746 new coronavirus cases were added Wednesday to Pennsylvania's total. That brings the statewide number to 64,412 sine the start of the pandemic. Pennsylvania's death toll from COVID-19 now stands at 4767.
There's less than half of the number of patients currently hospitalized in New Jersey than there were four weeks ago. Gov. Phil Murphy says the state currently has 3405 patients in the hospital. Of that number, 969 are currently in critical care. New Jersey reports 168 deaths in the latest numbers released, bringing the statewide total to 10,747.
The City of Allentown is concerned as the revenue sources are drying up due to the impacts of COVID-19. Mayor Ray O'Connell says the city will lose nearly $8 million in projected 2020 budget revenue. The city is projecting to cut spending by about #3 million, but even with those cuts, there will still be a net loss of nearly $5 million.
A pair of zoos are offering you the option to drive through their facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Lehigh Valley Zoo will begin their Cruise LVZoo Drive-Thru fundraising event today. Tickets are available through the zoo's website and an audio tour tape that can also be used today through Monday. The Lake Tobias Wildlife Park plans on revealing their options for a similar event next week.
The Kutztown Folk Festival's organizers say the coronavirus pandemic has forced them to call off the nine-day festival, which was scheduled to start its 71st run on June 27 and continue through the Independence Day weekend. Organizers said they will shift the festival's focus for 2020 to virtual engagement, by sharing on social media video updates from many of the festival's craftsmen, entertainers, and long-time participants throughout the week, as well as archived videos, photos, and stories from prior years. The quilt auction will take place at its usual time, at noon on July 4.
Barbers, hair stylists, animal groomers and more businesses will have to wait longer to reopen after the state House failed override Gov. Tom Wolf's veto of a bill that would've allowed them to do so. Wolf says the bill would have undermined his phased-in approach to reopening the state's economy. The bill that was vetoed would have allowed the state to issue waivers for various small businesses to reopen and throw out the slow approach the governor is taking.
SNAP users can soon shop online for their groceries. The USDA has approved the state to join the new program that will let people use food stamps to purchase groceries on the web. Walmart, Amazon and ShopRite are the only vendors currently approved for the program. Officials have not received a full approval yet for the new services, but Washington, D.C. uses the program for its residents.
Civil War history buffs will be able to get back to seeing history first hand in Gettysburg beginning tomorrow. Officials with the Gettysburg National Military Park will begin allowing Licensed Battlefield Guide operations and commercial operators as Adams County moves into Gov. Tom Wolf's 'yellow' reopening phase. The museum and visitor center, Eisenhower National History Site buildings, observation towers and public restrooms will remain closed for now. The park's gates will open and close at their normal times.
New Jersey is launching a new testing partnership in conjunction with Walmart and Quest Diagnostics. Beginning tomorrow, self-administered, self-swab drive-up test site service will be available at seven Walmarts across the state. Testing will be by appointment only and no testing will be done inside any of the Walmart stores. More information is available at www.myquestcovidtest.com.
Six Flags Great Adventure is announcing its much-anticipated Wild Safari drive-thru will open up May 30th. The exotic contact-free experience will be by reservation only, with tickets purchased in advance to prevent overcrowding. The 350-acre park offers some 1200 animals including elephants, giraffes, rhinos, tigers and lions.
A foot chase involving police and a wanted man ends in the man drowning in the Lehigh River in Carbon County. Franklin Township police Chief Jason Doll tells WFMZ police chasing the unidentified man tried to avoid that ending. "However he kept swimming further away and kept saying that he didn't want to go back to jail," Doll says. He says the man was being chased Tuesday evening when he jumped into the river to try to escape. Instead he got caught under a train trestle and drowned. His body was found Wednesday afternoon.
After being kept at home for weeks many Pennsylvanians will be hitting the water over the Memorial Day weekend. Because of that, this is National Boater Safety Week. "They are excited about getting out there, but they have to make sure what they have all their equipment and go over their whole boat. The CDC recommends distancing guidelines, so if you're not with the same family you've gotta keep six feet away and likewise if you're not in the same vehicle," That's Mark Ssweppenhiser with the PA Fish and Boat Commission.