Resource Update: March 1, 2021

photo: morguefile.com

1. PA COVID-19 Gathering and Travel Restrictions Updated

a. Revised maximum occupancy limits for indoor events to allow for 15% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size. The 15% of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

b. Revised maximum occupancy limits for outdoor events to allow for 20% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size. The 20% of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

c. Eliminate out-of-state travel restrictions. In November, the Department of Health provided an updated travel order requiring anyone over the age of 11 who visits from another state to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or place themselves in a travel quarantine for 14 days upon entering Pennsylvania. Today, this order was rescinded.

d. The governor reminds everyone that core public health measures such as face covering (mask-wearing), social distancing, and hand hygiene must still be enforced.

e. For more information, click here: COVID-19 Mitigation Updates

2. National Consumer Protection Week

a. National Consumer Protection Week began on March 1, and the pandemic has brought lots of side effects, including isolation, lost jobs, lost income, and lost homes. Scammers know just how to take advantage of these worries.

b. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) knows that people who talk about scams are much less likely to fall for them. So, when people of any age are on their own too much, they don’t have the chance to talk things out. And when scammers — who are calling, emailing, and texting — might be a person’s main source of contact, nothing good happens next.

c. Pick up the phone. Call someone you haven’t talked with in a while. Maybe somebody who might be too much alone. And, talk with them about scams using the information found on the FTC website.

3. Unemployment Fraud Scams on the Rise

a. Unemployment Fraud is a scam that involves people stealing personal identifying information about people from all income brackets, then fraudulently creating accounts to file for unemployment benefits in the victim’s name.

b. To learn more about unemployment fraud and protect yourself, click: Unemployment Fraud Scams

4. Drug Enforcement Administration Reports Scam

a. Reports have discovered scammers pretending to be Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and making alarming telephone calls and attempting to acquire consumer money and personal information. The scammers use fake names and badge numbers. Sometimes they use the names of real DEA agents and may even text photos of what look like legitimate law enforcement credentials. They may have information about you.

b. For more information on these scams, steps to protect yourself, and instructions on how to report a scam, click here: DEA Scams

5. Surface Decontamination, Ventilation, and Indoor Air Quality

a. The PA Department of Labor is hosting a FREE safety training webinar that will address COVID-19 routes of transmission, surface cleaning and disinfection; Evaluating and improving the performance of HVAC equipment; Indoor air quality; Environmental sampling strategies for SARS-CoV-2 residuals; and Emerging technologies in sensors, tracing and decontamination.

b. The webinar will be held on Monday, March 15, 2021 from 11:00 a.m to 12:00 noon

c. For more information and to register, click PA Dept of Labor Safety Webinar

6. COVID-19 vaccination and Church re-opening

a. As coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine distribution ramps up nationwide, houses of worship are looking at the impact on their operations — and their people. While health and safety come first, there may be new opportunities to support your workplace and ministry.

b. For more information, click here: Vaccines and Re-opening


Doug Hoy
Disaster Response Coordinator
drc@susumc.org 717-766-7441 ext. 3402

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