Coronavirus (COVID-19)

All Pennsylvania adults are eligible to receive the vaccine effective 4/13 

Due to limited vaccine supply, the Bethlehem Health Bureau is prioritizing appointments for City of Bethlehem residents, Northampton and Lehigh County residents as well as individuals living in a county without a health department.  If you live in a county with a health department, please contact your respective health department to schedule an appointment.

A small number of phone call appointments will be available by calling 610-865-7083. Phone appointments are only for individuals from the City of Bethlehem and Northampton County who are over 65 years of age AND LACK INTERNET OR COMPUTER ACCESS. Please do not call before 8:00 a.m. on Friday as no appointments will be taken before that time.
 

Upcoming Clinics: 

^{(Please note that the Bethlehem Health Bureau only has Pfizer available at this time for first doses)}
To schedule an appointment click on the following upcoming clinic dates. Once you receive your first dose, you will receive an email to schedule your second dose or click on the second dose link below.   
^{(Must use Chrome or Firefox)}
Every effort should be made to receive your second vaccination on within the recommended 17-23 day time period; however, if there is an extenuating circumstance that prohibits receiving the vaccine in the recommended timeframe, select the next available clinic that stays within the 42 day maximum time period.

 

First Dose	Second Dose
Thursday, April 1, 2021	Thursday, April 22, 2021    10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, April 6, 2021	Wednesday, April 28, 2021     11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday, April 8, 2021	Friday, April 30, 2021     11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday, April 14, 2021	Thursday, May 6, 2021     2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday, April 16, 2021	Thursday, May 6, 2021      2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesday, April 20, 2021     10:00 am - 3:45 pm	TBD
Thursday, April 22, 2021     12:00 pm 5:45 pm	TBD
Wednesday, April 28, 2021     11:00 am - 4:45 pm	TBD
Friday, April 30, 2021     10:00 am - 12:45 pm	TBD

 

 

Bethlehem Health Bureau Vaccine Data

COVID-19 Dashboard for BHB Vaccinations 

 

COVID-19 Vaccine

For information on the COVID-19 vaccine, please see the following link

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Survey

City of Bethlehem resident survey 

Health Care Provider survey

 

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

• For the latest City of Bethlehem Data: 
• COVID-19 Dashboard for City of Bethlehem/Lehigh Valley 

NOTE:  The positivity rates for City of Bethlehem, Northampton and Lehigh Counties, and Pennsylvania have been adjusted to a positivity rate reflecting the previous 7 days.  This was done to show a more accurate depiction of the current situation.

Governor Tom Wolf 

Gov. Wolf Limited-Time Mitigation Order
Sec. Levine Limited-Time Mitigation Order

City of Bethlehem

COVID-19-Press-Release-February-11-2021
COVID-19-Press-Release-February-02-2021
COVID-19-Press-Release-January-28-2021
COVID-19-Press-Release-January-06-2021
COVID-19-Press-Release-December-31-2020
COVID-19-Press-Release-December-27-2020
COVID-19-Press-Release-December-14-2020
COVID-19-Press-Release-December-08-2020

All City of Bethlehem services are currently in operation. The public is encouraged to conduct as much business as possible via mail, email, online at www.bethlehem-pa.gov and by phone. The Bethlehem Service Center  can be reached at (610) 865-7000. In addition, the public is encouraged to use the drop box outside the Church Street entrance to City Hall to make bill payments.

Funding Resources

Rising Tide Community Loan Fund

•COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP)

       •  Funded by Northampton and Lehigh County and administered by the Rising Tide. 
       • The grant application period opens March 15^th, 2021, and it will remain open until funding              for grants has been exhausted, or June 15^th, 2021, whichever occurs first.
       • Grants up to $10,000

PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) 

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
 

•Shuttered Venue Operator grants 
The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

•Targeted EIDL Advance
The Targeted EIDL Advance provides businesses located in low-income communities with additional funds to ensure small business continuity, adaptation, and resiliency.

• •Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
  The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to help businesses keep thier workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

• •Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
  In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners, including agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories can apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. To learn more about eligibility and apply, click here

• •Express Bridge Loans
  Express bridge loans are available up to $25,000 and can be used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan. The loan will be repaid in full or in part by proceeds from the EIDL loan. Find an Express Bridge Loan Lender by connecting with your local SBA District Office.

• •Debt Relief
  As part of our coronavirus debt relief efforts, the SBA will pay 6 months of principal, interest, and any associated fees that borrowers owe for all current 7(a), 504, and Microloans in regular servicing status as well as new 7(a), 504, and Microloans disbursed prior to September 27, 2020. This relief is not available for Paycheck Protection Program loans or Economic Injury Disaster loans.

**Lehigh SBDC can assist with applying for SBA Loans

Internal Revenue Service  (IRS)
The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.

•Employee Retention Credit
The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19.      

 

• Additional Small Business Financing Resources (not related to COVID-19)

•        •  Bethlehem Small Business Loan Fund

         •  Exterior Improvement Loan Program

•        •  Rising Tide Community Loan Fund

•        •  Community First Fund

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  Technical Assistance

•        •  Lehigh SBDC

•        •  Lehigh Valley Score

•        •  Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board

•  

• Upcoming Webinars

•        •  PA SBDC COVID-19 Webinars for small businesses are offered here.
  
         •  Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce are offered here.

•    

• • Pennsylvania Department of Health

• DOH-COVID Information for Businesses
  
  DOH-COVID-Business-FAQ.pdf
  
  DOH-COVID-Business-Risk-Assessment-Tool.pdf
  
  DOH-COVID-Quarantine-Isolation-Work-Guidance_11x17.pdf

•  

• CDC Guidance for Building Water Systems

  CDC offers guidance for Business Owners to ensure safety and quality of water service in their facilities after a prolonged shutdown.

• Stagnant, or standing water can cause conditions that increase the risk for growth and spread of Legionella and other biofilm-associated bacteria. Stagnant water can also lead to low or undetectable levels of chlorine disinfectant. Ensure that your water system is safe to use after a prolonged shutdown to minimize the risk of water-borne diseases such as Legionnaire's disease. Examples of systems to check include drinking water distribution systems, plumbing fixtures, hot water heaters, spas and pools, and cooling towers.  

• For more information, please visit the following link:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html
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•  

Johns hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Operational Toolkit for Businesses Considering Reopening or Expanding Operations in COVID-19. Please see the link below:

https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/publications/operational-toolkit-for-businesses-considering-reopening-or-expanding-operations-in-covid-19

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•  

Property and Homeowners

Code/Permit Information
For information on housing inspections and code related concerns, see the "City of Bethlehem Services " tab of this page. Additional information can be found at the following link:
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Community-Economic-Development/Housing-Inspections

City Funded Housing Rehab Programs
Homeowners may still submit electronic or mailed applications but no onsite work will be performed until further notice. Emergency repairs and Lead Based Paint emergency work will be performed on an as needed basis. Information on these programs can be found at the following link:
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Community-Economic-Development/Housing-Inspections

Tenants Rights and Fair housing Concerns 

Questions and concerns about tenants' rights and Fair Housing violations during this crisis can be mailed to Penn Legal Services. Penn Legal is a non-profit that is supported by the City of Bethlehem in order to address concerns of this nature. At this time, Penn Legal's office is closed and is accepting online inquiries only. Send inquiries to : https://www.northpennlegal.org/

Questions on Evictions and Foreclosures

An eviction is a legal process carried out by the local court system. The Northampton and Lehigh County courts are currently closed and not proceeding with eviction hearings at this time. Questions on the County's court system can be found at the following links:
Northampton County: https://www.nccpa.org/magisterial-district-judges
Lehigh County: https://www.lehighcounty.org/Services/Suspended-Services

Additional information about evictions can be found in the "federal eviction moratorium for tenants living in certain types of housing" which provides further guidance on tenants' rights and foreclosures during this time. A summary of this moratorium can be viewed on the National Housing Law Project's website at the following link: https://www.nhlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020.03.27-NHLP-CARES-Act-Eviction-Moratorium-Summary.pdf

If you believe that you have been wrongfully evicted from your home or wrongfully had your property foreclosed, you can file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General of PA at the following link: https://www.attorney general.gov/taking-action/press-releases/ag-shapiro-to-landlords-pennsylvanians-cannot-be-evicted-during-state-emergency/

Note: The information provided is not intended to substitute or constitute as legal advice. It is recommended to seek professional legal advice on specific matters that arise.

 

 

If COVID-19 is making you feel isolated, stressed out or anxious, you are not alone - and it's okay to ask for help

Behavioral Health Services

Lehigh County Crisis Intervention. Licensed telephone and mobile crisis services that provide mental health assessments regardless of income or insurance. Crisis Intervention operates 24-hour/7 days a week. Lehigh County Crisis Intervention can be contacted at 610-782-3127.
Staff from the Office of Mental Health are available to answer questions about the programs and services available. If you are actively receiving mental health services in the County system, they can assist you. If you are not currently registered in the County Mental Health system and wish to access County funded/supportive services, please call Information and referral at 610-782-3200.

Other resources available to Pennsylvanians in need of support:

• Northampton County Crisis Hotline : 610-252-9060

• Greater Lehigh Valley Warmline 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM, 7 days a week: 
  610-820-8451

• Statewide Support & Referral Helpline: 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 
  724-631-5600

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• Línea Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: 1-888-628-9454

• Crisis Text Line: Text “PA” to 741-741

• Safe2Say: 1-844-723-2729 or www.safe2saypa.org

• Veteran Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990

• Get Help Now Hotline (for substance use disorders): 1-800-662-4357

 

 

For any additional information, please visit the following websites:

 

PA Department of Health (PADOH)  

PADOH has created a new Hospital Preparedness Dashboard that provides county-level information about how many beds and ventilators are in use and available to meet our health care needs. Please see the following link.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
 

 

I am an employee and I work at a company where an employee has tested positive for COVID-19. What is the role of the Bethlehem Health Bureau? 

If a Bethlehem resident tests positive for COVID-19, the Bethlehem Health Bureau interviews the individual to determine who they were in close contact with since showing symptoms.  As part of that interview, we review work and school status.  If the person is employed by a business that is open to the public, we provide that information to the general community. If it is a private employer, we work with the employer to notify close contacts of the positive case.  The Pennsylvania Department of Health has a toolkit for businesses related to COVID-19 and we provide this information to employers as well.

 

How can I help protect myself?

Prevention:

• • Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do not use your hands!
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based   hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Clean surfaces frequently, including counter tops, light switches, cell phones,   remotes, and other frequently touched items.
  • Contain: if you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.
  • Wear a mask: masks must be worn whenever anyone leaves home. Members of the public should wear homemade cloth or fabric masks and save surgical masks and N95 respirators for health care workers and first responders.