Coronavirus News for Wilkes-Barre

Coronavirus: Special Features

NY Travel Advisory List Expected To Add Pennsylvania

In yet another sign that the COVID-19 pandemic is seeing a resurgence, Pennsylvania is expected to be added to New York’s Travel Advisory list. As per the NY Department of Health’s Coronavirus website, the New York Travel Advisory list is updated weekly based upon a seven-day rolling average, of positive tests in excess of 10%, or number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents.Pennsylvania is expected to be added along with Arizona, Maryland, and fellow border states Connecticut and New Jersey. These five states will join 33 other US states and two US territories, who meet the criteria for required quarantine. The states currently on the list: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, WyomingDuring a Monday conference call, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was asked about rising case numbers in New Jersey and Connecticut. Governor Cuomo addressed the rising numbers and included Pennsylvania in his statement: "It's a problem. New Jersey and Connecticut have worked with us, as have other northeastern states, on an operating basis since this began, also there are so many inter-connections between Jersey and Connecticut and Pennsylvania where you have a workforce that comes and goes every day, there's just a lot of inter-connection and travel. If you were to limit access to New Jersey or Connecticut, I don't know to what extent it would be possible to do border patrol because you don't have airports there et cetera, and it would also seriously be disruptive to the economy. So, it's complicated and we're working with them, but we don't have any final conclusion yet but for a practical matters, you can't do border control with New Jersey and Connecticut."

Virtual Town Hall Set to Discuss Unemployment Compensation, Job Search,

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvanians are encouraged to ask their job search and unemployment compensation questions during Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s twenty-first virtual town hall from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Thursday, October 15. Director of L&I’s Bureau of Workforce Partnerships and Operations Ruben Pachay, who will provide an update on the virtual job search and reskilling services, will be joined by Director of the Office of Unemployment Compensation Benefits Policy Susan Dickinson, who will answer questions about unemployment compensation. Pennsylvanians are encouraged to join the Town Hall and ask questions about finding a job, reskilling, or unemployment benefits.PA CareerLink® Website UpgradeVirtual services through PA CareerLink® are now easier to access than ever before on its newly redesigned website. PA CareerLink® offers a variety of career and workforce development services to jobseekers and employers, including searches for jobs, apprenticeships, internships, and reskilling opportunities. All services through PA CareerLink® are free of charge.How to participate in the Town HallA livestream will be online at https://access.live/PAlabor. Those without internet access can listen by calling 1-833-380-0719, however phone lines are limited so we ask that they be reserved for individuals who need them. Participants using the phone lines can ask questions directly of our UC expert. Individuals livestreaming the town hall can submit typed questions that will be read to the UC expert by a moderator. To protect participants’ personal confidential information, detailed answers about individual claim questions cannot be answered during the town hall.More information on career services, reskilling opportunities, and unemployment compensation is available on L&I’s website, Facebook or Twitter.

Luzerne County Correctional Facility: 5 Employees Test Positive for COVID-19

Officials in Luzerne County say 5 employees at the County Prison have tested positive for 5 COVID-19.Contact tracing has been completed and it was discovered that these individuals had prolonged contact with 10 other employees. These 10 employees are not showing any symptoms but have been instructed to quarantine and are being tested. LCCF staff is continuing to monitor the situation for potential other quarantine needs.The work areas of all of these employees have been thoroughly cleaned. As of today no inmate cases have been reported.There is no public admission into LCCF at this point and all nonessential groups have been cancelled. All contractors have been suspended from entering the facility as well. Attorneys may visit their clients through the glass partitioned visiting booths or if requested in visitation rooms with PPE for both the inmate and attorney. All transports from LCCF to the Court hearings have been suspended until Tuesday, October 13. Luzerne County Manager David Pedri released the following statement on Thursday, October 8, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - It was confirmed today that the Luzerne County Correctional Facility has 5 COVID-19 positive employees. Contact tracing was completed and it was discovered that these individuals had prolonged contact with 10 other employees. These 10 employees are not showing any symptoms but have been instructed to quarantine and are being tested. LCCF staff is continuing to monitor the situation for potential other quarantine needs. The work areas of all of these employees have been thoroughly cleaned. As of today no inmate cases have been reported. There is no public admission into LCCF at this point and all nonessential groups have been cancelled. All contractors have been suspended from entering the facility as well. Attorneys may visit their clients through the glass partitioned visiting booths or if requested in visitation rooms with PPE for both the inmate and attorney.LCCF has strict guidelines to address COVID 19. In light of these positive tests, LCCF administrative staff has begun reinforcing these guidelines along with following CDC recommendations as they have since the outbreak of the pandemic. New inmate commitments are placed into a standard COVID-19 medical isolation status and have their medical status checked daily. All transports from LCCF to the Court have been suspended until Tuesday, October 13. I will keep you informed of any updates. I ask that you send your thoughts and prayers to our employees for a speedy recovery. Dave PedriC. David Pedri, EsqLuzerne County Manager

Wilkes-Barre: Multiple Police Officers Test Positive for COVID-19

Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown has announced the City Health Department was notified that a Wilkes-Barre Police officer tested positive for COVID-19. Eight other police officers are presently quarantining.CDC recommended control measures to prevent the spread of the virus were implemented, including deep cleaning and disinfection of the police station, vehicles, and equipment.

Lackawanna Trail Teacher Tests Positive for Coronavirus. Full Class of Students Now In Quarantine

In Wyoming County several dozen Lackawanna Trail students from the Junior-Senior High School are in quarantine after their teacher tested positive for the COVID 19.School Officials say they learned of the positive this morning and alerted parents that children in that classroom must quarantine for 14 days and left school immediately. The teacher was last in class on Friday. The district is also determining if any staff members must quarantine.If the school has another positive case in the next 14 days, the school will close for between three and five days.Lackawanna Trail is one of the only districts to fully reopen . Last month an elementary center teacher test positive for COVID-19 . Those students, who also quarantined, did not report any additional positive cases.

New Crowd Size Guidelines Go Into Effect on Friday

New guidelines have been released by the PA Dept of Health to address the size of events or gatherings allowed across the Commonwealth. The new guidelines start on Friday, October 9, 2020. Office buildings, classrooms or other regular occurring operations do not apply. Rather, concerts, fairs, movies, amusement parks, and other temporary venue occupancy limits will play a bigger role in the number of people allowed. For example, indoor venues with a capacity of up to 2 thousand people would allow 20percent Maximum occupancy.Outdoor venues up to 2 thousand 25 percent. Indoor over 10 thousand people would allow up to 3,750 people and outdoor over 10 thousand would allow up to 75 hundred people. Masks and social distancing will also be required.

Luzerne County Responds Amid Investigation Over Discarded Military Ballots

On Friday, September 25, 2020, Luzerne County Manager C. David Pedri issued a twelve point press release, in response to the investigation into reports of potential issues with a small number of mail-in ballots at the Luzerne County Board of Elections. Here are the twelve points FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Luzerne County’s Response to the Requested Investigation of UMOVA Ballots Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (September 25, 2020) 1. The Luzerne County Elections Bureau began transmitting Uniformed Military and Overseas Voters Act (UMOVA) ballots for the November 2020 general election on August 25, 2020 in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of State 2020 Election Calendar. UMOVA ballots are provided to US citizens living aboard and military voters. 2. The Luzerne County Elections Bureau has a longstanding practice of adding temporary seasonal independent contractors to assist with office tasks in the months leading up to an election. 3. One individual was contracted to assist with the 2020 General Election as a temporary seasonal independent contractor and began work on Monday, September 14, 2020. This contractor was assigned to sort the mail received by the Elections Bureau. 4. During the afternoon of Wednesday, September 16, 2020 it was discovered by Luzerne County Elections Director Shelby Watchilla, that this contractor incorrectly discarded into the office trash UMOVA ballots. Ms. Watchilla immediately began an internal inquiry and informed her direct supervisor. 5. The temporary independent contractor was removed from service and informed not to return. 6. After the internal inquiry was completed, Ms. Watchilla contacted Luzerne County Office of Law who researched the matter and advised that this needed to be reported to the authorities. An official request was immediately made by County staff to the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office for investigation and assistance. 7. All garbage from the Elections Bureau from Monday, September 14 through Wednesday September 16 (the time period when this independent contractor was present on County property) was placed in a dumpster and secured by Luzerne County staff. Each bag of garbage from the entire building in the dumpster was searched by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police as well as Luzerne County staff. All items of concern were taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. 2 8. Luzerne County Elections staff were unaware for whom the ballots were cast until the disclosure via Press Release of the United States Attorney on September 24, 2020. 9. Upon return of the ballots currently held by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the County will attempt to contact the voters involved and process their votes. The County encourages all individuals who have already mailed their UMOVA ballots back to Luzerne County to check their ballot status at the Pennsylvania Department of State website (www.dos.pa.gov). 10. Elections Bureau Director Shelby Watchilla discovered the activity listed above and initiated this investigation. The County is fully cooperating with the investigation and thanks the US Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office for their professional work. 11. Luzerne County will be providing supplemental extensive training to both full time staff and temporary seasonal independent contractors and has a security camera in the Elections Bureau to actively monitor and ensure that all staff are strictly adhering to proper procedures and protocols. The Pennsylvania Department of State has also been contacted to provide additional assistance regarding training and best practices. 12. Mail in ballots for the general public are on track to be mailed out starting on October 5, 2020. All additional training and updates for staff will be completed by that date. While the actions of this individual has cast a concern, the above statement shows that the system of checks and balances set forth in Pennsylvania elections works. An error was made, a public servant discovered it and reported it to law enforcement at the local, State and Federal level who took over to ensure the integrity of the system in place. The Luzerne County voters should be assured that the election will move forward with transparency and integrity. Every properly cast vote will be counted. While the actions of this individual has cast a concern, the above statement shows that the system of checks and balances set forth in Pennsylvania elections works. An error was made, a public servant discovered it and reported it to law enforcement at the local, State and Federal level who took over to ensure the integrity of the system in place. The Luzerne County voters should be assured that the election will move forward with transparency and integrity. Every properly cast vote will be counted.C.David Pedri County ManagerLuzerne County, Pennsylvania

Pa. Prison COVID Unemployment Scam Unravels

HARRISBURG― Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced state charges against 20 inmates and accomplices in three state prisons in central and eastern Pennsylvania. These arrests are linked to at least two existing rings, or organized groups of inmates and outside accomplices who conspired to provide false information on COVID-19 unemployment benefit applications.“After announcing our first round of arrests in these COVID unemployment scams, I promised that there were more to come,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “Today, 20 more individuals have been charged with illegally taking benefits away from hard-working Pennsylvanians who are struggling during this crisis. These arrests are not the end of our investigation, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues at the federal level to track down those heading these schemes, along with those who are willfully participating and breaking the law.”The first and larger ring was operated in Centre County, out of State Correctional Institution (SCI) Benner. The second ring was operated in Schuylkill County, out of SCI Mahanoy.The Benner ring included two ringleaders and eight additional co-conspirator inmates. Adele Moore, of State College, and James G. Neff Zonge, an inmate at SCI Benner, began operating the fraud ring out of SCI Benner after Moore successfully applied for COVID-19 unemployment benefits on behalf of Neff Zonge. Moore and Neff Zonge established a system in which Moore would use an inmate’s personal identifying information, apply for COVID-19 benefits from her address, and then give the inmate a portion of the collected benefits. Moore would often keep the majority of the money for her own personal use. In total, the SCI Benner ring obtained $153,470 in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits.The Mahanoy ring included two ringleaders, Wendy Danfora and Markal Munford, as well as two additional inmates. Danfora, of York, also took the personal identifying information of her inmate co-conspirators to apply for COVID-19 unemployment benefits. As part of the scheme, Danfora gave a portion of the benefits to the inmates, but kept the majority for her personal use. In total, the SCI Mahanoy ring obtained $109,900 in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits.There were also six individual inmates arrested without any known links to a ring. These arrests are part of an ongoing investigation by the Office of Attorney General in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the eastern district of Pennsylvania.Individuals are only eligible for PUA benefits if they are both unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic and available to work. In order to receive benefits, an individual must access the PUA website and file a PUA claim. The applicant is required to enter personal identifying information and answer eligibility questions. Individuals who are serving a sentence of incarceration, or who are detained pending a criminal trial, are neither available for work nor unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, they are not eligible to receive PUA benefits for the period of their incarceration.Individuals who apply for emergency unemployment benefits when they are employed or incarcerated are breaking federal and state law. Individuals found to be involved with organized efforts to obtain emergency unemployment benefits illegally can face significant prison time and financial penalties. In some instances, like the arrests today, ringleaders of these schemes can face over 60 years, and their co-conspirators can face well over 40 years.To read the full press release from the office of the Attorney General, click here.

NBC Today Show: How the Pandemic Is Affecting Small Business In Scranton

NBC's Today Show aired a story about the affect the pandemic has had on local business in Scranton. Watch the story below in the video player, or click here

Judge Denies Wolf Request for Stay of Ruling Over Crowd Size Limitations

Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf received some bad news in Pittsburgh. The same federal judge, who previously invalidated key parts of the Wolf administration response to the COVID19 pandemic, declined to stay his own ruling. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV ruled that the Wolf administration did not show that “imminent and irreparable harm” would occur if the Governor’s crowd size limits were removed. The administration’s pandemic response currently limits event crowds to 25 people inside and 250 people outside.Wolf had hoped to have Stickman’s ruling stayed, while his administration worked on their appeal. The judge stated that the currently imposed crowd size limitations violated citizens’ constitutional right to assemble. The often mentioned “double standard” was used when explaining why the stay was rejected. Stickman said the state failed to provide an adequate explanation as to why they felt the need to impose strict crowd size regulations on “social, political, cultural, and other gatherings,” but failed to impose the same kinds of strict regulations to commercial businesses who often have hundreds of patrons shopping inside.In the days since the original September 14th ruling, changes to the Governor’s orders have already been put into action. Most notably, many Pennsylvania school districts have announced plans to boost the number of fans allowed in attendance at high school football games.While another setback, Wolf announced his administration will continue to appeal. Next stop: 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.