NorCo Covid-19 Data as of April 17

(1) New Cases On a Downward Trend

PSU: Covid-19 in NorCo as of April 17

As you can see from the ordinal graph above (prepared by PSU), 43 new cases of Covid-19 were reported today. This is in line with a downward trend that first began on April 10, exactly one week ago. For the past seven days, with the exception of April 15, there have been under 50 new cases. On April 15, there were 75. The highest number of Covid-19 cases so far was on April 4, when 122 new cases were reported.

Whether this is an indication that we've peaked and are on our way down is unclear. The numbers are going down, but it appears that the statewide daily testing has also dropped. Whether testing has diminished in Northampton County is unknown.

(2) 34 People Have Died. 

Northampton County is reporting all people who are infected with Covid-19 and die within the county's borders, regardless where they actually live.  Thus far, 34 people have passed away. They lived in the following municipalities: Forks Twp. (1); Lower Nazareth Twp. (2): Bangor Boro (1); Palmer Twp. (9); Upper Nazareth Twp. (4); Williams Twp. (2); Nazareth Boro (1); Bethlehem Twp (7); City of Bethlehem (1); Washington Twp (1); Phillipsburg, NJ (1); Bronx, NY (1); and Millersburg, PA.

Average age of the Deceased: 79.6 years.

Gender of the Deceased: 56% Female/44% Male

Race of the Deceased: 74% White, 11% African American, 9% Hispanic, 6% Asian/Pacific Islander

(3) NorCo's Nursing Homes Have Been Hit Hard

Covid-19 has been devastating to the elderly who reside at nursing homes. It has infected 177 residents and 45 employees at the county's 10 nursing homes, resulting in 11 deaths.

(4) Area Hospitals Have Plenty of Rooms 

There appears to be no shortage of available rooms or ventilators.


Sources: PSU, Pa. Dep't Health, NorCo Charts

Shutdown Protests Scheduled on Monday in Harrisburg

A combination of several grassroots groups comprised of small business owners and unemployed Pennsylvanians will protest Governor Tom Wolf's business shutdown on Monday in both Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

At the state capital, a protest is planned to start at noon at the Capital Complex. Organizers have issued this statement:

“Government mandating sick people to stay home is called quarantine. However, the government mandating healthy citizens to stay home, forcing businesses and churches to close is called tyranny. Business owners are being forced to layoff employees while the unemployment system is failing those laid off as the economy free falls.

"This is a recipe for disaster with many in our society helpless. We cannot stand by and watch our neighbors suffer while the government considers prolonging these painful conditions. The economy should be reopened on May 1 for healthy citizens continuing enhanced sanitation habits to prevent any virus from spreading. Those with compromised immune systems should not have to re-enter the economy or workforce if they do not feel comfortable.”

"We will have endured nearly seven weeks of lockdown when May 1 arrives. It is not sustainable to continue this lockdown as the economic and societal consequences will be irreversible. Opioid deaths increase 3.6% for every 1% unemployment rises, as child abuse and domestic violence have spiked along with mental health ailments. It is time to roll back these restrictions on May 1.

"Protests are beginning to emerge across the country as concerned citizens strive to return the economy to normal. These protests have been peaceful as will this event. We invite the media to cover our protest at the State Capitol Building."

NorCo Ass'n of Twp Officials Offer College Scholarship

Northampton County's Association of Township Officials is offering a scholarship for graduating seniors. If you reside within a Northampton County township with a son or daughter graduating from high school this year, you can apply for a scholarship by emailing Hanover Township at hanover@hanovertwp-nc.org or call 610.866.1140 and leave a message. The Township will mail the application to you.

NorCo Exec Praises DOH For Help at Gracedale

I've been critical of Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Health, for her continued insistence on a shutdown of the state's economy. But in addition to Governor Tom Wolf, she does have one fan - NorCo Exec Lamont McClure. His reason has nothing to do with that the state shutdown, and everything to do with Dr. Levine's help at Gracedale. "I don't know where we would be today without the responsiveness of the Department of Health," he said. McClure said this while making a pitch for a 30-day extension of his emergency powers. Council would later honor McClure's request by an 8-1 vote , with Council member John Cusick being the sole dissenter.

The meeting was the first ever Skype meeting conducted by County Council. Council President Ron Heckman and VP Lori Vargo-Heffner were physically present, with the remaining seven Council members (John Cusick, Peg Ferraro, Bill McGee, Kevin Lott, Kerry Myers, Tom Giovanni and Tara Zrinski) participating by laptop. Although there was lots of noise in the background from time to time, the remote format seemed to be a success. There was no public participation.

When speaking of Gracedale, McClure told Council that 26 residents have tested positive for Covid-19, along with 22 staff members. Unfortunately, four of these residents are deceased, but two of the staffers have already returned to work. He added that the specter of a novel coronavirus resulted in 400 call-offs in April. "We understand that many of those who called off are scared," he observed."But those who show up are scared, too."

Covid-19 has hit the jail, too. McClure reported that five inmates and five staffers have been infected. The afflicted staffers include two medical personnel and three corrections officers. One of the corrections officers has returned to work. The jail's population has been reduced from a census of 661 on March 23 to 531 on April 15. McClure credited President Judge Michael J Koury, Jr, District Attorney Terry Houck and Chief Public Defender Nuria DiLuzio for their role in identifying nonviolent offenders who could be released.

McClure also praised Emergency Management for their role in securing personal protective equipment for distribution to first responders on March 23, March 24, March 31, April 6 and April 9. He also named and thanked several private individuals and businesses who donated masks and hand sanitizer (I will run a complete list of these generous people and businesses once I confirm).

Cusick, the only Council member to vote against the extension of McClure's emergency powers, did so because McClure recently decided to close all county parks. Though not discussed at the meeting, a recent Chinese study (still awaiting peer review) concludes Covid-19 is almost entirely an indoor phenomenon. On the other hand, Louise Moore Park is located very close to Palmer and Bethlehem Townships, the two hardest hit municipalities within Northampton County.

In addition to extending McClure's emergency powers for another 30 days, Council also adopted an "emergency" ordinance giving itself the option of just meeting once a month for the next three months. Council President Ron Heckman explained that it was still his intention to have Council meet twice every month, but the ordinance gives Council the option of reducing the number of meetings if necessary. Cusick was again the sole No vote. Having participated in multiple electronic meetings as a teacher, he said, "I see no reason for this ordinance."

Bethlehem Establishes Small Business Emergency Relief Fund

Just before Governor Tom Wolf's decision to shut down Pennsylvania's economy, I visited The Old Library Bookshop in Bethlehem. I was looking for stories penned by Victor Hugo, whom I consider the greatest storyteller who ever lived. The two ladies who run that store hooked me up with a nice copy of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and at a price that even I could afford. As I reflect on it, that's really what I like most about The Christmas City. Some of you might like the casino or Musikfest, but what has always charmed me are the numerous small and locally owned businesses dotting the city's streets. It's sad to see them victimized by the Covid-19 crisis. Fortunately, Mayor Bob Donchez in Bethlehem has set up a "Small Business Emergency Relief Fund" to help them.

Seeded with $300,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, Bethlehem will provide one time grants of $2,000 for rental assistance, payroll and utilities. Obviously, businesses must be located in the City of Bethlehem, and comply with low to moderate income (LMI) funding requirements outlined in CDBG guidelines. Priorityon will be given to those businesses in the retail, food, and beverage, and personal service industries within the Central Business Districts and Limited Commercial zoning districts. All businesses, however, are encouraged to apply.

"These are unprecedented times, businesses are struggling and in need of support," said Mayor Dinchez. "We are fortunate to have funding available to be used toward this program and will continue to craft programs to provide support to our business community.”

Applications for the program will be available on the city’s website at www.bethlehem-pa.gov. on April 22. They will be reviewed by a committee for eligibility and evaluated based on funding priorities.

Pa. Legislature Can Terminate Wolf's Emergency Powers After He Vetoes Law to Re-Open Business

Yesterday, people from the land of midnight payraises voted to re-open Pa. businesses so long as they follow federal guidelines from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Those are less stringent than the ones currently in place. Unfortunately, the vote went largely along party lines. Governor Tom Wolf has vowed to veto the measure, and I doubt the legislature has the votes to override. So what can the legislature do? The answer is quite simple. End Wolf's emergency powers.

No less an authority than the Pa. Supreme Court noted this possibility when it rejected a challenge to Wolf's authority on Monday.

The Governor may, by proclamation or executive order, declare a state of disaster emergency, 35 Pa.C.S. § 3701(b), “upon finding that a disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or the threat of a disaster is imminent.” 35 Pa.C.S. § 7301(c). This state of disaster emergency shall continue until the Governor finds that the threat or danger has passed or that emergency conditions no longer exist, but may not continue for longer than ninety days unless renewed by the Governor. Id. As a counterbalance to the exercise of the broad powers granted to the Governor, the Emergency Code provides that the General Assembly by concurrent resolution may terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time. Id.

The Court also notes that Pa. is one of only five states that allow a Governor to exercise emergency powers beyond 60 days.

The real answer is to end Wolf's authority, not pass a bill we all know will never survive a veto.

NorCo: Should Council Extend Exec's Emergency Powers?

Northampton County Council is set up in the Home Rule Charter to be the most powerful branch of government. For one thing, it is described first, before the Executive or the courts. For another, the County's Constitution specifically states that this governing body possesses the "residual powers" of the County. Things have never worked out that way, primarily because the Executive is full-time and controls a rather large administration. Council, in contrast, is part-time and controls about three employees. Though it flexes its muscles from time to time, it has more often than not been been the third wheel on the bicycle of County government. Tonight, it is poised to vote on two measures that will make this body largely irrelevant. After seeing what the concentration of emergency power in the hands of our Governor has produced, it should think long and hard.

The first of these measures is a request to extend Executive Lamont McClure's emergency powers to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. His powers are currently set to expire on April 19, but McClure wants these powers extended until May 19.

Under these emergency powers, McClure can hire temporary workers and enter into contracts without following the usual cumbersome bidding requirements that ensure honesty, but take time. He also can redirect employees to where they are needed most without objections that might otherwise come from unions.

During the 30 days in which McClure has had emergency powers, he's made every effort to be as transparent as possible. On some days, I've received as many as five news releases concerning Covid-19. He's been up front about infections at the jail and at Gracedale instead of hiding details. He's actually gone above and beyond what the state Department of Health was initially doing when he began breaking down the ages, sex and races of coronavirus victims. His Human Services department has been collecting donations for the homeless, while his economic development office has started a zero interest loan pool for small businesses. His mapping department is not only graphing the daily tally, but offers a comparison to other counties. In fact, I can think of no LV municipality that has been as up front or as responsive as McClure's administration, with the possible exceptions of Bethlehem and Hanover Tp. McClure has done all this without being intrusive or acting like Big Brother. So I'd give him another 30 days.

The second matter Council is going to consider is a bit more troublesome. It's an "emergency" ordinance under which Council essentially abdicates its powers for the months of April, May and June. Instead of meeting twice a month, as required by the Home Rule Charter, they will only be meeting once a month. I suspect they will be remote meetings, too.

I realize these are part-time officials, but when they have broadened the powers of the Executive, they need to be even more vigilant against possible abuses. They can meet remotely, but should be doing so twice a month. For one thing, they should be pushing Governor Tom Wolf, as other counties have done, to make the June 2 primary a mail-in primary only. Ballots that go out should be franked to encourage voter turnout by mail. They should be doing more, not less.

Did You Get Your Stimulus Payment Yet?

The IRS has already sent out payments to 60 million people who filed tax returns in 2018 or 2019. If you'd like to track the status of your payment, the IRS set up a portal here. Because of the large number of people who have been using this site, it has been inoperable most of the day. Also, if you are a social security recipient, the IRS is going to pay you the way you're paid now, but lacks sufficient data at this point to track your payment. It will have this data soon.

Though Curve Is Flattening, Pa Imposes More Onerous Restrictions on Workers and Customers

This is the face of Pa. health?

The number of new Covid-19 cases has been dropping across the state for the past several days. Resentment is growing among the public over Governor Tom Wolf's business shutdown. His unemployment office has been as slow as a glacier in processing 1.3 million unemployment compensation claims. To date, his bureaucracy has failed to even establish an application process for the self-employed and gig workers. But instead of devoting resources to helping people who have been negatively impacted, Governor Wolf has doubled down. His Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, has just issued an edict that will make it even more difficult for life-sustaining businesses to operate. Of course, this is all for our own good.

Now businesses must do the following:

1) Stagger start and quit times to keep employees apart;
2) Provide break spaces for employees in which they are 6' apart;
3) Stagger those break times, too;
4) Limit the number of employees allowed in a break or locker room;
5) Training must be done virtually as much as possible;
6) Employees must be masked unless they are trying to eat something;
7) Have employees on hand to enforce all the frickin' rules;
8) All "nonessential" visitors banned (no word on whether they can be shot on sight);
9) Make sure these rules are all communicated in several languages (I recommend Russian);
10) Business with the unwashed masses by appointment only, unless impractical, in which case you are required to do everything you can to make them feel unwelcome. It's their fault for not being wealthy enough to afford Doordash and other delivery services;
11) Set aside a specific time for the Boomers to shop so they can scarf up all the frickin' toilet paper.
12) Make the unwashed masses wear masks, too.
13) Everyone has to wash their hands once an hour.

This is simply nuts. This order becomes effective April 19. It's time to rein Dr. Levine and Governor Wolf in.

NorCo Covid-19 Death Toll Hits 30; McClure Suggests We Are Peaking

As it has been doing daily, Northampton County has continued to track Covid-19 related deaths occurring within the county's borders, based on information provided by Coroner Zach Lysek. As of today, the death toll is 30. Executive Lamont McClure suggests, as I have been doing for the past several days, that we are finally peaking. " We are very near the time when our infections are supposed to peak. This is not a time to be complacent."

Deaeh Details: The municipalities in which the 30 deceased lived are as follows: Forks Twp. (1); Lower Nazareth Twp. (2): Bangor Boro (1); Palmer Twp. (8); Upper Nazareth Twp. (4); Williams Twp. (1); Nazareth Boro (1); Bethlehem Twp (7); City of Bethlehem (1); Washington Twp (1); Phillipsburg, NJ (1); and Bronx, NY (1).

Their average age was 79.3.

Gender of the Deceased: 60% Female/40% Male

Race of the Deceased: 73% White, 16% African American, 3% Asian or Pacific Islander, 10% Hispanic.

Northampton County Graph located here.

Pa. GSA Wants to Buy Two Souped-Up Ford Expeditions ... From Out-of-State

Governor Tom Wolf, when he shut down Pa.'s economy, also shut down car dealers. But that's no reason for his administration to stop buying high-end cars. On April 10, the General Services Administration posted a solicitation on the state's e-Marketplace, seeking proposals for two 2020 Ford Expedition Ltd Max, complete with heated seats, leather-trimmed captain's seats and a snazzy sound system. These are $64,000 cars, and according to a State Representative, sound suspiciously like the cars used for Governor Wolf's police detail. I guess he's parked his Jeep Wrangler until his next campaign.

Since the state's car dealers have been put out of business, he's obviously trying to make a deal with an out-of-state supplier.

State Rep. Andrew Lewis, who exposed this hypocrisy, had this comment: "An auto dealer in Ohio can submit a bid to supply these PA government vehicles because Ohio is operating by federal CISA guidelines for essential businesses and allows auto sales. An auto dealer in Maryland can, because Maryland is operating by federal CISA guidelines as well. An auto dealer from VA can..... you get my point. There’s something perverse about a state government buying vehicles, paid for by PA taxpayers, from out of state dealers when that same government has shut down all PA dealerships. This hurts the employees at family-owned dealerships more than anyone else, as they are struggling to hang on by a thread. Yet another example of arbitrarily holding Pennsylvanians back while giving opportunities to other states who will be so far ahead of us when this shut down ends."

Divided Supreme Court Upholds Challenge to Wolf's Business Shutdown

On Monday, a divided Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday rejected a statutory and constitutional challenge to Governor Tom Wolf's March 19 Executive Order that has effectively put Pennsylvania out of business. It was a 4-3 decision, with Justice Christine Donohue writing a 51-page opinion endorsed by fellow Democrats Max Baer, Debra Todd and David Wecht. A concurring and dissenting opinion was penned by Chief Justice Thomas Saylor. He was joined by fellow Republican Sallie Updyke Mundy and Democrat Kevin Dougherty.

Governor Tom Wolf is a Democrat.

Justice Dougherty, the sole Democrat to side against Governor Wolf, is the brother of prominent trades union leader John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty. He and the trade unions have been critical of the construction shutdown. Wolf's order has resulted in 1.3 million unemployment compensation claims, and the phone hotline has failed. Gig workers and the self employed may be eligible for benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, but the state has yet to set up an application portal for them. They are in limbo.

Monday's decision marks the second time the Court has upheld Governor Wolf's March 19 Executive Order. On March 23, in another 4-3 decision, it rejected a challenge mounted by gun rights advocate Joshua Prince. He argued that the Order closing gun shops made the Second Amendment meaningless. Though the Court sided with Governor Wolf, he quickly reversed himself on gun shops, and allowed them to re-open.

This second challenge was brought by a political candidate for the state house, along with several businesses. They include Kathy Gregory, a realtor from Northampton County. In an interview, she stated realtors can show homes while following CDC guidelines, and that Governor Wolf's "logic makes no sense to me." Another Plaintiff is a golf course owner who will be unable to meet its financial obligations unless permitted to operate. This owner noted that golf course are open in other states. The political candidate argued that an incumbent state representative can still meet constituents at her office, giving her an unfair advantage.

The statutory challenge was based on the language of  the Emergency Code, under which the Governor has the authority to declare a "state of disaster emergency." The Court concluded that a pandemic qualifies as a disaster under the terms of the statute. It notes, significantly, that the Governor's emergency authority only lasts for 90 days, and that the state legislature can terminate this emergency at any time.

The constitutional argument that most troubled the Democratic majority was that Governor Wolf's shutdown order, which came with no notice or opportunity to be heard, is a violation of the procedural due process clauses embedded in both the state and federal constitution. The Court concluded there was no need for what it called pre-deprivation notice and opportunity to be heard because such a process would take too long in the face of an emergency. The Court reasoned that procedural due process is required, even in an emergency. But it was satisfied that this constitutional requirement was satisfied by a process under which affected negatively-impacted businesses could seek a waiver.

Chief Justice Saylor, however, refused to accept this procedural due process argument. He scoffed at the notion that the closure is only temporary.  "[T]he majority allocates too much weight to temporariness to defeat developed allegations of a lack of due process in the executive branch’s determination of which businesses must close and which must remain closed," he reasoned. "While the majority repeatedly stresses that such closure is temporary, this may in fact not be so for businesses that are unable to endure the associated revenue losses. Additionally, the damage to surviving businesses may be vast."

While the majority cited Politico and New York Times to establish facts, Chief Justice Saylor felt that there were sufficient allegations of inconsistencies and arbitrariness in the waiver process to justify a factual hearing before the Commonwealth Court. He preferred a record based on actual evidence.

The challengers in this case were represented by Harrisburg Attorney Marc Scaringi, who is also a columnist and right-wing talk-radio host. Marc Scaringi. I was unable to get in touch with him before publishing this story.

Thanks to all these shutdowns, the IMF has predicted the global economy will experience its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

An Open Letter to Governor Tom Wolf From One of His Neighbors

Governor Tom Wolf
While I only live 35 minutes from you I feel a world away. You asked us to help you, we did. You asked us to close our business, we did. You asked us to stay home, we did. You asked us to continue to stay at home, we are. So here I am, at home, waiting. You told us don’t worry unemployment will come, it hasn’t. You told us don’t worry grants are coming, they haven’t. You told us don’t worry forgivable loans are coming, they haven’t. You told us don’t worry stimulus money is coming, it hasn’t. So here I am, at home waiting. I wait alongside most of my fellow small business owners, those self-employed and independent contractors. A massive number of PA residents who are waiting for the Unemployment portal to open for us, waiting for loan approvals, waiting for stimulus checks. All of these programs, we are at the back of the line for. So here we wait. While bills come daily, savings continuously dwindling and still doing our part. It is time you do yours. It is an inconceivable expectation to close unessential business halting all income and expect us to survive. We need to pay our bills and put food on the table. Without immediate action, you are leaving us no options. How are we to survive? We deserve an answer. Coming soon is no longer acceptable!

Feel free to share as I hope this reaches the Governor.

NorCo Creates Its Own Covid-19 Graph

Hat's off to Northampton County's excellent GIS department, which has always done an outstanding job at creating maps. It is now tracking Covid-19 with a logarithmic scale, day by day, located here. There are also charts showing demographic information as well as hospital availability. Here's how we stack up in comparison to surrounding counties, as of yesterday.

Covid-19: PSU Graph Shows Curve Flattening in NorCo and Lehigh

At its worst, this blog is a troll farm. At its best, it's a great exercise in participatory journalism. I told you yesterday that the only coronavirus curve I've been able to find is one at Pennlive.com.  It shows a steady rise, statewide, in the number of Covid-19 cases, on a logarithmic scale, not an ordinal scale. Cases are still increasing on an absolute scale (we might not have peaked yet in terms of new daily cases), but appear to be decreasing on a day-over-day percentage basis (the number of new cases today compared to the total number of cases yesterday). I lamented that I wished there was a similar graph for Lehigh and Northampton County, and one of my readers found one, which is maintained by Penn State University.

Here's the logarithmic scale through April 13, which also shows the percentage of new cases appears to be declining.

In addition to this statewide scale, here's how things look in Northampton County on an ordinal scale.

As you can see, Northampton County may have already peaked. The scale shows a high of 122 new cases on April 4, but the number of new cases dropped after that date. For the past four days, the number of new cases has hovered between 43 and 48.

Lehigh County may have peaked as well. The ordinal scale reports 220 new cases on April 4, but the number of new cases has since dropped. For the past three days, the number of new cases has hovered between 58 and 64.

Now this drop in new cases might simply mean that fewer tests were conducted. But more test kits have become available in recent weeks, so the most logical explanation could be that the worst is over for the Lehigh Valley.

Obviously,  I will be paying close attention to these ordinal scales over the next few days to see if this decreasing trend continues.

Bethlehem: Ask the Mayor

Mayor Bob Donchez and Department Heads will respond to written questions submitted by the public on Thursday, April 16, 2020. The video response will be available on the City’s website at www.bethlehem-pa.gov and other social media sites at noon on Friday April 17, 2020. The public can submit questions through email at askthemayor@bethlehem-pa.gov until noon April 15, 2020.

Northampton County Operations - 24 Residents Infected at Gracedale, 2 Dead

This morning alone, I have received four news releases from Northampton County. This local government is doing its best to keep local citizens informed about the impact of Covid-19. Based on these recent news releases, let me update you on Northampton County operations.

COUNTY COUNCIL: Starting April 16 at 6:30 PM, Northampton County Council will conduct its meetings by Skype. The meetings will continue to be livestreamed at Northampton County's Youtube channel. The public may participate in these meetings by phoning 610-829-6605, and then entering Conference ID No. 2055694. The public is able to participate in these meetings by sending questions or comments to the Council Clerk, Linda Zembo, at LZembo@northamptoncounty.org. You will be able to review the agenda for each meeting on Council's webpage.

Skype will show Council members when they are speaking.

Northampton County Council last met on March 19.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE: You can reach him online at the Northampton County web page under County Executive. His office has issued numerous statements, sometimes several in one day, as the County deals with the pandemic.

TESTING: Executive Lamont McClure is requesting the PA Department of Health to establish a Covid-19 testing site in Northampton County. Geographically, Northampton County is adjacent or near to three major Coronavirus hot spots in the United States.

COUNTY COURTS: Currently operating under a judicial emergency in which all courts, including Magisterial District Judges, are closed to the public except for "essential" judicial functions like the protection of victims of domestic violence. Courthouse personnel are still working, though some are doing so remotely for social distancing reasons. Those with judicial emergencies can call ahead to Court Administration at 610-829-6700.

COUNTY TAXES: You can pay online, and the two per cent discount period has been extended from March 31 until May 31. The base rate applies from June 1 to August 31, 2020. After that, there's a 10% penalty. Dog licenses and fishing licenses may be still be obtained online. (Statewide Opening Day of trout season was scheduled to open April 18, but the Fish and Boat Comm'n opened it on Tuesday, April 7, with no advance notice to the public.)

LOAN RELIEF: Northampton County has established a $250,000 emergency relief loan program for small businesses, with a maximum $15,000 loan payable over 12 months with no interest. Contact Community and Economic Development for details at (610) 829-6306.

COUNTY COURTHOUSE: Remains closed to the public until at least April 30.

HUMAN SERVICES: Accepting donations of tents, sleeping bags and non-perishable food to assist the homeless. Donations may be dropped off at the Human Services Building, located at 2801 Emrick Blvd, Bethlehem, Pa. 18020.

RECORDER OF DEEDS: Though the courthouse is closed to the public, documents can still be e-recorded.

CIVIL DIVISION: Because the Courthouse is closed to the public, the civil division is unable to process passport applications. Moreover, the office has no e-filing capability

ELECTIONS: Though the Elections Office is closed to the public, you can still register to vote, change your registration or request a mail-in ballot at www.votespa.com. The Presidential Primary has been delayed from April 28 until June 2.

OTHER COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS and BOARDS: No meetings scheduled.

JAIL: Covid-19 has infected five inmates. They've been quarantined since they first showing symptoms, and are being treated by PrimeCare Medical. Four staffers have also been infected. These include corrections officers and a PrimeCare employee. One employee is expected to return to work today.

Employees, volunteers, visitors and tours were banned at the jail on March 10th. Inmates may still contact their loved ones via phone, tablets or mail.

Thirty-three nonviolent offenders have been released from the jail since March 31. As of today, there are 556 inmates at the jail.

GRACEDALE: Twenty-four residents have tested positive for Covid-19, and two have passed away.

Out of the 700 employees which work at Gracedale, 18 have tested positive for the Coronavirus. All are at home in self-quarantine.

The facility has been closed to visitors and volunteers since March 11. Employees have temperature checked before being admitted and when they leave. Resident vital signs, including oxygen saturation, are measured at least once a day. Tablets are provided for residents who desire to speak with family. Exceptions to "no visitor" policy are made for compassionate reasons. Gracedale is accepting donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) like surgical masks and gowns. Please contact the Gracedale Volunteer Coordinator first at 610-829-3686 to see if your donation can be accepted. No resident has tested positive for Covid-19.

SENIOR CENTERS: Closed pursuant to Governor Tom Wolf's directive. Referrals for Meals on Wheels will be made for seniors who require that service.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:  Has been  distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from PEMA and other organizations to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The shipment including face shields, N-95 and surgical masks and gloves. These items have been distributed to the twelve EMS organizations in the county as well as to municipal police and those fire departments which respond to EMS calls.

UNEMPLOYMENT: Workforce Lehigh Valley reports 21,453 unemployment compensation claims between March 29 and April 4.

COUNTY PARKS: Closed as of April 7 until further notice.

RECYCLING EVENTS: All events scheduled through April have been canceled.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY FESTIVAL: Rescheduled for October 10, Louise Moore Park.

MUNICIPAL COOPERATION: County officials are working closely with local, state and federal officials.

CORONER: As of  today, Covid-19 has claimed 25 lives within Northampton County. The municipalities in which they lived are as follows: Forks Twp. (1); Lower Nazareth Twp. (2): Bangor Boro (1); Palmer Twp. (7); Upper Nazareth Twp. (2); Williams Twp. (1); Nazareth Boro (1); Bethlehem Twp (5); City of Bethlehem (1); Washington Twp (1); Phillipsburg, NJ (1); and Bronx, NY (1).

Their average age was 78.7.

Gender of the Deceased: 56% Female/44% Male

Race of the Deceased: 72% White, 16% African American, 4% Asian or Pacific Islander, 8% Hispanic

Philly Police Stop Making Arrests for "Minor" Offenses, But Yank Unmasked Man Off Bus

In an effort to keep jail populations at low levels during the coronavirus crisis, Philadelphia police have stopped making arrests for what they consider minor offenses. This includes burglary and car theft, which are hardly minor matters to the victims. With all this extra time on their hands, at least ten of them dragged some rider off a SEPTA bus because he had no face mask. He had refused to get off when instructed to get off by the bus driver, who himself was wearing no face mask.

Looks like they have their priorities straight.

Covid-19 Three Times More Lethal Than Common Flu in Greater Lehigh Valley

Someone smarter than me did some numbers crunching if Sunday's coronavirus numbers as they appear on the state Department of Health and CDC websites. One out of 262 persons in the greater Lehigh Valley area has contracted Covid-19 thus far, and so far, one out of 13,662 people has died. The common flu kills 2 out of every 100,000 people, according to CDC. Covid-19 appears to be killing 7.32 per 100,000 here in the Lehigh Valley. This makes it a little more than three times as lethal as the common flu. Dr. Anthony Fauci has said Covid-19 is 10 times more lethal than the common flu, but it remains to be seen whether this coronavirus is actually as deadly as projected.

What's more interesting is an examination of the data from the New York and New Jersey The total population is around 21 million. Covid-19 has hit that dense population hard, infecting 825 people per 100,000. It has killed 6.28 per 100,000, making it about three times as lethal as the common flu.

In the rest of the country, the infection (97 out of 100,000) and mortality rates (3 out of 100,000) are much lower. This could mean things are about to get worse in those areas. It could also mean that, because the population is less dense, fewer people will get ill.

Time will tell. At this moment, however, the data show different stories for the New York area and the rest of the country. In New York, the disease is more prevalent and more fatal. Outside the northeast, it is much less prevalent.

If you are unfortunate enough to contract either the flu or Covid-19, the risk of contracting pneumonia increases. Here's an interesting piece of information. Fifteen out of 100,000 people who die every year do so from a flu-pneumonia combination. It has always been one of the top ten causes of death here in the US.

No one has ever shut down the economy over this concern.

I believe it's important to listen to public health officials and err on the side of listening to them. But just as the military should play no role in actual decisions concerning foreign policy, public health official should have no role in deciding our actual domestic policy.

That's why we have elections.

Well, at least we once did.

Interestingly, it appears that a group of experts and government officials are finally urging the Iceland approach, one which I have repeatedly advocated. As explained in The Washington Post, it "relies on the three pillars of disease control: Ramp up testing to identify people who are infected. Find everyone they interact with by deploying contact tracing on a scale America has never attempted before. And focus restrictions more narrowly on the infected and their contacts so the rest of society doesn’t have to stay in permanent lockdown."

Instead of limiting tests to those who are already at death's door, a concerted effort should be made to test everyone as quickly as possible. Thus far, just one per cent of Pa. has been tested.

Below is the latest coronavirus curve from Pennlive. It clearly demonstrates that the number of new cases is dropping every day.

Covid-19 Infects Three NorCo Inmates

Northampton County reported yesterday that Covid-19 has infected three inmates. They've been quarantined since they first showing symptoms, and are being treated by , PrimeCare Medical. It has previously been reported that four staffers have been infected. These include corrections officers and a PrimeCare employee.

Employees, volunteers, visitors and tours were banned at the jail on March 10th. Inmates may still contact their loved ones via phone, tablets or mail.

Thirty-three nonviolent offenders have been released from the jail since March 31.

Lisa Pawlowski Seeks Isolation or Home Confinement For Her Husband

It's easy to kick someone when he's down, and a lot of people do that these days to former Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski. These include many of the same people who fawned all over him when he was high and mighty. You know who you are. Fellow blogger Michael Molovinsky and I have probably been his harshest critics, and were on to him early. I won't speak for Molovinsky. He can do that himself with no help from me. But as someone who believes Fed Ed committed numerous felonies and deserves the harsh sentence he received, I have nevertheless always been opposed to the death penalty.  The former Mayor's continued incarceration could kill him. You see, he's high-risk for this respiratory coronavirus because, as I pointed out last week, he has only one lung. He broke the law, but his transgressions were nonviolent. He also made no attempt to flee. In my view, justice demands that someone in his situation should be either isolated or released to home confinement until the crisis has passed.

Some of you agreed with my story last week. Some not. But I was a bit surprised when Lisa Pawlowski not only read my story, but posted a comment. She and I are not exactly friends. A few years ago, she told Facebook readers that the best way to get me is by boycotting my blog. During her husband's trial, she and I had a rather terse exchange in which I told her she should consider herself lucky that she herself escaped being charged. But she's got guts, and came here - right into the rattlesnake's den - to explain why her husband is entitled to consideration. I'll share what she said:

Greetings Everyone,

Lisa Pawlowski here. I wanted to respond to your comments.

It is true that Ed only has one lung. His closest friends know this. And he bears a 9" scar on his back. When he was a child his parents thought he had asthma. As he got older, the 'asthma' got worse. When in college at UW Whitewater, he got so bad that he was coughing 24 hours a day, and couldn't walk across the campus without being worn out. X-Rays didn't show anything, so they did exploratory surgery. There was a golf ball size tumor, and they removed the whole lung. He was 20 years old at the time. Ever since he has had to be very careful when getting the flu or bronchitis. The common cold knocks him out.

As for the prison situation, Danbury FCI, in Connecticut, has consistently been in the top 3 Federal prisons to have the highest case number of Covid 19 cases. Fairfield County, CT, is the hotspot of the outbreak in Connecticut. As of today there are 34 confirmed inmate cases, and 12 guards according to the BOP's official count. According to Ed, there are many more. Each unit is 70 guys. All together in one big room. They sleep in bunk beds, about 4' away from each other. He says people are coughing and in bed all through the unit. They have stopped separating people with symptoms because there is no where else to isolate them. That includes solitary confinement, and the medical ward. Only 3 days ago did they pass out masks and soap. Before that they were forbidden to wear makeshift masks, and inmates had to buy their own soap. They share the same 2 telephones, computer terminals, and bathrooms. I'm not saying this for sympathy that he is in prison. I'm saying there is no social isolation in there. The virus is in there, and it's just a matter of time before Ed gets it. The local hospital is small, and at capacity.

Attorney General Barr, on April 3rd, singled out Danbury, Oakdale, and Elkton as being the highest priority facilities that he wanted to see early release and home confinement due to their high numbers of the virus. They have been directed, by the Attorney General, to evaluate those at high risk according to the CDC, and try to get them out of there with early release (if they are close to an exit date anyway) or home confinement until the crisis is over and it is safe to go back. They eliminated those who are sex offenders, violent criminals, or flight risks. Ed is neither of these.

If you believe that a 54 year old man with one lung should be able to isolate in order to avoid getting this virus, then send an email to the Warden at Danbury FCI, and ask for consideration for isolation or home confinement for him. Just Google Danbury FCI. If you wish him dead, then that is some bad karma.

Although I have no email address for the warden, I do have an email address for the Executive Assistant. It's DAN/ExecAssistant@bop.gov. I will send an email with a link to this story.

NorCo Council To Conduct E-Meetings, Starting April 16

Starting April 16 at 6:30 PM, Northampton County Council will conduct its meetings by Skype. The meetings will continue to be livestreamed at Morthampton County's Youtube channel. The public may participate in these meetings by phoning 610-829-6605, and then entering Conference ID No. 2055694. The public is able to participate in these meetings by sending questions or comments to the Council Clerk, Linda Zembo, at LZembo@northamptoncounty.org. You will be able to review the agenda for each meeting on Council's webpage.

That webpage should contain the phone number and Conference ID Number, but does not. Hopefully, that oversight will be remedied.

Skype will show Council members when they are speaking.

Northampton County Council last met on March 19.

NorCo Jail Update - Four Covid-19 Cases; 23 Offenders Furloughed

Northampton County reported late yesterday afternoon that there are now four Covid-19 cases among staffers at the jail. They have all been quarantined. To datye, no inmate has contracted this contagious virus. But 23 non-violent offenders have been granted furloughs.

Most of these non-violent offenders are already in work-release, so being placed on furlough just means they can report home at the end of their shifts. They still must check in regularly with Department of Corrections officers.

The County, in conjunction with the District Attorney and Public Defender, is also examining the release of some Defendants unable to meet bail as well as those who have been picked up for probation violations.

As of yesterday, there were 583 inmates at the jail.

Two NorCo Capital Projects Moving Forward Despite Shutdown

Forensic Center

Governor Tom Wolf has ordered a statewide shutdown of all non-life-sustaining businesses, and that includes construction. As a result, most contractors have been idled during some of the mildest weather in recent history. Even those who wish to make small improvements to their homes are unable to obtain the necessary permits. So it's no surprise that the 104-car Wolf Avenue Parking Lot at the former Milides Building, along with a life-sustaining crosswalk, has been delayed. So has a roof replacement for the lower section of the new courthouse. All the materials sit along the eastern side of the building. It remains to be seen whether these delays will result in cost overruns.

Grist Mill

I know of two county projects that are moving forward. The new forensic center, located at the Gracedale campus, is well underway. The steel beams are going up, and this project actually looks like it will be finished well before September.

The other project is the bridge at the Grist Mill in Tatamy. The poor business owner there has basically been unable to function, but it appears that her nightmare may soon be over.

The contractors doing these work likely sought and obtained waivers

I do see road and utility repairs here and there, which are obviously life-sustaining. But that's about it.

Bill Gates Predicted Pandemic in March 2015

This is a bi-partisan failure going back for decades. We're all guilty. He had these suggestions five years ago:

(1) Strengthen health systems in poorer countries. I know. America first and all that crap. This is in our own self-interest;

(2) Create a medical reserve corps ready to go;

(3) Pair this medical corps with the military because it can move fast;

(4) Conduct germ games so we can discover our weaknesses (The US did conduct a germ game in 2001, and the germs won);

(5) Step up research on vaccines and diagnostics.

Gates suggested that the budget for this would be "quite modest" in comparison to the potential harm. We now know how much it cost us to be unprepared. He actual;ly predicted a viral pandemic would cost the world $3 trillion. It is going to cost the US alone about $3 trillion.

Let's Go Fishing While Sheltering in Place?

I've told you that a Red Lion woman out for a Sunday drive was cited by Pennsylvania State Police for violating Governor Tom Wolf's shelter-in-place order. This was for her own good. We should not even go out for groceries or medicine, our top public health official has recommended. That's for our own good, too. If you don't wash your hands every five minutes, you could die a horrible death. We're all supposed to be shaking in our homes. With a can of disinfectant spray in one hand, a roll of toilet paper in the other, and underwear wrapped around our faces, we wait for the Coroner to come by in his wagon, chanting, "Bring out your dead!" It is in precisely this climate that our sage state officials decided to declare yesterday the first day of trout fishing season. The state fish and boat comm'n rang the bell at 8 am after consulting with - guess who? - Governor Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Rachel Levine.

Opening day was supposed to be April 18.

This surprise decision was made over the weekend, supposedly at a meeting I am unable to locate. Ostensibly, the reason for springing it on everyone was to keep away the large crowds that usually accompany first day. So instead, a large number of people in the know were out there, pulling in the palominos and rainbows. In fact, I saw a bunch of them along Bushkill Creek in Palmer Tp near Penn Pump Park both on Saturday and Monday as well. They were cheating, but must have been given a green light by someone.

So if you planned on filling your creel on April 18, you should go for a leisurely drive instead.

Governor Wolf and the connected few figured out a way to screw the rest of us again.

Covid-19 Slams Gracedale

From Northampton County: Northampton County continues to do everything possible to limit exposure to the residents and staff at Gracedale during the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, there are three residents who have tested positive for the virus. Two are in an isolation unit at the nursing home, one is in the hospital.

Out of the 700 employees which work at Gracedale, ten have tested positive for the Coronavirus. All are at home in self-quarantine.

“I want to thank the Gracedale administration and all the brave employees who show up to work every day to take care of our most vulnerable residents,” says Lamont McClure. “They are heroes and we all appreciate their service.”

Blogger's Note: Over the weekend, I did receive comments indicating two residents  were in isolation. Those readers were correct.

If Covid-19 spreads throughout the nursing home, it might become necessary to force county employees in other departments to assume some of the responsibilities at the home.

McClure Provides Details on NorCo's Covid-19 Deaths

Laqmont McClure in happier times

From NorCo Exec. Lamont McClure: As I’m sure many people are aware, the Coroner has reported the unfortunate passing of 13 Northampton County residents due to Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. We extend our condolences to the loved ones of these people for their loss.

Please note that this data comes from the Northampton County Coroner’s office and only reflects the number of people who have died of COVID-19 within the county’s borders as of April 6. It does not reflect those Northampton County residents who died of the virus in another county. One of the thirteen deaths recorded in the county was a resident of New Jersey.

We are providing the following information to give our residents the maximum amount of information permitted by law and in keeping with sound epidemiological standards.

Municipalities in which the decedents lived:
Forks Twp. (1)
Lower Nazareth Twp. (1)
Bangor Boro (1)
Palmer Twp. (3)
Upper Nazareth Twp. (1)
Williams Twp. (1)
Nazareth Boro (1)
Bethlehem Twp (3)
Phillipsburg, NJ (1)

The average age of the Deceased: 80.8 years.

The average gender of the Deceased: 44% male, 54% female

Please note—the 13 unfortunate victims of Covid-19 do not provide enough data points for a statistically significant sample. Younger people remain at significant and serious risk, and should stay-at-home. This information is being provided as they are the facts as they exist on the ground as of today. These profound losses to our community do not provide us with enough scientific evidence to draw any conclusions.

Penn Medicine Opens Covid-19 Testing Site For Anyone With Symptoms

The most important weapon against Covid-19, and one this country has failed to use, is the widespread and rapid use of testing. This approach has been successful in Iceland, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Penn Medicine has opened a testing site for anyone with symptoms. No referral needed. No charge. Details here.

Should Fed Ed Be Released?

Former Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski has lost his bid to be released from Danbury FCI during the Covid-19 crisis. But while a federal judge has said No, Attorney General William Barr might say Yes. He has already ordered prison officials to consider home confinement at three different federal institutions, including Danbury.

Fed Ed is operating with just one lung, and this makes him high-risk for respiratory illnesses. Until the crisis passes, he should be allowed to shelter-in-place at home, like the rest of us.

Big Brother in Pa.: Red Lion Woman Cited For Leisurely Drive

Benjamin Franklin once warned, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. And so it has come to pass here in Pennsylvania. Anita Shaffer, a 19 year old Red Lion woman, was stopped and cited by state troopers on March 29 because she dared go on a Sunday drive. A citation was issued March 30.

She supposedly was stopped because her tail light was out, and cited for violating Governor Tom Wolf's shelter-in-place order. Once she returned home, she and her father checked the car she was driving, and were unable to locate this mysterious burned-out tail light. Her father told Pennlive, "There’s a fine line here but at the same time, we still have some freedom, some rights and liberties and we’re allowed to operate our cars. We’re allowed to go for a walk. We’re allowed to go to the park ... ."

Big Brother is watching you.

For your own good.

Why We Need to Stop Calling Covid-19 the "Chinese" Virus

Although there's little doubt that Covid-19 originated at a wet market including live wildlife in Wuhan, Donald Trump's repeated references (he has finally stopped) to this disease as the Chinese virus has done nothing but promote xenophobia and racism. Some of my Facebook friends sent me messages warning against patronizing Chinese restaurants. I continued my take-out orders there, but two that do a lot of take out have been forced to close their doors here in Nazareth. Worse than this, some Asians who are as American as you or I are suffering retribution. One example of this is an attack a Chinese woman endured at the hands of a group of teens in NYC.

I know a lot of Asian Americans. My grandson is half-Vietnamese. His family came here in 1985, fleeing from Communism when Saigon fell. When they first arrived, they were fed one meal a day by their host family here in the Lehigh Valley. It was a cold Winter, and they supplemented their diets with horse corn with partial cobs of horse corn left in the fields by farmers after his harvest a few months earlier. When they eventually found housing, the entire family crammed into a small apartment to save on rent. Everyone worked. No one applied for welfare. They all became American citizens. Ironically, they like Trump because he's been a pain in the ass to China. You see, China and Vietnam have had a troubled relationship. Yet because they are Asian, some are subjected to snide remarks.

So please call Covid-19 what it is. It is not the Chinese virus. It is not the Trump virus. It is Covid-19.

NorCo Jail In Lockdown After Two Staffers Contract Covid-19

From Northampton County: As of April 5, 2020, no inmate at the Northampton County Prison (NCP) has tested positive for Covid-19 and there are no tests pending. However, two employees have recently reported positive results.

As a precaution to protect the health of the inmates, the Director of Corrections has locked down the Prison. The lockdown will continue until the threat has passed.

All employees are using Personal Protective Equipment and everyone within the facility has their temperature monitored twice a day. Regular cleaning and disinfection of the facility continues as well as protocols for personal hygiene.

To protect the health of inmates and employees, volunteers, visitors and tours were banned from the prison on March 10th. Inmates may still contact their loved ones via phone, tablets or mail.

(Blogger's Note: I will be updating this story, based on some reports I am still receiving).

Now Public Health Officials Want You to Stay Away From Groceries and Drug Stores

Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, now wants you to stop buying food and medicine.

From NPR: "The next two weeks are extraordinarily important," said Birx. "This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe and that means everybody doing the six-feet distancing, washing their hands."

Does she think we all have servants who can risk their lives for us for a pittance? These folks are getting ridiculous. It's certainly true, though, that you'll avoid Covid-19 if you're already dead.

The Coronavirus Curve in Pa

Business shutdowns and shelter-in-place orders have been issues by Governor Tom Wolf to "flatten the curve" and slow the spread of Covid-19, but how are we doing? Not so good. Pennlive.com has been keeping track of the daily state increase in known coronavirus cases. It appears that these draconian measures have had little or no effect, although I suppose the argument could be made that the spike would be far greater without them.

Other countries have approached this problem differently, and with greater success. Instead of lockdowns, Iceland is engaged in aggressive testing, contact tracing and strict quarantines of those who are infected. This is also the approach employed in South Korea, which has been very successful in fighting this pandemic despite being located close to China, where the virus originated.

Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, who learned from the SARS crisis in 2003, were ready for this pandemic. In addition to the Iceland approach, these countries were quick to impose travel restrictions with foreign countries and to screen those who returned.

In contrast to those countries that have been successful, the biggest error in the US appears to be its failure to pursue rigorous testing. This is mostly the result of bureaucratic bungling. The CDC produced flawed test kits. The FDA was slow to approve new testing. Even now, testing is limited.

Here's my Facemask

Not all that long ago, the CDC was telling everyone that the wearing of facemasks is to be discouraged. The experts said it would do more harm than good, and is actually quite rude. . Now these learned scientists have done an about face. You need to have one on when out and about. Refusal to don this fashion trend is actually quite rude. If you decline, you must be some asshole who also hoards toilet paper.

Naturally, Governor Tom Wolf want to see you wearing them, too. If you don't, he'll lay off more state employees.

Above you can see the facemask I've been wearing. One of my friends informs me that the brown spots provide an extra layer of protection, too.

I donned my mask tonight for a visit to Giant supermarket. Because of social distancing requirements, the lines there are 20 miles long. But the second I put my mask on, the line evaporated and I was out of there in 30 seconds.

Covid-19: Both National and State Government Have Failed; Local Government Trying

As of noon on April 2, the state Department of Health reports 378 Covid-19 cases in Northampton County, with 9 deaths. In Lehigh County, there are 479 cases but just 5 deaths. In the Lehigh Valley, the current mortality rate is 1.6%. Statewide, the mortality rate is 1.3%. Nationwide, CDC reports a 2.1% fatality rate as of yesterday.

This is about ten times the fatality rate of seasonal flu, but does not include people who were never tested for Covid-19 and who had the virus but were asymptomatic. According to aggressive testing in Iceland, as much as 50% of those with Covid-19 never know it. If this is corroborated by additional testing, this would mean the fatality rate is actually much lower, but still far more lethal than seasonal flu.

In addition to testing at least 13% of its population thus far, Iceland also does contact tracing with all persons who have been in contact with a positive result. It also employs a strict quarantine on those infected. As a result, it has been able to avoid the lockdowns and business closures that have been prevalent in much of Europe as well as the United States. What Iceland does is similar to the practice employed in South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a public health official at the spearhead of the virus crisis, has conceded CDC's "failure" to develop and implement a test.

This failure has devastated the economy and the normal functioning of government. State Governors like Tom Wolf are imposing business shutdowns that have been unevenly enforced and with no consideration to the millions who have been negatively impacted. Yesterday, it was impossible to access the state benefits site for food stamps and cash assistance, while the unemployment site has crashed repeatedly.

Local government has been more responsive. Many municipalities, with some glaring exceptions, have extended tax deadlines and are still trying to serve their communities.

Most recently, Northampton County's Judge Craig Dally still convened Drug Court at a time when those in early recovery are tempted to stray. The County Government has dedicated a floor at its nursing home as an isolation unit. It has gathered and distributed personal protective equipment to numerous first responders. All inmates have been moved from the Work Release facility in West Easton to a building on S. Union Street in Easton. West Easton's Center for low-risk offenders is being prepared in case Northampton County requires a staging area or field hospital as it responds to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The West Easton facility has an open barracks set up. If any inmate tests positive or showed symptom of Covid-19, the entire facility would have to be quarantined. At the Community Corrections facility on S. Union Street, inmates can be housed in smaller groups and will be closer to medical resources in the Northampton County Prison.

The Work Release Facility in West Easton has a 120 bed capacity, a large classroom for briefings and a kitchen which can be used to warm food. It can be used for medical needs or as a quarantine site.

NorCo's 911 Center Soldiers On

NorCo 911 Station

At his news conference yesterday, President Donald Trump characterized those who have continued to work in health care as "warriors" who deserve hazard pay for their work during the coronavirus pandemic. That term could also be applied to first responders, emergency dispatch operators and corrections officers. It could even be applied to those who continue to work at your local grocery, truckers and warehouse employees.

Here's a timeline of what has been going on at NorCo's 911 Center:

3-5-20
Created Continuity of Operations Plan
Posted Hygiene Flyers throughout the Facility
Provided additional Cleaning Supplies
Created Stockpiles of Cleaning Supplies
Requested Dispatchers disinfect work stations at the beginning of shifts
Requested Shift Supervisors during building checks disinfect door handles, card readers, etc.

3-6-20
Email to staff regarding prevention of COVID-19 spread

3-11-20
Reminder of 3-6 email was resent regarding prevention of COVID-19 spread

3-12-20
Updated Continuity of Operations Plan
Access to the 911 Center was restricted all visitors
Suspended all meetings, tours, and training classes at 911 Center
Limited off site meetings and attend meetings remotely when possible
E-Mail advising staff of facility, meeting, and training restrictions
Suggested bring Food for their shifts to reduce or eliminate food deliveries

3-16-20
Social Distancing Best Practices Email for both work and home

3-17-20
Email sent to all staff advising PIN Removal for facility access on Interior Doors

3-19-20
Requested cleaning personnel to clean facility on weekends (7) days per week.

3-20-20
Email sent providing contact numbers for PA DOH, CDC, Hospital Network Hotlines

3-21-20
Email to all staff updating on personnel, screening, EMD Questioning and Facility Cleaning

3-23-20
All 911 Staff issued personal Hand Sanitizer due to shortages at retailers

3-24-20
Travel Letters issued to all 911 Center Personnel

4-1-20
Working on draft email to all staff summarizing current, present and future plans
Working on draft procedure and policy Personnel Temperature Screening

In addition, management has been directed to limit exposure to 911 Staff on the Dispatch floor unless required for 911 issues. A temporary dispatch facility at the Hanger Facility will be used if the primary center needed to be disinfected.

If an Employee Tests Positive - CDC guidelines would be followed and information relative to infected employee would remain confidential. The facility would be disinfected as necessary per CDC Guidelines

Mandation. - Year to Date, the county has mandated 19 times, with 4 in March.

Despite Judicial Emergency, NorCo Drug Court Will Continue

Northampton County Courts are operating under a judicial emergency in which courtrooms are closed to the public, with the exception of judicial emergencies like domestic violence victims who seek protection. This does, however, present problems for participants in Drug Court. Most are in the early stages of recovery, and their sobriety is at risk. So Judge Craig Dally has arranged for a virtual meeting with the treatment teams today.

"I think it is important that the public is aware that our work continues in the very stressful world for all of us and probably more so for the people in our programs," said Judge Dally, who also oversees the Mental Health Court.

All You Need to Know About Your Stimulus Check

(Blogger's Note: This comes directly from the IRS. If you have not included your direct deposit information, the IRS will enable you to register for direct deposit so you can avoid snail mail.)

Check IRS.gov for the latest information: No action needed by most people at this time

IR-2020-61, March 30, 2020

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment.

Who is eligible for the economic impact payment?

Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible.

Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples. Parents also receive $500 for each qualifying child.

How will the IRS know where to send my payment?

The vast majority of people do not need to take any action. The IRS will calculate and automatically send the economic impact payment to those eligible.

For people who have already filed their 2019 tax returns, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. For those who have not yet filed their return for 2019, the IRS will use information from their 2018 tax filing to calculate the payment. The economic impact payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed.

The IRS does not have my direct deposit information. What can I do?

In the coming weeks, Treasury plans to develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online, so that individuals can receive payments immediately as opposed to checks in the mail.

I am not typically required to file a tax return. Can I still receive my payment?

Yes. People who typically do not file a tax return will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment. Low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans and individuals with disabilities who are otherwise not required to file a tax return will not owe tax.

How can I file the tax return needed to receive my economic impact payment?

IRS.gov/coronavirus will soon provide information instructing people in these groups on how to file a 2019 tax return with simple, but necessary, information including their filing status, number of dependents and direct deposit bank account information.

I have not filed my tax return for 2018 or 2019. Can I still receive an economic impact payment?

Yes. The IRS urges anyone with a tax filing obligation who has not yet filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 to file as soon as they can to receive an economic impact payment. Taxpayers should include direct deposit banking information on the return.

I need to file a tax return. How long are the economic impact payments available?

For those concerned about visiting a tax professional or local community organization in person to get help with a tax return, these economic impact payments will be available throughout the rest of 2020.

Where can I get more information?

The IRS will post all key information on IRS.gov/coronavirus as soon as it becomes available.

The IRS has a reduced staff in many of its offices but remains committed to helping eligible individuals receive their payments expeditiously. Check for updated information on IRS.gov/coronavirus rather than calling IRS assistors who are helping process 2019 returns.

NorCo Council Cancels April 2 Meeting

Northampton County Council President Ron Heckman has canceled the meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 2, at 6:30 pm. The Human Services and Economic Development Committees, who were also poised to convene that date, have also been scratched. Heckman is discussing the possibility of a video meeting with the County's outside IT provider.

Under the terms of the Home Rule Charter, Council must meet at least twice every month, and during different weeks.