To help long-term care facilities build resilience to sustain quality care as the population ages, the Department of Health (DOH) announced plans to distribute approximately $11.7 million in federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding. 

As many businesses return to normal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials are warning that while cases are down dramatically since the peak of the pandemic, cases have been increasing in recent days.

On May 13, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) changed its COVID-19 masking guidelines, announcing fully vaccinated Americans could now unmask indoors.

51.9% of Pennsylvania’s eligible population have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of May 7, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 43% are fully vaccinated. 

Pennsylvania will lift all COVID-19 restrictions except the order to wear a mask in public on Memorial Day. Restaurants, bars, and indoor and outdoor gatherings will no longer have capacity restrictions as of May 31.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that fully vaccinated adults 65 years and older were 94% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than people of the same age who were not vaccinated.

After being ranked 30th in the nation for vaccine distribution, the Pennsylvania Health Department said the roll out of vaccines is increasing and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now moved the state to no. 2 in the nation for the number of vaccines administered in the last seven days.

Alicia Quinn, vice president of marketing and strategic alliances for Discover Lehigh Valley says the willingness of Lehigh Valley event organizers and attractions to be flexible in order to comply with state regulations ensure a safe experience for their guests has sparked quite a bit of creativity this holiday season. 

As the Lehigh Valley enters the green phase of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan, Dorney Park will open July 8, but only for season pass holders.