Key Updates COVID-19
KEY UPDATES – April 3, 2020
At approximately noon on Thursday, April 2, Schuylkill Township received confirmation of its first positive case of COVID-19 in the Township. At the time of this posting , there are now 2 confirmed cases in Schuylkill Township.
The Township would first like to send its best wishes to the individuals concerned for a safe and speedy recovery.
You can be assured that all Township Public Safety and Emergency Management Operations have been prepared for this scenario and will continue to serve our residents in these unsettled times. Please let this news serve as a reminder to remain diligent in following the Governor’s Stay at Home Order and all the recommended Social Distancing protocols, including the following:
- Maintain at least six feet from other individuals.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or use hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or elbow, not hands.
- Do not shake hands.
- Regularly clean high-contact surface areas.
- Remain in your home except for the following reasons:
• Reporting to work as an essential employee in a life-sustaining business
• Medical needs (but remember if you have COVID-19 symptoms call your medical professional or hospital before coming into the office)
• Shopping for food (human and pet), medicine, and necessary household products
• Outdoor exercise or walking your pet
For statistics on the COVID-19 impact regionally and worldwide, please visit the following sites:
• Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CCSE) at John’s Hopkins University (world-wide)
• PA Department of Health (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)
• Chester County Health Department (local)
For more information resources on COVID-19, please visit Chester County’s Coronavirus information website:
- Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine revised their “Stay at Home” orders to include Cameron, Crawford, Forest, Franklin, Lawrence, Lebanon and Somerset counties, bringing the state total to 33 counties under a stay-at-home order. This order took effect at 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, 2020, and will continue until April 30. Yesterday, all stay-at-home orders were extended through April 30. Non-life-sustaining business closures remain in effect. Read the full announcement here.
- The Township government is operating on an essential services-only basis. The municipal building remains closed to the public and all Township public meetings and events are cancelled until further notice. The staff is working remotely and will respond to emails and phone messages. The Police Department continues to operate for the protection and safety of the community. For police assistance in a non-emergency situation, please call (610) 935-2448.
- The Board of Supervisors of Schuylkill Township strongly urges residents to abide by the Governor’s stay-at-home order to protect themselves, their families, friends, and neighbors as well as to ease the incredible burden being placed on our first responders and health care providers. Keep physical distance (6 feet or more) if you must be out and about. Don’t forget, however, that loneliness can be a problem especially for the elderly. We encourage everyone to reach out to each other via phone, email, texts, etc. Cabin fever is real, so get out of the house, work in your garden, go for a walk or bike ride but maintain physical separation to limit the spread of COVIS-19.
- All Pennsylvania schools are closed until further notice. Visit the school district website for information. www.pasd.com
- The Pennsylvania Primary Election has been moved to June 2, 2020. Visit Chester County Voter Services for information on mail-in and absentee voting.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has extended the personal income tax return filing deadline to July 15, 2020.
- The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.
- Census Self-Participation Deadline Extended – Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Census has extended the self-participation deadline from July 31 to August 14. 2020. Census field operations are currently suspended and will be reevaluated in mid-April. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Census as soon as possible online or by mail or phone. If residents do not respond online or by phone, they will receive a paper questionnaire in a few weeks. Didn’t receive a code to complete the Census? Call the Census Bureau at 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish) or go to my2020census.gov.
- All Xfinity WiFi Public Hotspots are now open to everyone –you do not have to be a Xfinity customer, but will need to accept Terms and Conditions to access the network and repeat when requested to continue to receive free unlimited access. You can access the WiFi from the parking lots of public places. Visit https://wifi.xfinity.com/ to find a public hotspot near you.
- Food assistance resources are available. Call 2-1-1, visit the County Foodbank website or apply online for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
FOR BUSINESSES
- April 3 Deadline to Apply for Waivers from Business Closure Order –
State Secretary of Community and Economic Development Dennis Davin has announced that the application process for businesses requesting waivers from the commonwealth order to close non-life-sustaining businesses will close Friday, April 3, at 5 p.m. Businesses can find out how to apply at dced.pa.gov. They should first view the Life-Sustaining Business List and FAQs to determine if they are currently operating appropriately. The most updated list and guidance are available at dced.pa.gov. - An Employee Retention Credit is available for many businesses financially impacted by COVID-19 under the March 27, 2020. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Information on qualifying businesses, the implementation of this credit, frequently asked questions on Tax Credits for Required Paid Leave and other COVID-19 economic relief efforts can be found on the Coronavirus page of IRS.gov.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development has information and resources available for businesses affected by COVID-19. Details may be found at https://dced.pa.gov/. Funding is available to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19 through a new program under the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority’s (PIDA) Small Business First Fund, the COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program (CWCA). All loan applications must be submitted through a Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO). For the list of CEDO’s operating within Pennsylvania, please refer to dced.pa.gov/programs/covid-19-working-capital-access-program-cwca/.
Here are some additional resources to keep in mind when staying up to date:
• Coronavirus.gov – the latest official information from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force at the White House.
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – official Coronavirus (COVID-19) health information.
• FEMA Rumor Control page – answers to coronavirus myths and rumors.
• USA.gov/Coronavirus – see what government agencies are doing in response to COVID-19.
