User:Matthewvetter/COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania

Comments from Will K
Hello - could you take a look at the content in the following sections that I've been working on (before I move to mainspace)?

Impact on education, Impact on voting, Impact on economy, and Vaccination. Thanks.

DarthVetter (talk) 20:56, 15 February 2021 (UTC)

Evaluation / Notes for COVID-19 Pandemic in Pennsylvania
A useful exercise for evaluating this article was to compare it with the on focused on New York State. When I did this, I noticed how much was missing from the Pennsylvania article, especially information on the pandemic's impact on schools/public education, state economy, voting, and other information

I think I can use the New York article as a guide to further develop the PA article, adding sections on vaccinations, impact on voting, and effect on communities. I also noticed that much of the data regarding cases/deaths was out of date. I made a small edit to the lead yesterday, and I can continue to make edits to easily update statistics from pre-existing sources.

Impact on education
As elsewhere in the U.S., the pandemic has placed significant economic stress on public school districts across the state of Pennsylvania. Despite funding from the CARES ACT, many districts have had to increase taxes, make budgets, or draw from reserves, or some combination of the three strategies. Many of the districts facing the most difficult economic challenges are also those that serve low-income areas.

Impact on Voting
Immediately before the November 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, 27% of likely voters identified the virus as "the most pressing issue for the state." Covid-19 led to a surge in registrations for mail-in voting for the general eleciton. In response to the pandemic, certain modifications were made to mail-in voting. Prepaid return postage was provided for both mail-in and absentee ballots in the general election. Additionally, the deadline for receipt of mail-in ballots was extended to November 6, 202 if the ballot was postmarked by November 3, 2020.

Impact on Economy
On March 19, 2020, Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf ordered a shutdown of all non-life-sustaining businesses in the state to close physical locations in order to slow the spread of the virus. Following the shutdown and into the second week of April 2020, 1.7 million residents had filed unemployment claims. The most affected sectors included the construction sector and the accommodation and food services sector.

As of February 2021, over 2 million unemployment claims have been filed in the state. 1.1 million of those have been approved and paid.

Effects on Communities (Katie)
Pennsylvania businesses were impacted by COVID-19 beginning early in the pandemic. All non-life-sustaining businesses were ordered to close by 8 pm March 19, 2020 by Gov. Tom Wolf. As a result, restaurants, small businesses, theaters, galleries, and performance spaces were temporarily shuttered to stem the spread of the virus. The economic impact of closures and related measures became apparent later in the year. GDP decreased by 34% statewide between Q1 and Q2 2020, and employment decreased by 503,600 (8.2%) jobs between February and December 2020. Workers able to telecommute were asked to do so, beginning in March 2020.

In an effort to aid small and locally-owned businesses, Pennsylvania legislators created funds for proprietors. The Statewide Small Business Assistance program made $225 million available for small businesses as part of the $2.6 billion CARES Act. Businesses, which apply through Community Development Financial Institutions, were eligible for grants of $5,000 to $50,000. Wolf's office reported $192 million has been provided through grants to more than 10,000 businesses. In October 2020, another $96 million was allocated to more than $5,000 businesses. As of February 2021, businesses can operate at 75% capacity, casinos, malls, theaters, gyms, spas, and salons at 50%, and indoor dining in restaurants at 50% capacity.

Gatherings for parties, funerals, or weddings were limited in number. As of November 2020, maximum occupancy limits (including staff) were set for indoor and outdoor settings. These range from no more than 500 people in an indoor space with a maximum occupancy of more than 10,000, 10% of 2,000 maximum occupancy, 5% of 2,000-10,000 maximum occupancy. Outdoor events were limited to 5% or up to 2,500 with a maximum occupancy of more than 10,000, 15% of 2,000 maximum occupancy, and 10% of 2,000-10,000 maximum occupancy.

In October 2020, lawmakers introduced “Save the Stages” legislation (PA House Bill 2894 ) designed to provide $200 million of the CARES Act to performance venues or associated businesses impacted by COVID-19.

As gyms and recreational spaces were shuttered, Pennsylvanians took to outdoor trails. A survey of Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s trails’ operators reported an increase of trail usage by 100% to 200% in spring 2020 as stay-at-home orders were implemented. Increased usage delayed planned projects and strained resources for management of the trail systems.

In November 2020, Gov, Wolf issued a travel order requiring those arriving in Pennsylvania from another state or country, or residents returning to the state, to test negative to a COVID-19 test or to quarantine for 10 days after arrival.

Vaccination
The Pennsylvania Department of Health organized the state vaccine rollout into four phases. As of February 1, one million PA residents had received the vaccine.

Phase 1A
In the first phase, or Phase 1A, eligible persons included long-term care facility residents, health care personnel, persons exposed to infectious materials, persons aged 65 and older, and high-risk persons aged 16-64. Phase 1A began December 14, 2020, with the first vaccines being distributed to frontline healthcare workers in Pittsburgh.

Phase 1B
In Phase 1B, the following groups are eligible for the vaccine: individuals in group settings beyond long-term care, first responders, correctional officers, food and agricultural workers, U.S. postal workers, manufacturing workers, educators, clergy, public transit workers, and childcare professionals.

Phase 1C
In the third phase, essential workers in a number of sectors not already mentioned, including sectors such as transportation, energy, media, and legal services became eligible.

Phase 2
In Phase 2, all (16 and older) persons not previously covered are eligible for the vaccine.

Challenges to rollout
As of January 2021, Pennsylvania ranks "second-to-last among the states in vaccine administration," a condition which has prompted state republicans to criticize democratic governor Tom Wolfe's management of the situation. Among other challenges, Wolfe has cited a lack of supply from federal agencies in preventing quicker and more widespread inoculation. While older populations are targeted in Phase 1A, elderly residents of rural Pennsylvania in particular have had limited access to the vaccine, as limited supplies as inadequate facilities hinder the roll-out in these areas.