Covid-19

September 22, 2022

Butler Health System Offering Additional Vaccine Clinics

In its continued battle against COVID-19, Butler Health System will be offering the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. This protein subunit vaccine is authorized for people 12 years old and up. Its primary series is two doses, 4 weeks apart. Unlike other currently available COVID-19 vaccines, the Novavax shot contains no mRNA or viral particles, only a protein, making it similar to the annual influenza vaccine. The CDC currently recommends that people who get two doses of Novavax should later get a bivalent booster (from Pfizer or Moderna). In addition, Butler Health System will once again host pediatric COVID-19 vaccine clinics. The…

September 8, 2022

Butler Health System Administering Updated Bivalent COVID-19 Boosters

Butler Health System (BHS) will be offering the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine from Pfizer this week at two locations. This vaccine is authorized for people 12 years and older who have completed a primary vaccination series at least 8 weeks ago. People who have previously received a monovalent booster (the typical boosters up until now) should receive this updated bivalent booster if their last booster was 8 weeks ago or longer. The bivalent booster vaccine targets the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 strains as well as the original strain of the virus. Clinic sessions currently available for this booster: Thursday,…

February 28, 2022

CDC Lifts Mandate For Masking On School Transportation

Effective Friday, February 25, 2022, the CDC announced it does not require wearing of masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/child care programs. CDC is exercising its enforcement discretion to not require that people wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/child care programs. CDC is making this change to align with updated guidance that no longer recommends universal indoor mask wearing in K-12 schools and early education settings in areas with a low or medium COVID-19 Community Level. School systems at their…

January 26, 2022

Senate Passes New Funding for Hospitals, Health Care Workers

HARRISBURG (Jan. 26, 2022) – The state Senate this week approved critical funding for hospitals and frontline health care workers who continue to keep Pennsylvanians safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47, said. House Bill 253 would allocate a total of $225 million to hospitals and their employees. The additional dollars will be allocated as follows: $100 million for acute care general hospitals. $110 million for critical access hospitals, facilities with a high volume of Medicaid patients, and behavioral/psychiatric providers. $15 million for the PA Student Loan Relief for Nurses Program. Of that total, the major health care…

December 20, 2021

Riverside School District Issues COVID-19 Isolation Procedure Update

According to information made available by superintendent Bret Trotta and information made available on the school district website, Riverside Beaver County School District has issued a COVID-19 Isolation Procedure Update. In a statement made available by Trotta, he advises the district held a school board meeting to revisit our Health and Safety Plan on Friday. Mask will remain optional; however, we highly recommend using face-coverings. In addition, the district has revised the isolation protocol and will implement a Mask to Stay / Test to Stay concept. “We trust this plan will allow us to maintain in-person learning while maintaining the…

September 8, 2021

Lawrence County Awarded $1.8M For Renter Assistance

Lawrence County has been awarded $1,782,453.64 to assist renters who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 with rent and utility payments. County Commission Morgan Boyd made the brief announcement on his social media page Wednesday evening. If you are a renter in need of assistance or a landlord whose tenants are behind on rent, please contact the Lawrence County Community Action Parternship (www.lccap.org) at 724-658-7258 for more information. According to its website, the Partnership (LCCAP) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life within Lawrence County by eliminating and preventing the causes and effects of poverty by mobilizing and…

December 30, 2020

Inspections Continue To Close Restaurants For Not Following COVID-19 Guidelines

PA Department of Agriculture inspectors closed 33 restaurants statewide by order after confirming that each was open for dine-in service and refused to comply with the order while the inspector was present. On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from December 21 through December 27, 2020. The department’s Bureau of Food Safety performed 381 inspections, 54 of which were complaint-driven. Of those, 50 were COVID-19 specific complaints. The department received 42 food facility COVID-19 related complaints, and 20 of those COVID-19 related complaints were referred to local and county health jurisdictions. Of the…

December 3, 2020

ECASD to Remain Full Virtual Until January 11

Students in the Ellwood City Area School District will not be returning to the school buildings any time before January 11. The District’s Board of Directors voted Thursday evening unanimously to continue virtual learning up to that date. The board and administrators will revisit Covid-19 numbers and community spread during the board’s January 7 meeting. Until then, Acting Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley will work with administrators, teachers, and staff to develop a hybrid plan in the hopes for partial return to classes on January 11. Shipley said he believes that is the best way to proceed for the safety and…

November 2, 2020

ECASD Transitions to Full-Remote Learning

Ellwood City Area School District has transitioned to full-remote learning beginning Tuesday, November 3. In a short statement made available on the district social media account Monday afternoon, the school made the initial announcement. @ec_high will be starting full remote learning on Tuesday, November 3! Students are required to join a google meet at the beginning of every class period according to the one hour delay schedule! #EC_Proud #ec_lincoln @ecdotorg @ECLedger @NewCastleNews — EC Lincoln High (@ec_high) November 2, 2020 In an email to Ellwoodcity.org on Monday afternoon, District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley said, “The county data has us in…

October 28, 2020

ECASD to Assess Community Spread of Covid-19; Schools Not Closing Doors Yet

Ellwood City Area School District will access the community spread regarding Covid-19 on November 2nd to decide whether to keep schools open or transition to full-remote learning. In a letter issued Wednesday by District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, administrators announced a plan in moving education forward during the pandemic following meetings with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Education and Lawrence County Commissioners. “This past Monday our county moved into the substantial range of community spread,” Shipley said. “The Department of Health and Department of Education both recommend that we move to full-remote learning if our county is in the…

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