NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

COUNTY PRISON: The Director of Corrections reports that currently there are no cases of COVID-19 among residents at Northampton County Prison (NCP). Since the beginning of the pandemic, 176 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. All have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer at NCP. Since March 2020, NCP has conducted 2,693 tests for COVID-19 on inmates. All new inmates coming into the facility receive a test before they are transferred to general population; residents are tested on a random basis.

Sixty-one NCP corrections officers have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic. Fifty-four have finished their quarantine periods and returned to work; seven are out on quarantine.

There are currently 549 inmates in residence at NCP. Twenty-nine non-violent offenders have been granted extended furloughs.

LEHIGH VALLEY

NEW LVHN VACCINATION SITES: LVHN will be transitioning the Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest and LVH–Muhlenberg clinics to two new larger locations in the Lehigh Valley that will complement the network’s robust vaccination efforts throughout the region. In Lehigh County, LVHN is opening a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the former A.C. Moore store, 2633 MacArthur Road, Whitehall, and at Northampton Crossings shopping center in the former Sears Appliance and Hardware store, 3768 Easton Nazareth Highway, Palmer Township. Both locations opened April 12 and will provide COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment only.

To schedule an appointment for any LVHN COVID-19 vaccination event including drive-through clinics, people in Phase 1A can sign in to MyLVHN, the health network’s patient portal. You also can schedule an appointment by calling our COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). However, because of large demand and call volume, you may be out on hold. MyLVHN will be your fastest and easiest way to schedule.

LVHN is committed to administering the vaccine as quickly as possible to those who are eligible at the time. LVHN will cover all costs. The LVHN plan for administering COVID-19 vaccines is determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s phased approach to vaccination.

The best thing you can do to preregister for vaccination is to create a MyLVHN account. You’ll be notified when you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and can schedule your vaccine appointment on MyLVHN.

For current vaccination information, visit LVHN.org/vaccines.

1B VACCINATIONS: As part of Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) commitment to vaccinate the most people possible, beginning today LVHN is opening vaccine appointments to educators and child care workers, firefighters, law enforcement personnel, grocery store workers, food and agriculture workers and everyone under Phase 1B. LVHN also will continue to expand eligibility over the coming weeks to additional phases as outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

While they will continue to vaccinate people in Phase 1A, the state has expanded eligibility to these groups:

• Educators and child care workers, including pre-K through 12 teachers and other school staff.

• Law enforcement, including police, sheriffs and deputies, constables, corrections officers and staff, as well as probation and parole staff.

• Firefighters, including career and volunteer firefighters.

• Grocery store workers, including all workers in supermarkets and grocery stores.

• Food and agriculture workers, including all food-processing company employees, including meat, poultry and dairy processing, fresh fruit and vegetable packing operations, food manufacturing, and all farm workers, farm operators and farm managers, including at urban agriculture operations.

•Phase 1B, including people in congregate settings not otherwise specified as long-term care facilities and persons receiving home- and community-based services, U.S. Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, clergy and other essential support for houses of worship, public transit workers and individuals caring for children or adults in early childhood and adult day programs.

NATIONAL

CDC GRANTS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded Pennsylvania $101,363,520 to support local efforts to increase vaccine uptake by expanding COVID-19 vaccine programs and ensuring greater equity and access to vaccine by those disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The city of Philadelphia received an additional $14,313,369.

The award is part of $3 billion in funding that CDC has granted to 64 jurisdictions to bolster broad-based vaccine distribution, access, and administration efforts. The funding was made available by the American Rescue Plan and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and will provide critical support through CDC’s existing immunization cooperative agreements in communities around the country.