The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 565 new COVID-19 cases Monday. That brings the statewide total to 114,565. There is a positive coronavirus statistic today. The state reported no COVID-19-related deaths on Monday, leaving that number at 7209.
While the PIAA plans on holding high school fall sports, Gov. Tom Wolf isn't so sure that's appropriate. "What happens in school should be consistent with what happens on the playing field. In other words, if a school is going to completely virtual, it seems hard to justify having in-person contact sports being played in the fall," Wolf says. The governor says sports and education decisions should be governed by what's going on locally as every district's reopening situation is different. Meanwhile, Wolf says he's looking at the PIAA rules prohibiting parents from attending any high school sports events this fall.A recent online petition garnered more than 40,000 signatures seeking to allow parents to attend their children's games.
A Lehigh Valley Walmart is going to start testing people for COVID-19 as part of the superstore's new drive-thru testing service. Testing for the virus at the Whitehall Township location, which is one of nine across the state offering the service, begins Wednesday. People must register one day in advance at the Quest Diagnostics website to get tested at the site, which will be open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. The Walmart testing sites can accomodate up to 50 people a day. None of the testing will be done inside the store.
Kutztown University President Kenneth Hawkinson says students will be allowed to return to campus for the fall semester. Students must wear masks in all classroom settings. Hawkinson says about 40-percent of professors have documented underlying conditions allowing them to teach remoteldy, meaning about 40-percent of courses have changed to a virtual format.
Northampton Community College is delaying the start of most of its fall classes to August 31st. The fall semester was supposed to start on August 24th, but that has been pushed back a week due to the pandemic. The college's fall break has been canceled.
As cases of COVID-19 begin to increase again in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy is reinstating limits on indoor gatherings to no more than 25 people. That is down from the 100-person limit that had been imposed. Meanwhile, Murphy is requiring students to wear face masks while in school. Students and teachers will be allowed face mask breaks during the day when social distancing is possible.
An online survey of New Jersey parents shows a little more than half of those surveyed do not think remote learning has a positive effect on learning. 54-percent of those parents would send their children back to school this fall. 14-percent said they were confident remote learning had a positive effect on children. The survey was distributed online during the first week of June.
New Jersey's Attorney General's office is recommending daily fines of up to $10,000 and possible jail time for the owners of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr. The owners of the gym have conducted a publie feud with the state over its violation of a state order to limit indoor operations to individual appointments. The owners of the gym maintain they are taking adequate steps to protect public health. This past Friday, the two owners knocked down a plywood barricade at the gym's entrance that was put up to enforce the state order. The two owners are scheduled to appear in court today for a hearing on revocation of their business license.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson says had he not tested positive for coronavirus, he probably wouldn't have any idea he has it. "I feel great. My energy level is high. I really have no symptoms whatsoever," Pederson says. He says he's staying at home, but away from his wife and children while running the team virtually.
At attorney for suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez is asking that his client be released from Westmoreland County Prison due to concerns over COVID-19. The attorney contends the 29-year-old is at risk of contracting the virus after being confined to the same cell as someone who tested positive on Sunday. Vasquez is accused of sex charges involving a teenage girl.
Accu-Weather's Joe Lundberg says even though Isaias has been knocked down to a tropical storm, it's still going to be a problem today. "It's still on track to do what we thought is was going to do, which is bring us a lot of rain and some wind," Lundberg says. He says almost the entire Lehigh Valley will get between two-and-four inches of rain, but some spots might pickup six inches of rain. Most of that rain will fall in a six-hour time period, which is why a Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the Lehigh Valley.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency as Isaias roars north up the Atlantic coast. The declaration took effect this morning. Gov. Murphy says everyone should stay off the roads until the storm passes. A tropical storm watch and flash flood watch are in effect for the region until tonight. Residents should be prepared for heavy rain and high winds.
Hersheypark is closed today due to the threat of Tropical Storm Isaisas. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain to the region. Hersheypark officials expect to reopen on Wednesday.
Police in Bethlehem are investigating a shooting that occurred Monday evening. Several shots were fired in the area of East Fifth Street and Atlantic Street around 6:30 last night. There are no reports of any injuries.
A New Jersey federal judge is speaking for the first time since her son was murdered and her husband seriously wounded at their home in North Brunswick. "Two weeks ago, my life as I knew it changed in an instant and my family will never be the same. A madman, who I believe was targeting me because of my position as a federal judge, came to my house," Esther Salas says. She adds, "I am begging those who are in power to do something. For my family, the threat was real and the free flow of information from the internet allowed this sick and depraved human being to find all our personal information and target us." The shooter later killed himself.
A bill to legalize betting on eSports in New Jersey has passed the Assembly and is on its way to the Senate. The vote in the House was unanimous. Betting on sports events in New Jersey has been legalized for almost two years but gambling on electronic sports, otherwise known as eSports, was not included in that law. Supporters say the time is right for this type of gambling because the pandemic has shut down physical sporting events.