Department of Health Resources

LIVE daily briefings from the PA Department of Health:
pacast.com/live/doh or www.governor.pa.gov/live/ or watch on Facebook

Business Closures

On March 16, Governor Wolf recommended all non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania to close to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. In particular, the following types of businesses should temporarily cease regular operations: Community and recreation centers; gyms and exercise facilities; hair salons, nail salons, and spas; casinos, concert venues, and theaters; sporting events facilities and golf courses; and non-essential retail facilities, including shopping malls (except for pharmacy or other healthcare facilities located therein). Below are essential businesses that SHOULD stay open.

Governor Wolf also ordered all restaurants and bars to close their dine-in facilities, starting on March 16. Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through service may continue to do so, but eating and drinking inside restaurants and bars is temporarily prohibited.

Housing Assistance

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is suspending foreclosures and evictions for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration until the end of April 2020.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has issued an emergency order prohibiting electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunication, and steam utility terminations.  This will remain in place for as long as the disaster proclamation of Disaster, signed by Governor Wolf on March 6, is in effect.

Food Assistance for Seniors

Many grocery stores are offering special shopping timeslots for seniors and individuals with compromised immune systems. Please check with your local grocer before heading to the store. Order online if possible.

Delaware County seniors who need a grab-and-go meal can contact Senior Community Services’ senior centers. Visit scsdelco.org/centers/centers.shtml for contact information. Centers are open from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

Food Assistance for Students

Governor Wolf announced all K-12 schools in Pennsylvania will be closed for 10 business days, effective Monday, March 16. Many school districts are offering meals for students in need during this closure.

Great Valley School District

Meals will be available for pick-up from 10 AM – 12 PM, Monday through Thursday, from Monday, March 16 and through Thursday, March 27. Both breakfast and lunch will be distributed at no cost at the Samuel and M. Elizabeth Burke Community Park in Malvern, near St. Pat’s Church. Look for the distribution tent. Only one day’s meals may be picked up per day.

Interboro School District

From Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27, the District will make “Grab and Go” breakfast and lunches available for all PreK – 12th grade students between 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The District will determine the location(s) of distribution and will send logistical information to parents/guardians by 3:00 PM on Friday, March 20.

Marple Newtown School District

The District’s Director of Dining Services has communicated with their free and reduced lunch families to offer assistance with meals. Please contact Tina Stiles, Director of Dining Services, at tstiles@mnsd.org if you have questions.

Ridley School District

Beginning Tuesday, March 17, students may pick up “Grab and Go” items from school buses following the schedule below.

Bus 1:
11:00 – 11:30 AM at 4th and Eddystone Ave
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM at Eddystone School Playground

Bus 2:

11:00 – 11:30 Am at Bullens Ln and Toth Dr
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM at Raymour and Flanigan Furniture Outlet
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM at Liberty Rd and Justice Rd

Bus 3:
11:00 – 11:30 AM at Haverford Road/Vauclain Fire Company
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM at Jays’ Food Market – Fairveiw Rd and Holland St

Rose Tree Media School District

Reach out to the District by calling 610-627-6003 and leave the following information: Student(s) name(s) that need lunch; your name; your phone number; your email address (if you have one); child(ren) lunch code(s); are you able to pick up the lunch? You can also click this link and provide your contact information.

Tredyffrin/Easttown School District

If your family is in need of support, or if you are interested in contributing to families in need, you may confidentially contact Dr. Oscar Torres at TorresO@tesd.net or Mrs. Jeanne Braun at BraunJ@tesd.net. You may also consider making a contribution to T&E Care by visiting their website at www.tecare.org.

Upper Darby School District

The District will provide “grab and go” breakfast and lunch for all students from Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 27, between 10 AM and 11 AM. All elementary school students should pick up breakfast and lunch at the elementary school where they are enrolled.

Beverly Hills Middle School students should pick up breakfast and lunch at the closest elementary school to their home: Bywood Elementary School, Highland Park Elementary School, or Stonehurst Hills Elementary School.

Drexel Hill Middle School students should pick up breakfast and lunch at the closest elementary school to their home: Aronimink, Charles Kelly Elementary School, Garrettford Elementary School, Hillcrest Elementary School, Primos Elementary School, or Westbrook Park Elementary School.

Upper Darby High School students should pick up breakfast and lunch at the elementary school closest to their home.

William Penn School District

“Grab and go” lunch will be available for children and teens at Evans Elementary School in Yeadon and Penn Wood Middle School in Darby, Mondays through Fridays from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM through Friday, March 27.

Unemployment Compensation

Mitigation efforts related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania have required everyone to work within rapidly changing, complex circumstances which create a variety of unique situations and conditions for workers, businesses, employers and communities. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry is committed to providing workers and business communities with ongoing guidance, resources, and information. This page is updated regularly.

Use our Keep Yourself Safe at Work During a COVID-19 Pandemic one-pager for safety information and resources.

Workers impacted by COVID-19 can also visit our Information for Pennsylvania Employees Impacted by COVID-19 page for the latest updates.

COVID-19 Guide: Scenarios & Benefits Available Chart (PDF)

If your job has been affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible to receive unemployment compensation benefits. You can apply online to get started.

Please note that the waiting week has been suspended. Eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed. Previously, claimants were not eligible for benefits during their first week of unemployment.

Work search and work registration requirements have been temporarily waived for all claimants. Claimants are not required to prove they have applied or searched for a new job to maintain UC benefits. Claimants are also not required to register with PA Career Link.

Transportation Updates

All Driver License Centers and Photo License Centers in Pennsylvania will be closed for two weeks effective Monday, March 16. All driver licenses, photo ID cards, disability parking placards, vehicle registrations, and vehicle inspections scheduled to expire between March 16 and March 31, 2020 will be extended until April 30, 2020. 

SEPTA Regional Rail will operate on an enhanced Saturday schedule beginning Tuesday, March 17. Check schedules here: http://septa.org/service/rail/midday-schedule.html 

SEPTA has announced a refund program for weekly and monthly passholders. Partially-used monthly passes for March 2020 and weekly passes for March 9 & March 16 will be eligible for pro-rated refunds. More info here: http://septa.org/pass-refund-info.html

Small Business Assistance

Eligibility requirements and instructions are now available for Round 2 of the Delco Strong Grant Program. Small businesses and nonprofits can apply beginning July 7, 2020.

More information here

As a small business owner myself, I know this is a difficult time for our nation’s small businesses. The Small Business Administration has established several new programs to address the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more at http://sba.gov/coronavirus