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Rep. Cook Announces District Offices to
Remain Open
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I announced today that my district offices in Belle Vernon and Brownsville will remain open for the foreseeable future in order to serve constituents through the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
In order to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and protect the health and safety of local residents and office staff, I am asking that constituents limit visits for important and emergency business only. I encourage constituents to contact my office via phone or email if possible as staff will still be available to respond to all emails and phone messages.
My office staff will be taking measures to regularly disinfect the office in order to blunt the threat of COVID-19, but constituents must recognize the risks that accompany a spreading virus and I ask constituents to use caution and commonsense when deciding how to interact with the district office.
Community residents who need help with any problem related to state government are encouraged to visit my website for assistance, call my Belle Vernon office at 724-929-2660, or call my Brownsville office at 724-938-5355.
I encourage all community residents to check my website at www.RepBudCook.com for further updates. In the meantime, I have compiled what I thought were some helpful guidance from agencies reflecting the more urgent needs of my constituents.
COVID-19 Coronavirus: What You Need
to Know
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The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease that can create life-threatening health problems in some patients. This email update includes information and resources to help keep you and your family up to date on the latest news regarding this new virus.
To date, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported that dozens of Pennsylvanians in at least 14 counties have tested presumptive positive for the disease, and hundreds of others have undergone testing and are awaiting results.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health have created webpages to keep the public informed about how to contain the spread of the disease. I encourage you to visit these sites for additional information:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
PA Department of Health:
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Gov. Tom Wolf and officials from the Department of Health are also providing daily updates to the public. The updates are available at https://governor.pa.gov/live.
Follow me on social media, www.Facebook.com/RepBudCook for additional information as the situation continues to develop.
Signs and Symptoms, Preventative Measures and Testing
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According to the Department of Health, symptoms of COVID-19 include:
The CDC recommends (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html) the following steps to help minimize the risk of infection:
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Fever. |
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Coughing. |
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Shortness of breath. |
The CDC recommends (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html) the following steps to help minimize the risk of infection:
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Wash your hands frequently. |
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Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. |
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick. |
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Stay home if you are sick. |
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Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow. |
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. |
The Department of Health outlines these preventative measures in a video below:
The Department of Health advises people who have mild symptoms to stay home to avoid contact with others. State residents who have severe symptoms, including a fever over 100 degrees or shortness of breath, are encouraged to call their healthcare provider. Individuals without a healthcare provider can contact their local health department or call 1-877-724-3258.
Governor Orders Closure of Bars, Restaurants,
Other Venues for Two Weeks
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To limit the number of in-person contacts that could spread the coronavirus, Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses, including bars, dine-in restaurants, gyms and other entertainment venues for two weeks. Essential businesses like healthcare providers, grocery stores and gas stations will remain open.
Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so. More details about these measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is available in the video below:
Information for employees who may be affected by the shutdown is available from the Department of Labor and Industry here. https://www.uc.pa.gov/Pages/covid19.aspx
Pennsylvania Schools Remain Closed Through
March 27 |
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Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all K-12 schools to remain closed hrough at least Friday, March 27. The administration will reevaluate when it is safe for schools to reopen. No school will be penalized for failing to meet the mandated 180 days of instructional time for the 2019-20 school year.
A number of school districts are developing alternative education plans and continuing to offer lunches for students. Parents and guardians of students are encouraged to learn more
about how their school district is responding to the school shutdown by visiting their school district’s website or calling the school.
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| Office Locations |
| Belle Vernon, 10 Main St. Belle Vernon, Pa 15012 (724) 929-2660 / California, 130 Woodland Court, Brownsville, Pa 15417 (724) 938-5355 |
| B-15 Main Capitol, PO Box 202049, Harrisburg PA 17120-2049 | (717) 783-8655 / 3-8655 |
| Email Address: BCook@pahousegop.com |
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