Gov. Wolf renews coronavirus disaster declaration in Pennsylvania

There is some good news for unemployed Pennsylvanians as well as struggling businesses in the state.

Gov. Tom Wolf has signed another renewal of his 90-day disaster declaration for the covid-19 pandemic. It means waivers and extensions can continue, including waiving the one-week waiting period to receive unemployment compensation, work search requirements, and the registration with PA CareerLink for applicants.

It also allows the state to suspend training requirements and certification and licensure renewals for health care professionals, child care workers, direct care workers and direct support professionals.

The original renewal was scheduled to expire Tuesday. The new declaration will last through late November.

“As we approach the six-month mark of this crisis, I continue to be amazed at the resiliency and strength shown by Pennsylvanians during this pandemic,” Wolf said. “We are going to continue to combat the health and economic effects of covid-19, and the renewal of my disaster declaration will provide us with resources and support needed for this effort.”

The declaration also provides increased support to state agencies involved in the continued response to the virus and recovery for the state during reopening, including expediting supply acquisition and lifting certain regulations impacting mitigation efforts, according to the governor’s office.

The governor first signed the disaster declaration March 6 following confirmation of the first two presumptive positive cases of the virus in Pennsylvania.

Through the disaster declaration, PEMA has been able to assign the National Guard to such duties as providing support for long term care facilities, including direct patient care and testing, as well as at community-based testing sites.

It also provides PEMA with the ability to leverage continued federal support such as non-congregate sheltering as well as to rapidly scale response efforts and use new intervention tactics, such as the administration of a vaccine.