief package approved by Congress.
The measure temporarily provides an additional $600 per week and makes self-employed, independent contractors and gig workers eligible for benefits. It also extends unemployment compensation benefits for an additional 13 weeks.
The federal benefits are in addition to Pennsylvania’s regular unemployment benefit, which is about half of a person’s full-time weekly income up to $572 per week for 26 weeks.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry issued the first $600 payments Friday, and officials said eligible people who filed biweekly claims for the week ending April 4 and who received their regular unemployment compensation payment should expect to see the additional money either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
A measure signed by the governor last month waives the one-week waiting period for filing for unemployment compensation as well as the job search and work registration requirements. Workers are concerned their employers are putting interest in the bottom line over their employees’ safety.
My paycheck or my health: Warehouse workers see themselves as reluctant heroes of coronavirus pandemic
Cases
State health authorities say nearly 500 people have died among those who have tested positive in Pennsylvania for the coronavirus, while the number of cases now tops 20,000, with cases reported in every county in the commonwealth.
The state’s health department on Saturday reported more than 21,600 total cases in all 67 counties, with 494 deaths, all adults. Officials say most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients of that age range.
Since the first cases were reported in central Pennsylvania on March 13, a total of 2,977 people in the region have tested positive for the virus.
The first coronavirus-related deaths in this region were reported about two weeks later, on March 28. In the 14 days since, a total 59 central Pennsylvania residents have died from COVID-19 or related complications.
Today’s update includes seven new deaths in Berks County, two in Lancaster, one in Cumberland, one in Dauphin and one in Schuylkill.
- Adams: 44 cases, including 1 death
- Berks: 930 cases, including 19 deaths
- Columbia: 99 cases, including 2 deaths
- Cumberland: 105 cases, including 3 deaths
- Dauphin: 213 cases, including 3 deaths
- Franklin: 59 cases
- Juniata: 38 cases
- Lancaster: 698 cases, including 23 deaths
- Lebanon: 232 cases, including 1 death
- Mifflin: 10 cases
- Northumberland: 31 cases
- Perry: 16 cases, including 1 death
- Schuylkill: 179 cases, including 2 deaths
- Snyder: 16 cases, including 1 death
- Union: 14 cases
- York: 293 cases, including 3 deaths
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple of weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
Giant to limit shoppers
The Giant Company announced it will start limiting the number of customers in its stores.
Starting Monday, an employee will be stationed at each store’s front entrance to monitor occupancy limits. Those limits will will vary by location and size of stores.
Officials say when a store has reached capacity, customers will be asked to form a line outside, while observing social distancing. As customers exit, those in line will be allowed in.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
