WELLSPAN ANNOUNCES ARRIVAL OF STRIKE TEAM AT YORK HOSPITAL
A 23-person Department of Defense emergency team has arrived at WellSpan York Hospital. The team consists of Air Force physicians, nurses, and respiratory technicians, according to a release from WellSpan Health. The healthcare system issued the following statement to CBS 21 News' Samantha York: As WellSpan Health cares for the highest number of patients since the start of the pandemic, we are pleased today to welcome a 23-person Department of Defense emergency team to WellSpan York Hospital. The Federal Emergency Management Agency team consists of Air Force physicians, nurses, respiratory technicians, and leaders that will work alongside our healthcare heroes. While the team will be located at WellSpan York Hospital, these additional resources will benefit the entire health system as we continue to redeploy team members across the organization to other facilities, sharing resources, and working to face the challenges this crisis is bringing. We ask our communities to remain vigilant in safety measures related to the pandemic. Most of all, we ask those eligible in our communities to get vaccinated. It is the most effective way to reduce hospitalizations resulting from COVID-19. (C/P WHP)
PENN STATE STUDENTS TO RETURN IN-PERSON
Penn State students will return in person this month as planned. University leaders say they made the decision based on guidance from their COVID-19 Operations Control Center. The center's director says during move-in weekend January 7th through 9th, they'll be prioritizing COVID testing. Students who did not provide proof of vaccination will be subjected to weekly COVID tests throughout the semester.
>>New Mayor in Harrisburg Takes Office
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Wanda Williams is now officially Harrisburg's 39th mayor. She was sworn in at the Whitaker Center Monday with friends and family looking on as she was given the oath of office. A 16-year member of city council, Williams won the November General Election with roughly 65 percent of the vote.
>>106th Pennsylvania Farm Show To Go On, Offering In-Person And Virtual Features
(Harrisburg, PA) -- The 106th Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show is just around the corner and promoters say it'll have both virtual and in-person features because of the coronavirus. Besides the always-popular food court area, new attractions include the Canine Spectacular, a demonstration of some of the dogs who work hard on Pennsylvania's farms. Officials say last year's popular anima display, a waterfowl habitat, will be viewable both in-person and online this year, so everyone will have a chance to watch the adorable ducklings. The farm show offers visitors a tiny slice of the state's farming industry that employs nearly half a million people and contributes a hundred-85-billion dollars to Pennsylvania's economy every year. The free show begins January 8th and runs for one week in Harrisburg.
>>Humane Society Blocks In-Person Visits for Pet Adoptions
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Officials with the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area say they must close their doors to in-person adoption visits for a while. It's due to the rising number of COVID cases and staffing issues amid more workers becoming infected. While they say they're closing for in-person walkthroughs, the shelter says people can see all their adoptable pets online and get more information on how to adopt on their website as well. They haven't yet set a date as to when they might re-open.
>>Nominations Being Accepted for Female Veterans Day Ceremony in March
(Harrisburg, PA) -- If you know a woman veteran from Pennsylvania who needs to be recognized, here's your chance to help affirm her. The Commission for Women's sixth annual Female Veterans Day Ceremony is seeking nominations ahead of Women's History Month in March 2022. A select group of women will be honored by Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf. To be eligible, the nominees must be a current Pennsylvania resident who served at least four years in any branch of the U.S. military. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 14. There are approximately 65-thousand women Veterans in Pennsylvania.
>>Fans Say They Weren't Offered Aid After Railing Collapsed At FedEx Field
(Landover, MD) -- Four fans are calling out the Washington Football Team after Sunday's collapsed railing incident. Four of the group who fell into the tunnel at FedEx Field have denied that the team offered on-site medical evaluation. The fans fell six feet after a railing on the side of the tunnel collapsed as Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was walking off the field. The WFT released a statement that "everyone involved was offered onsite medical evaluation."
>>Reading School District Opts for Virtual Learning This Week
(Reading, PA) -- The Reading School District is keeping its students home this week for virtual learning. District officials say the move is due to an increase in COVID cases and in illnesses in general. The doctor who is chair of pediatrics at Reading hospital tells WFMZ-TV they're seeing an increase in all age groups for several different kinds of ills, including COVID and flu cases.
>>Lancaster Schools To Be Back in Session Tuesday
(Lancaster, PA) -- After a precautionary day off for students Monday, school officials in Lancaster say everyone will be coming back to class for the rest of the week, beginning Tuesday. A district spokesman says that given the surge in COVID over the holidays, officials weren't sure how many students and especially staff might be out sick. Now that they have a better understanding of that, they've elected to let learning continue in-person. He also says the latest CDC guidance, which allows people who are vaccinated and boosted not to have to quarantine after an exposure, will be a big help in keeping schools open.
>>Berks County Man Arrested On Firearms Charge
(Reading, PA) -- A man who is prohibited from having a gun due to a mental health commitment 20 years ago has been arrested for having a gun on New Year's Eve. State Troopers had responded to the 100 block of Schlossburg Road in Berks County to find Peter Schreier having fired the gun. He showed authorities where he'd hidden it under a pillow in the living room sofa. Schreier was free on a 10-thousand-dollar bond awaiting, arraignment on Friday.
>>Columbia Borough Police Searching For Gray Mercedes Involved In Hit-And-Run On New Year's Day
(Lancaster County, PA) -- Columbia Borough Police are looking for the driver of a gray Mercedes sedan they say was involved in a hit-and-run on New Year's Day. Authorities say the crash happened at 2:20 p.m. on the 200 block of Cherry Street. The early 2000s sedan will have front end damage as the crash caused considerable damage to the other car. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information about the car or the owner is requested to call the Columbia Borough Police.
>>Number of Flu Cases Dramatically on the Rise
(Allentown, PA) -- The flu is back this winter and with a vengeance. Pennsylvania state health officials say networks serving the Lehigh Valley have confirmed more than 16-hundred cases, nearly half of last season's statewide total. The total of confirmed cases statewide this year was just under 17 thousand as of December 25th, according to the state Department of Health website. Officials say the difference is that fewer people are masking up, more people are attending large gatherings and social distancing is less prevalent. The good news is that only a handful of cases have required hospitalizations, but officials say that if the current high rate of COVID-19 spread is any indication then it's probable that flu will also continue to spread at a high rate.
>>Joel Embiid's Triple Double Helps Philadelphia 76ers Soar Past Houston Monday Night
(Philadelphia, PA) -- The 76ers' front man Joel Embiid has led the way in his teams 133-113 win over the Houston Rockets Monday night. His 31 points, 15 rebounds and ten assists, 10 assists comprised a triple-double threat for the Rockets. Also, Furkan Korkmaz scored 24 points and Isaiah Joe had 18 points for the Sixers.
>>Positive Test for Mo Co Leader
(Norristown, PA) -- Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh has tested positive for COVID-19. Arkoosh made the news public on Monday, and she said that her symptoms are mild. She is hoping to replace Senator Pat Toomey in the U.S. Senate later this year. Arkoosh told everyone that she plans to continue to work from home.
>>Hospital System Pauses Elective Procedures
(Bryn Mawr, PA) -- Elective surgeries have been put on hold in one local health system. A rise in COVID-19 patients has forced Main Line Health to make the move. Some of their facilities include Riddle, Bryn Mawr, and Paoli hospitals. It's planned to last for two-weeks but officials will discuss if it needs to be extended.
>>Major Setback for Eagles Roster
(Philadelphia, PA) -- Some big names on the Philadelphia Eagles roster have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Dallas Goedert, Jason Kelce, Rodney McLeod, and Fletcher Cox were among the 12-players added to the list and sent home on Monday. The only positive note is that the Eagles clinched a playoff spot thanks to the results of the Sunday night game. On the flip side, Kelce's streak of 121-consecutive starts is now in jeopardy for Saturday's contest against the Dallas Cowboys.