COVID Update, Nov. 23: Wolf issues stay at home advisory, new limits on schools, gatherings
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Gov. Tom Wolf warned Monday that the COVID-19 pandemic could worsen seriously in commonwealth with today’s peak cases that average more than 6,000 per day could spike to more than 22,000 per day by December and overwhelm the state’s hospital system, asking — but not ordering – residents to stay home as much as possible.
Wolf did announce some...
Commissioners announce COVID grants to county school districts
Chester County Commissioners allocate $10 million in CARES funds to support public schools in Chester County impacted by COVID-19. Pictured with a check for $10 million presented to the Chester County Intermediate Unit are (from left to right): Dr. Emilie Lonardi, District Superintendent, Downingtown Area School District; Dr. George Fiore, Executive Director, Chester County Intermediate Unit; Chester...
Chesco school districts poised to resume in-person classes
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Some Chester County school districts moved this week to bring students and teachers back into county classrooms as early as October — with one school district formally approving a plan this week to reopen school buildings next month.
Meanwhile, school districts around the county approved a return to interscholastic sports practices this week and games...
Let’s not blame local officials for playing it safe in the Age of COVID
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
By rights, we should be enjoying the start of a new school year — bragging on our kids, showing off their new clothes and school gear.
In a normal year, we should talking about which high school football teams in the Ches-Mont are early break outs and which programs look to be struggling.
We should, as usual, bemoan the length and stupidity of the election...
The Post Office thing is worse than you know, and you need to pay attention
By Mike McGann, Editor, the Times @mikemcgannpa
POCATELLO, ID — Donald J. Trump doesn’t want you to vote this fall.
Why? He knows unless turnout is awful, he’ll lose and lose badly. He figures if he stops vote by mail — although he’s voting that way — people won’t want to risk standing in long lines at their polling place during a pandemic so he and his appointed troll Postmaster General...
When it comes to opening schools, Trump has to either put up or shut up
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Open the schools! Or else. Says President Donald Trump.
Okay, there’s almost no one (besides a few kids, maybe) who do not want to see our public schools reopen this fall. My college-age kids are counting the minutes they can return to their campus.
As great as our teachers have done over video, there’s no question that kids learn better in the classroom and benefit...
Continuing the conversation about race
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Like it or not, we need to keep talking about race.
While the killing of George Floyd was the straw that broke the camel’s back, the rising level of anger over racism has been growing for years.
Since Donald Trump’s election, those who hate on the basis of skin color seem to feel like they have been given a green light to openly express their racism....
COVID-19 Update, April 9: Wolf moves to close schools for remainder of the year
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Gov. Tom Wolf moved Thursday to end all in person school instruction for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, as the state added nearly 2,000 new positive COVID-19 cases, although the number of deaths dropped to 29 on Wednesday after having been in the 70s the previous two days.
Wolf announced the extension of the schools closure, noting he made the decision in...
Wolf orders Chesco to ‘Stay At Home”; local cases spike to 30
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Gov. Tom Wolf issued a “stay at home” order for six counties, including Chester County, as cases of COVID-19 spiked locally and across the state, including six deaths across the state.
Wolf announced the order Monday afternoon, which will be effective Monday night at 8pm.
“Today, I’m issuing a Stay at Home order for Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe,...
1st COVAD-19 case in Chesco; county moves to emergency plans; Gov. closes state schools for 2 weeks
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Chester County Commissioners Chair Marian Moskowitz details the county’s emergency plans in wake of the COVAD-19 pandemic.
WEST CHESTER — In light of the emerging COVAD-19 crisis, state and county officials are moving quickly to ensure social distancing and put both the state and Chester County on an emergency footing, closing schools, severely limiting the...
