HAP's Latest News

During National Influenza Immunization Week, HAP joins health care organizations around the nation urging everyone six months and older to get vaccinated against the flu. Getting a flu shot can help relieve the burden on Pennsylvania’s hospitals as they continue to treat patients with COVID-19.

During a press conference this afternoon, Governor Tom Wolf highlighted the continuing surge in COVID-19 cases across the state, adding that new temporary restrictions are necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19 and avoid overwhelming the state’s hospitals and health care delivery system. Governor Wolf also stressed that the new restrictions are being put into place to help keep Pennsylvanians as safe as possible during the upcoming holidays.

As community spread of COVID-19 continues across the commonwealth, Governor Tom Wolf, along with Michael Huff—Pennsylvania Department of Health’s director of testing and contact tracing—announced a new program to increase access to testing in five regions.

On the last day of the current legislative session—and as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge across the commonwealth—Governor Wolf vetoed a bill that would have provided limited liability protections for hospitals, health systems, and practitioners who are on the front line fighting to keep all patients safe and healthy.

During a conference call with reporters today, Rachel Levine, MD, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, said the state has reached “a concerning milestone,” with more than 4,400 COVID-19 hospitalizations. The positivity rate has climbed to nearly 12 percent, as well.

As COVID-19 case counts continue to spike, a group of more than 400 clinical leaders, including chief medical officers and chief nursing officers, from Pennsylvania’s hospitals today issued an urgent call to action ahead of the holiday season.

When announcing a broad range of mitigation orders and guidance yesterday, Governor Tom Wolf pointed to the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in both Pennsylvania and across the nation.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly today sent Governor Wolf a spending plan for the remainder of the fiscal year 2020–2021 budget. During May of this year, lawmakers enacted an interim state budget that funded government programs for five months and fully funded education.

Last night, the state Senate voted on a measure proposed by Senator Lisa Baker (R–Luzerne), which would protect providers and facilities, the business community, and education entities from frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits. Today the state House of Representatives approved the measure by a vote of 104 to 98, sending the bill to Governor Wolf.

During a press conference today, Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, MD, announced that the state had made its COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan available for public review. The document outlines the logistics that will guide the state’s vaccination efforts, once the vaccines are ready.