Department of Agriculture: COVID-19 is not transmissible through food
HARRISBURG — Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Agriculture Food Safety Director Jeff Warner have assured Pennsylvanians that there is no evidence that human or animal food or food packaging is associated with transmission of COVID-19.
Redding also reviewed the department’s recommendations to retail food and agriculture operations for continuity of business, inhibiting transmission, and maintaining a healthy workforce to ensure continuous access to food during COVID-19.
Redding said Pennsylvania’s grocery stores, food banks and pantries, food manufacturing and agriculture industry have a heavy responsibility right now: to provide continuous access to food, safely, during the most challenging crisis most have ever experienced.
Following a brief pause in support of the national, “15 Days to Slow the Spread” initiative, effective April 1, the Department of Agriculture re-deployed the state’s food safety inspectors to ensure continued protection of Pennsylvanians and prevent food-borne illness.
For a complete list of guidance documents and information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to Health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.
DCNR provides guidance on outdoor activities during coronavirus outbreak
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn reminds Pennsylvanians that being outdoors is good health care and self care, but recommendations for social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus still apply.
Dunn said outdoor activities are a great idea to relieve stress and as immunity boosters, but they should not include exposure to high-touch surfaces or other groups of people.
Dunn noted the best advice to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to stay at home. Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking, or running is allowed if social distancing is maintained.
Some tips for avoiding groups of people outdoors include:
Find a local park or trail that offers enough space for social distancing. Pennsylvania has more than 6,000 local parks that are identified on an interactive map.
Some municipalities have closed local parks to protect visitors and employees, so check the status of the park before you go. If the park is open, bathrooms and water fountains likely will not be, so plan ahead.
There also are more than 12,000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, most of which remain accessible during this period. Find a nearby trail at trails.dcnr.pa.gov.
State and local parks, state forests, and trails are seeing record numbers of visitors, with more anticipated as the weather turns warmer and fishing season begins.
Pennsylvania has 121 state parks, and 20 forest districts.
AG DePasquale following Up on PUC’s no-shutoff order to utilities
HARRISBURG — Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said he will follow up with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to ensure no customers’ utilities are shut off during the statewide Coronavirus emergency.
Seasonal restrictions on service terminations typically end April 1, but the PUC last month issued an emergency order that halts service shut-offs for as long as Gov. Wolf’s emergency declaration remains in effect.
DePasquale said right now, all utility companies need to be more flexible with customers.
DePasquale noted that the PUC’s order does not excuse customers from paying their bills; it is designed to keep service in place while customers make formal payment arrangements with utility providers.
To make payment arrangements, consumers should work directly with their utility providers. To learn more about the order, visit the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission online at www.puc.state.pa.us.
DePasquale also urged the General Assembly to consider extending or expanding assistance programs, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), that might help Pennsylvanians facing financial hardship while so many businesses are shut down to slow the spread of COVID-19. The current LIHEAP application deadline is April 10.