UPMC DEVELOPS A VACCINE FOR COVID-19
Doctors at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC have announced they developed a potential vaccine against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.  In a joint online news conference yesterday, doctors at University of Pittsburgh and UPMC explained the potential of the vaccine to work quickly through the skin.  In a media presentation available on UPMC’s website, Dr Louis Fallo professor and Chair of Dermatology at University of Pittsburgh and UPMC explains the how the vaccine is delivered topically by something called a micro needle array.  Fallo said it’s not an expensive process to make, and is shelf stable meaning it could be delivered globally with less expense.  UPMC doctors said they are in contact with the FDA to potentially accelerate the process to start human trials.   The findings of the research were published in EBioMedicine.

NEW COVID-19 NUMBERS IN PA, TIPS FOR PARENTS AT HOME
The PA Department of Health announced new numbers about COVID-19’s spread through the Commonwealth as of yesterday afternoon, there are 1, 211 new cases with a statewide total of 7,016 in 62 counties, and 90 people have dies as a result of complications from the virus.  PA Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, who was a pediatrician prior to her state job, shares tips for parents as they care for children at home, like creating a new routine to establish normalcy.  She also said keeping up to date with news is fine, but children can feel stressed if it’s on in their home  24/7.  According to a report by the Sun Gazette, Natalie Serafini, trauma counselor at Loyalsock Township School District says it can be more appropriate for the news to be filtered through parents to their children, instead of them watching it themselves.

HOUSE-CALL TESTING COULD BE DONE WITH A REFERRAL
In an effort to keep their emergency rooms from being overrun as we navigate the coronavirus response, UPMC Williamsport has announced they have a team who will go to a patient’s home and test them if they receive a referral from the residents’ doctor.  According to administrators of UPMC’s Susquehanna Regional EMA and prehospital services, they are finding many who call 911 with coronavirus symptoms may not need a hospital visit.  Paramedics at medical scene are in communication with a doctor in the emergency room and follow the physician’s instructions on how best to treat the patient. According to the SUN Gazette, UMPC Williamsport ER doctor, Dr. Greg Frailey said it’s safer to treat patients who are well enough to be treated at home.

BLACK BEAR HIT BY TRUCK IN POTTER COUNTY
A huge black bear was hit and killed by a truck on Route 49 in Potter county last week.   Accoridng to North Central PA dot com, Game Warden Thomas Nelson was on the scene after a truck driver hit the animal in Harrison Township around 6:30 am last Friday.  After weighing the bear, Nelson said it came in well above the state average at 6 33 lbs.  The truck driver was not hurt.

EVANGELICAL USING CDC APPROVED MEDICINE FOR VIRUS PATIENTS
Doctors at  Evangelical Community Hospital said in a news conference yesterday that 10 more patients have tested positive for the virus and according to Evan President and CEO Kendra Aucker doctors are using Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine to treat patients, which the FDA says can be used to treat COVID-19.  Medical Director of Emergency Services at Evangelical, says most positive COVID-19 patients are sent home and not hospitalized.

PARTIAL SHIPMENT OF REQUESTED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT HAS ARRIVED
Gov. Tom Wolf said that Pennsylvania has received a fraction of the equipment it has requested from a federal stockpile to help battle the coronavirus, including ventilators. According to the Daily item, Health officials report  said there are approximately 4,000 ventilators available at hospitals across the state, enough to meet current demands. But Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday that, like many other states, Pennsylvania is actively searching for more – even another 1,000 to 1,400 ventilators.  Wolf recently signed a bill to provide $50 million to purchase additional equipment to prevent health care workers in Pennsylvania from getting sick.

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR EXEMPTION TODAY
Businesses who think they should be included in as a life-sustaining business in the commonwealth should be aware that the deadline to apply for the exemption application process for businesses will end at 5 p.m. today.  According to Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin, the staff continues to work tirelessly to organize and assess the data.  The DCED received 32,474 requests for exemptions from Pennsylvania’s businesses.  If you are seeking further clarification about your status contact its customer service resource account at [email protected]

PRIMARIES WILL BE IN JUNE, NEW BALLOT COUNTING TIMETABLE
Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of State, said the state primary election is officially moved from April 28 to June 2 so we can keep up the social distancing until at least April 30.  According to the Sun Gazette, county election officials will also tabulate mail-in ballots starting at 7 a.m. on the day of the election instead of waiting until the polls close at night.  The state has 250,000 registered voters prepared to mail in their ballots.

SPORTS

NFL
Although the NFL remains hopeful of starting its regular season on time and in front of packed stadiums, its chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, said Thursday that certain prerequisites — including widespread testing for the coronavirus — must be met for that to happen.

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will settle into Derek Jeter’s waterfront mansion in Tampa. The 30,000-plus-square-foot home, which is located right outside downtown Tampa and a short drive to the Bucs’ facility, features seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms plus an 8-foot security gate — 2 feet higher than the city permits, but Jeter received an exemption for privacy.

NBA
Fifteen days after the Brooklyn Nets announced that four players had tested positive for COVID-19, general manager Sean Marks said the team’s roster is free from coronavirus symptoms.

Mississippi State coach Mike Leach apologized Thursday for a since-deleted tweet that showed a meme of a woman knitting her husband a noose during self-quarantine.  Leach removed the tweet, which was posted Wednesday night.  he first-year Mississippi State coach frequently posts memes in his Twitter feed. He has more than 350,000 followers on the social media platform.