Pa. Gov. Offers Civil Liability Immunity for Health Care Workers, Some Say its Impact Falls Short
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Gov. Wolf signs executive order providing immunity from civil liability for state's health care workers.
Gov. Wolf said the order grants immunity to health care
professionals who hold a license, certificate, registration or certification to practice in Pennsylvania and providing COVID-19-related treatment during the disaster emergency response. The immunity is also extended to workers in any health care facility as defined by the Health Care Facilities Act, and any nursing facility, personal care home or assisted living facility. The order also extends liability immunity to a community-based testing site or non-congregate care facility used for emergency or disaster services related to the state's disaster emergency response.
The administration said that immunity would not extend to anything that constitutes a crime, gross negligence, fraud or other willful misconduct.
The action taken by the governor on Wednesday was met with some concern that the order
did not go far enough to protect all health care professionals in the Commonwealth. The PA Chamber praised the governors decision to provide civil liability immunity protection to health care workers, but said that
those protections must also be extended to the entire medical community
– including hospitals and health systems. The PA Chamber would also like to see civil liability protections extended to all businesses faced with resuming or sustaining operations amid social distancing and other mitigation efforts, as well as for those companies that have shifted their production to make personal protective equipment for the medical community.
According to the governor, the
executive order was prompted by stakeholders concerned about potential lawsuits against medical professionals who are practicing in good faith during difficult and unprecedented times. Gov. Wolf also said the order follows similar actions by neighboring states.
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Certain Pa. state-run liquor stores to reopen for limited in-store sales.
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) announced it will
reopen 77 of its state-run liquor stores in counties that are in the "yellow" phase of Gov. Tom Wolf's three-phased, color-coded plan to restart the Commonwealth's economy.
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Daily COVID-19 update for Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported nearly 1,100 new positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide, bringing the state total to 52,915. In addition, 3,416 Pennsylvanians have died from complications from the virus. To date, there have been nearly 210,000 negative cases across the state.
Gov. Tom Wolf is still asking all Pennsylvanians who must leave their homes for life-essential reasons to
wear a mask to help stop the spread of the virus
. An executive order was issued on April 15 requiring customers entering a place of business to wear a mask.
Daily COVID-19 update for Ohio
The Ohio Department of Health reported 22,131
cumulative cases of COVID-19 and 1,271 deaths, including probable cases, by Thursday afternoon. There have been 4,140 hospitalizations and 1,167 ICU admissions.
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Gov. Wolf, AG Shapiro extend foreclosure, eviction protection for two more months. Flanked by the state's top law enforcement officer, Gov. Tom Wolf announced on Thursday that a new executive order will
extend foreclosure and eviction protections for Pennsylvanians until July 10. The governor and Attorney General Josh Shaprio said the order extends a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision which closed court eviction proceedings until May 11, extending the protection for renters and homeowners for another 60 days.
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Unprecedented times, but McNees is here to help
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The situation surrounding COVID-19 is changing by the hour.
Capitol Buzz
will do its best to keep our readers as up-to-date as possible as to local, state and federal actions relating to the virus.
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2020 SENATE SESSION SCHEDULE
The Senate stands in recess until the call of the President Pro Tempore
May
18, 19, 20
June
1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
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2020 HOUSE SESSION SCHEDULE
The House stands adjourned until the call of the chair.
May
18, 19, 20, 26, 27
June
8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
September
15, 16, 17, 29, 30
October
1, 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21
November
10
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