Following is a listing of executive and legislative action for the week of April 27. The Pennsylvania Senate was in recess at press time, subject to recall at 12 hours' notice by President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson. The state House of Representatives was in session at press time. Each chamber was observing social distancing practices, including remote voting in the Senate and proxy voting through party whips in the House.

Relaxing 'Lockdown'

The Wolf administration said that in an effort to ensure that Pennsylvanians have opportunities to safely enjoy outdoor recreation as a way to maintain positive physical and mental health, and in keeping with the stay-at-home orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Tom Wolf on April 27 announced the lifting of some restrictions on businesses related to certain outdoor activities.

Starting May 1, golf courses, marinas, guided fishing trips and privately owned campgrounds were eligible for reopening statewide and are required to follow updated life-sustaining business guidance and FAQ issued by the Wolf administration to include specifics for how these outdoor recreational industries can resume activities while prioritizing public health and safety. Campgrounds in state parks were to remain closed through May 14.

"Pennsylvanians have remained resilient throughout this COVID-19 crisis, and as we successfully continue to flatten the curve to protect our physical health, it is critical that we also focus on our physical and mental health during these extraordinary times. As the weather warms and day-light lengthens, enjoying time outdoors is an important way to manage stress," Wolf said. "As we start to take measured, limited steps to reopen our commonwealth, reopening these industries will help to rebuild our economy and strengthen our mental health."

According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly half (45%) of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over COVID-19 with the burden likely to continue even as the pandemic's threat diminishes.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance on visiting parks and recreational facilities. These guidelines must be followed statewide by businesses and when en-gaging in outdoor activity while the state disaster declaration remains in effect. The guidelines will ensure the safety of individuals and families engaging in outdoor activities and adherence will help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Telemedicine Expansion

Gov. Tom Wolf on April 29 vetoed a bill aimed at expanding the use of telemedicine, saying it "arbitrarily restricts" doctor-patient interactions around women's reproductive health. Wolf had previously supported telemedicine expansion but said the bill as amended by members of the state House of Representatives was flawed.

"As amended, this bill interferes with women's health care and the crucial decision-making be-tween patients and their physicians," Wolf said in his veto message.

Senate Bill 857, which was introduced by Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver, would establish statutory guidelines defining providers of telemedicine services.

At the same time Wolf issued his veto, he announced, under his authority under the COVID-19 disaster declaration signed in March, cross-agency guidance on telehealth, citing its particular importance as a health care delivery option during the pandemic. The guidance stressed steps taken to ensure that patients in need of vital health care services are receiving them in a timely, appropriate manner.

National Guard

Wolf on April 29 signed a measure to ensure that National Guard members called to active duty will be covered under the Heart and Lung Act if they contract COVID-19 while performing their duties.

House Bill 1869, sponsored by state Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Tioga, was approved unanimously in both houses of the General Assembly. It was introduced in fall 2019 as the "First Responders Now" bill, and would also allow the state Department of Health to grant waivers from staffing requirements for emergency vehicles.

Owlett said in a statement that the need is even greater with staffing pressures during the pandemic.

Added to the bill were the protections for members of the Pennsylvania National Guard called up to help with pandemic response.

The measure is now designated as Act 17 of 2020.

Hospital Assistance

Wolf announced that nearly $324 million in funding has been awarded to 31 hospitals across Pennsylvania through the Hospital Emergency Loan Program, or HELP, which provides short-term financial relief as hospitals combat the surge of COVID-19 cases in their area.

"As Pennsylvania continues to practice social distancing, we have successfully flattened the curve, but we know that our fight against COVID-19 is far from over," Wolf said in a statement.

"This funding will allow our hospitals to hold steady in that fight with the peace of mind that they have access to the resources they need to provide critical care to their communities."

The loan package was made available to Pennsylvania hospitals to provide immediate financial support for working capital to ensure that these facilities have sufficient personnel, equipment and personal protective equipment.

Hospital systems receiving grant money included Geisinger Health, which operates seven hospitals in northeastern Pennsylvania. Geisinger was granted $100 million, while the six hospitals in southeastern Pennsylvania and Lancaster County operated by the Penn health system received $50 million in grant money.

Food Security

As Pennsylvania works to mitigate the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus, the Wolf administration said in a statement that it has prioritized food security in Pennsylvania by protecting the local supply chain, advocating for necessary waivers and resources, and ensuring equal access to healthy food for all.

"As we seek to ensure health and safety for Pennsylvanians and work together to save lives as we mitigate against COVID-19, food has never seemed more important," Wolf said in the statement. "We depend on farmers to continue to work the land, processors to make products, grocery workers to be there at check-out, and volunteers to support our food banks and pantries."

Pennsylvania is home to a strong and diverse agriculture and food industry, with a reputation for innovation and generosity, that creates a strong foundation for food security in the commonwealth.

Before COVID-19, more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians experienced chronic hunger on a regular basis, including nearly half a million children, the statement said. Over the past several weeks, hundreds of thousands more have found themselves reliant on the charitable food system as businesses closed their doors and schools moved to homebound, virtual learning to mitigate the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus. Furthermore, there is an entirely new set of Pennsylvanians finding themselves in need of emergency food resources. In response the administration said it has created and updated a Responding to COVID-19 Guide that provides a comprehensive list of information and available supports, as well as an Access to Food survey to identify areas of high need.