Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Officers are starting to issue more violations in their COVID-19 safety checks of businesses with liquor licenses in the state. While state police say their main goal is educational, not punitive, they have been increasing the number of violations issued instead of warnings for establishments that continue to be out ...

Companies from Central Pennsylvania to the Lehigh Valley keep adjusting to the challenges brought by COVID-19, with some of the lessons changing corporate cultures and shaping business plans for 2021. In recent interviews with company leaders in the region, they relay how some of the challenges have created new policies and how they yearn for a vaccine that will make 2020 a footnote.

The U.S. added 1.8 million jobs in July as payroll growth slowed amid a split-screen economy that had employers stepping up hiring in parts of the country that continued to let businesses reopen.

OraSure Technologies said it expects to launch its COVID-19 rapid antigen in-home self-test by the fourth quarter of this year.

After a late opening because of the COVID-19 shutdown, Dorney Park will also be closing down earlier than normal. In a statement on its website, the park said it will close for the season on Labor Day, Sept. 7.

“The idea is to show a visible presence, not to name and shame,” Ryan Tarkowski, director of communications for the state police said. “We need to show the public we’re out there and being proactive.”

Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers made 1,709 checks on liquor establishments and issued 64 warnings over the weekend. That compares to last weekend when 1,524 checks were made and 44 warnings issued.

Pennsylvania State Police say they issued another 44 warnings to bars and restaurants for COVID-19 safety compliance over the weekend.

A closely watched gauge of layoffs across the U.S. held steady at a historically high level last week, pushing the total during the coronavirus-induced economic crisis to a mind-boggling 51.3 million.

 As Pennsylvania’s rate of COVID-19 infections begin to climb since moving into the green phase of the state’s reopening plan, Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to issue new orders today that will that will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. July 16.

Between July 6 and July 12, State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers conducted 4,360 compliance checks and issued 77 warnings to establishments that failed to follow COVID-19 requirements such as social distancing, masking and other health and safety measures.

While many institutions are canceling the fall 2020 sports season, some are giving it the green light, albeit with new safety precautions in place.

Pennsylvania State Police said its Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement will be out over the Independence Day holiday weekend, visiting businesses with liquor licenses to make sure they are doing their part to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

The U.S. economy added a record 4.8 million jobs in June as states continued to allow businesses shuttered by the coronavirus to reopen and more Americans went back to work, even as massive layoffs have persisted. 

As businesses begin to return to operations, recalling employees, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce is pushing for what it calls Safe Harbor protections for businesses against COVID-19 related lawsuits.