iradiophilly | News - Free Masks on SEPTA for Riders; PA Health Orders Workers/Customers Wear Mask; Get My Payment IRS App

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Free Masks on SEPTA for Riders; PA Health Orders Workers/Customers Wear Mask; Get My Payment IRS App

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 04/15/20 4:45 pm | updated: 04/15/20 4:45 pm

SEPTA is now offering free surgical face masks to riders aboard some vehicles. The masks will be provided on buses, the Market-Frankford Line, the Broad Street Line, and at 69th Street, 15th Street, Suburban, and Jefferson stations. The masks will be in plastic bags and there will be signs directing you to them so you can grab your own. Please take one if you need one. Wear your own mask if you have one. Riders are urged to wear a mask while riding SEPTA for the protection of other riders and the operators, though you are not required. The bags will be refilled until SEPTA runs out of supply.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced new measures put in place by Secretary of the Department of Health Dr. Rachel Levine aimed at providing protections to workers at essential businesses that remain open during the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. The order will go into effect at 8 p.m. Sunday April 19. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Industry, Pennsylvania State Police, and local authorities will be responsible for enforcement. Failure to comply could result in citations, fines, or license suspensions.

"This order provides critical protections for the workers needed to run and operate these life-sustaining establishments," Governor Wolf said. "Businesses across the state have already begun to implement many of these protocols on their own, and we applaud their efforts to protect employees and customers."

"This order will ensure continuity across all life-sustaining businesses and will further our efforts to protect the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians," Dr. Levine said. "Together, we can all help mitigate the spread of COVID-19."

Some of the provisions of the order include:

- All workers at a business must wear a mask at all times (except on break time to eat and drink). Masks are mandatory and must be provided by the employer

- Businesses should enforce social distancing guidelines throughout the workplace.

- Businesses are ordered to deny entry to customers who do not have a mask. Unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food. Then the business must provide an alternate way for the customer to pickup or have delivery of the goods.

- Exceptions include children under 2 or those with a medical condition that precludes the wearing of a mask. Proof of the medical condition is not required.

- Other provisions include how businesses should react when an employee is presumed or tests positive for COVID-19.

SEE FULL ORDER: https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-health-secretary-signs-order-providing-worker-safety-measures-to-combat-covid-19/

SEE ALSO: https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-health-secretary-signs-order-providing-worker-safety-measures-to-combat-covid-19/

On Wednesday, 4/15, the IRS launched an online tool called 'Get My Payment' to help you determine when or if you will be receiving a CARES Act stimulus check or direct deposit. You can find the app at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment. I went through the process this morning. I went into it thinking the IRS had my direct deposit information and I was just going to check on the status. After getting into the process, the first page asks for Social Security #, date of birth, and address.

The second page told me they needed more information to process a direct deposit, or I could do nothing a wait for a physical check. I decided to continue since I wanted to make sure I got direct deposit. The third page asked for information I took from my most recent tax return including adjusted gross income and how much I owed/I was refunded. I also entered in my bank account information.

After I submitted this information, I was told that it was accepted and I could expect a deposit to my account. It did not give me a date yet for that deposit. Now, I didn't have all this information in front of me right away and the page asked me to continue the session a few times so it didn't time out as I was looking it all up. I would suggest, even if you don't expect to need it, to have your tax information and bank account numbers available.

Some people have received a "Payment Status Not Available" error. The IRS posted a statement regarding that problem here. Also, if you plan on using your 2018 return as your most recent filing, use your address from 2018 up front and make sure everything else matches your return.