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Governor Tom Wolf expands "stay at home" order to the entire state!

PENNSYLVANIA, USA —Gov. Tom Wolf is placing all 67-counties of Pennsylvania under an order to stay at home, calling it "the most prudent option."Wolf added 34 counties to his previous stay-home edict, according to the Associated Press.All individuals must stay at home except for certain essential activities and work to provide life-sustaining business and government services.Individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following allowable individual activities and allowable essential travel.Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including, but not limited to, pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home.Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves or their family or household members, or todeliver those services or supplies to others, such as getting food and household consumerproducts, pet food, and supplies necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essentialoperation of residences. This includes volunteer efforts to distribute meals and other life-sustaining services to those in need.Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing.To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business (see below for details about life-sustaining business activities).To care for a family member or pet in another household.Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities (see below for details about life-sustaining business activities).Travel to care for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerablepersons.Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services.Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction.Travel required by law enforcement or court order.Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth.Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel.

April 01, 2020

Pa. State police no longer sending troopers to some calls

Pennsylvania State Police will no longer respond in person to some types of calls as the agency tries to limit troopers’ contact with the public and slow the spread of the new virus. State police say that calls for lost and found, littering, identity theft, and general requests to speak to a trooper are among the types of calls that will now be resolved with “limited or no-scene response.” The new policy took effect Wednesday and will be in force until further notice. State police say troopers will continue to respond to emergencies. Meanwhile, the Allegheny County jail said it released more than 600 inmates in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus.

April 01, 2020

Wed. 4/1- Pa. Covid Positive cases in state increase almost 20%

Luzerne County has now surpassed Monroe County in the number of COVID-19 positive cases. This afternoon the Pa. Dept of Health reports 282 positive cases and 4 deaths in Luzerne County. Monroe County has 268 cases and 8 deaths. Lackawanna County has 85 cases 3 deaths, Wayne County 14 cases, Columbia County 8, Susquehanna County 2 cases. Pa. saw an almost 20% increase in cases in 24 hours. There are 5805 cases and 74 deaths. Developing...stay tuned to WILK for the latest.

April 01, 2020

After testing positive for COVID-19, PA Department of Welfare caseworker feels betrayed.

The wife of a hospitalized caseworker with the PA Department of Welfare calls in to WILK's Frank Andrews to discuss his recent positive test for COVID-19, and how they both believe it could have been avoided. Listen to the compelling interview.

March 31, 2020

IRS Economic impact payments: What you need to know

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment.The following information is from the IRS.GOV website and can be read, in its entirety here.Who is eligible for the economic impact payment?Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible.Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples. Parents also receive $500 for each qualifying child.How will the IRS know where to send my payment?The vast majority of people do not need to take any action. The IRS will calculate and automatically send the economic impact payment to those eligible.For people who have already filed their 2019 tax returns, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. For those who have not yet filed their return for 2019, the IRS will use information from their 2018 tax filing to calculate the payment. The economic impact payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed.The IRS does not have my direct deposit information. What can I do?In the coming weeks, Treasury plans to develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online, so that individuals can receive payments immediately as opposed to checks in the mail.I am not typically required to file a tax return. Can I still receive my payment?Yes. People who typically do not file a tax return will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment. Low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans and individuals with disabilities who are otherwise not required to file a tax return will not owe tax.How can I file the tax return needed to receive my economic impact payment?IRS.gov/coronavirus will soon provide information instructing people in these groups on how to file a 2019 tax return with simple, but necessary, information including their filing status, number of dependents and direct deposit bank account information.I have not filed my tax return for 2018 or 2019. Can I still receive an economic impact payment?Yes. The IRS urges anyone with a tax filing obligation who has not yet filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 to file as soon as they can to receive an economic impact payment. Taxpayers should include direct deposit banking information on the return.I need to file a tax return. How long are the economic impact payments available?For those concerned about visiting a tax professional or local community organization in person to get help with a tax return, these economic impact payments will be available throughout the rest of 2020.Where can I get more information?The IRS will post all key information on IRS.gov/coronavirus as soon as it becomes available.The IRS has a reduced staff in many of its offices but remains committed to helping eligible individuals receive their payments expeditiously. Check for updated information on IRS.gov/coronavirus rather than calling IRS assistors who are helping process 2019 returns.

March 31, 2020

With community spread and hundreds of COVID-19 cases, St. Luke's Monroe Campus is being tested.

As a newly labled "hotspot" for COVID-19 transmission, how is St. Luke's Monroe Campus handling the influx of patients? How serious are the cases? What has changed since community spread has been confirmed? Is the hospital overhwhelmed? Are they running out of supplies?

March 31, 2020

Another big jump in COVID-19 cases in NEPA and across the state

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf has added seven more counties to his order to stay at home as the new virus expands its reach and Pennsylvania reports another big jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. Wolf is telling residents of Lebanon, Franklin, Somerset, Lawrence, Cameron, Crawford and Forest counties to stay home at least through April 30. That brings to 33 the number of counties under the governor's order. The Department of Health reported over 750 additional coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the total to more than 4,800. There were 14 new deaths for a statewide toll of 63.In Northeast Pa. Luzerne County's positive number has gone up more than 40% from 150 Tuesday to 212 today and another person has died, bringing Luzerne County's death toll at 4. In Lackawanna County, there are 78 positive cases up from 62 yesterday, with another death, a total of 3. Monroe County now has 236 cases, Wayne County has 10, Columbia has 10 and Susquehanna, 1. For a total breakdown of cases including the county and demographic breakdown go to the Pa. Dept of Health website.

March 31, 2020

Sheetz Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19

Sheetz has temporarily closed their Trucksville/Shavertown location on Memorial Highway after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. There is no word on the health of additional employees who may have come in contact with the sick employee, but Sheetz says it's following the guidelines put in place by the CDC and the Department of Health.The location is currently being sanitized, disinfected, and professionally deep cleaned. This includes all parts of the location including the fuel pumps.Sheetz will reopen the location at a date and time to be determined.

March 30, 2020

Governor Extends Stay at Home Order through April 30th

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The president declared a major disaster in Pennsylvania on Monday night, capping off a day that saw nearly 700 new cases as Gov. Tom Wolf extended the closing of schools and nonessential businesses indefinitely. Wolf also added four more counties to a separate stay-at-home order and extended its duration by more than three weeks, through at least April 30. More than 10 million people, or 80% of the state's population, have now been instructed to remain in their homes. The Democratic governor says he knows the extended shutdown of businesses, schools and big swaths of daily life "isn't easy to hear," but is necessary to save lives and keep hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.As COVID-19 cases continue to grow and the state continues to seek relief to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, today Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine revised their “Stay at Home” orders to include Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill counties, bringing the state total to 26 counties under a stay-at-home order. This order takes effect at 8 p.m., Monday, March 30, 2020, and will continue until April 30. All stay-at-home orders are now extended through April 30. All Pennsylvania schools will remain closed until further notice. Non-life-sustaining business closures remain in effect.The order now includes these 26 counties: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland and York counties.By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, MARK SCOLFORO and CLAUDIA LAUER and WILK Staff

March 30, 2020

Pa sees largest daily increase in COVID-19 positive cases

In the last 24 hours, Pennsylvania has seen it's largest increase in new Covid-19 positive cases, and the largest single day increase in deaths. The Pa. Dept of Health reports that there are 4,087 positive cases in the Commonwealth, with 49 deaths, an increase of 11 deaths, incuding one in Luzerne County, Luzerne County also saw a 60% increase in the number of positive cases, from 94 to 150 today. Monroe County has 182 cases, Lackanna County went up 11% to 62 cases, Pike County has 33, Wayne County 7, Columbia 6 and Susquehanna County 1. For more information on demographics and hospitalizations, go to the Pa, Dept of Health here.

March 30, 2020