This is the latest Live Well Allegheny e-update. Please find a variety of information that will be helpful to you in your efforts and can also be shared within your own networks. As always, you can find a great deal of information on our website at: www.livewellallegheny.com including partner resources which are available here.

We now have 203 community partners, 68 municipalities, 51 restaurants, 33 workplaces and 18 school districts united in our efforts to make Allegheny County healthy for all!

Also, be sure to like and follow the Allegheny County Health Department on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on all ACHD news.

Hello Live Well Allegheny community,

I want to invite everyone to take a moment to take a deep breath and be still.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a meeting with members of the COVID-19 team here at the Health Department. These are the people responsible for analyzing the numbers, for coordinating testing, case investigation and contact tracing, for sharing information with community groups, for working with schools and universities, for inspecting and visiting restaurants and for staying abreast of this rapidly developing situation.

At the start of the meeting, I gave them about 5 minutes to themselves. I encouraged them to breath, to meditate, to close their eyes. For some, it might have been the only 5 minutes they had to themselves that day and the only 5 minutes they’ve had to themselves in months.

So today, please remember to take time for yourself. I’m reminding all of you to take five minutes, 10 minutes, or even longer, for yourself. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and rest your mind. Whatever you need to do to relax and step away.

Surviving this pandemic means more than caring for yourself physically. It means caring for yourself mentally.

These are stressful times, and we need you, we need everyone, to practice self-care while we care for one another. We are stronger together.

Stay safe and be kind,,

The Health Department is the lead agency providing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 web page contains information on the virus, its impact in Allegheny County, information and guidance from the department and its partners, and resources for residents and specific groups. Additional updates are listed below:

• Sign up for Allegheny Alerts (https://member.everbridge.net/453003085611110/login) for daily reports from the Health Department on COVID-19.
• Information on testing for COVID-19 including who should get tested, where to get tested and what to expect after you’re tested is available here (https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Resources/COVID-19/Information-on-COVID-19-Testing.aspx).
• Exercising and staying active is important to your overall help. The Health Department has information on how to stay safe while spending time outdoors (https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Resources/COVID-19/Information-for-Residents/Travel-and-Outdoors-Activity.aspx) and if you visit a gym (https://www.alleghenycounty.us/uploadedFiles/Allegheny_Home/Health_Department/Resources/COVID-19/Docs/0813%20GymGuidance_HealthDepartment_v5.pdf).
• The Health Department’s COVID Field Response Team is visiting restaurants and food establishments around the county to educate on current health orders, answer questions and determine compliance with state and county business safety precaution orders. More information about the team is available here (https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Resources/COVID-19/COVID-Field-Response-Team-(FRT).aspx).

Restaurants, bars, and catering and event businesses have unexpectedly become a ‘front line’ in ensuring public safety during the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to our role as gathering places and important spaces where we come together as a community with a shared love of food and its importance to our physical and emotional health.

Safe Service Allegheny is an initiative started to ensure the health and safety of our food & beverage and event businesses, workers, and guests, and take all actions possible to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Allegheny County and the PA Restaurant and Lodging Association joined members of the service industry in launching Safe Service Allegheny. More information about how to join is available at the web site.

Grow Pittsburgh Community Gardens

For 10 years Grow Pittsburgh has been supporting the creation of new community gardens in Allegheny County. We invite interested groups to apply for our 2021 program season.

Grow Pittsburgh provides 2 years of support which includes: project management, education, facilitation, and the materials and supplies you need to build your community garden from the ground up.

If you are interested, you can start the process by submitting your Interest Form at any time. Once it is confirmed that your project is eligible, you will receive an application which must be submitted by October 1, 2020 to be considered for the Spring 2021 season.

Public Health Employment Opportunities

The Allegheny County Health Department has several employment opportunities. Information is available on the Careers Page of the web site.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Contact Tracing web page now lists paid positions for Contact Tracers in addition to the previously announced positions for the Case Investigators/Community Health Nurses and Contact Tracing Field Managers. Please click here to view these positions.