Governor Tom Wolf has announced a plan with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to waive standard liquor licensing fees through 2021, starting Jan. 1, 2021. More than 16,000 Pennsylvania restaurants and bars, clubs, catering clubs and hotels which have faced significant financial impacts during the COVID-19 public health crisis, are affected.

It could amount to $20 million in relief.

“As we enter the anticipated fall resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the very contagious nature of this virus makes gathering indoors publicly at full capacity dangerous. Still, we know that restaurant and bar owners in Pennsylvania are committed to keeping their employees and customers safe, and the vast majority of these businesses have followed safety precautions and invested in new procedures and supplies, but COVID continues to hurt this industry,” Wolf said. “My administration continues to look for innovative ways that we can support the bar and restaurant industry. Eliminating liquor license fees is an important step toward helping bars and restaurants retain the capital they need to weather the storm of COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine explained in a release last week the importance of patients speaking up for themselves and asking questions of their health care providers, especially as COVID-19 and the flu remain such public threats.

“Many patients feel embarrassed about their health literacy level, causing them to not speak up to their provider when they don’t understand something,” Levine said. “One tool that helps patients take a more active role in their health care is the Ask Me 3 Questions tool: what is my main problem?; what do I need to do?; and why is it important for me to do this? These three questions can help you better understand your health and what you need to do to stay healthy.”

Many Pennsylvanians are at greater risk for poor health outcomes because they don’t know what questions to ask or understand the answer.

Pennsylvania is one of only 20 states that have made health literacy, or understanding health information, a priority to ensure residents receive the best care for their needs and understand how to live the healthiest life in order to reach their full potential.

As of Tuesday, the state has 195,695 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 8,673 deaths. Lehigh County has 6,496 confirmed and 365 deaths; Northampton County has 5,304 confirmed and 313 deaths; the city of Bethlehem has 1,240 confirmed and 82 deaths.