PENNSYLVANIA

COVID RESTRICTIONS: Pennsylvania will lift nearly all COVID-19 restrictions on Memorial Day, the Wolf administration announced recently, promising to restore something approaching normalcy to the state more than a year into the pandemic and just in time for summer.

Capacity restrictions on bars, restaurants and other businesses, as well as indoor and outdoor event gathering limits, will go away on May 31, meaning concert halls, sports stadiums and wedding venues could soon be packed for the first time since early 2020.

The state’s mask mandate will remain in place, but even that could be dropped - if enough people (70 percent) get vaccinated, Health Department officials said.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

COUNTY PRISON VACCINATIONS: Lamont McClure and the Director of Corrections, James Kostura, announce that the Northampton County Prison’s (NCP) healthcare provider, Prime Care Medical, has made arrangements with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to hold a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for inmates and staff members on Wednesday, May 12. DOH will deliver either the Moderna or the J&J shot to NCP; Prime Care Medical staff will administer the vaccines.

The vaccinations are not compulsory and are only being provided to those who request them. At this time, at least 100 inmates and five staff members have signed up to be inoculated. Over the last few months, NCP employees have been able to sign up for the vaccine at public clinics.

CORONER’S REPORT: Between January 1st and May 2, 2021, the Northampton County Coroner recorded 162 COVID-19 related deaths in Northampton County (133 residents/29 non-residents). As of March 14, the Lehigh County Coroner reported 57 deaths of Northampton County residents. Between the two counties, 190 deaths of Northampton County residents from COVID-19 have been reported this year.

“The pandemic isn’t over yet. The virus is still active in our area,” says Lamont McClure. “I urge everyone to socially distance and wear a face mask in public and to get vaccinated.”

In 2020, the Northampton County Coroner reported 403 COVID-19 related deaths (359 residents and 44 non-residents). The Lehigh County Coroner reported 118 deaths for a total of 477 COVID-19-related deaths for Northampton County residents in 2020.

LEHIGH VALLEY

ST. LUKE’S PHYSICIANS VACCINATED: When it comes to measures of quality, safety and patient satisfaction, St. Luke’s University Health Network holds itself to the highest of standards – straight A’s! So it only makes sense that the Network would also aim for an employee vaccination rate of 90 percent or higher.

As of Thursday May 6, nearly all St. Luke’s physicians – 97 percent – are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The physicians’ stellar example has inspired St. Luke’s advanced practitioners, nurses and other staff to do their part to establish the network’s herd immunity. As of Thursday, 87 percent of St. Luke’s employees have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Every day the rate inches higher as more employees are vaccinated.

“Our employees recognize that COVID-19 is a public health crisis,” said Jeffrey Jahre, MD, St. Luke’s vice president of Medical and Academic Affairs and Section Chief Emeritus of Infectious Diseases. “In order to protect our patients, families and communities, our employees stepped up to perform their civic duty – they got the shot.”