Hello and welcome to PBS39 and WLVT community update.

Coronavirus.

It's presented by Capital Blue Cross and brought to you with help from our community partner Lehigh Valley Health Network.

We are coming to you live from the PPE Public Media Center in Bethlehem I'm Brittany Sweeney.

Our guests today include Dr Nathan Hagstrom from Lehigh Valley Riley Children's Hospital here to give more insight into kids and vaccines.

Also here is Bishop Alfred Charlottes.

We will ask him about what the easing of Covid restrictions means for those in the Catholic Church.

Our guests will be with us in just a couple of minutes.

If you have a question, please give us a call.

The phone number is four eight four eight two one zero zero zero eight.

We'll answer some of your questions live.

Plus for coronavirus updates, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.

You can do that at our website coronavirus Lehigh Valley .org.

There you'll find helpful information in both English and Spanish.

Now let's take a look at today's top headlines.

The State Department of Human children who left foster care due to Covid-19 a chance to come back to the system to benefit from aftercare services.

DHS Acting Secretary Meg Sneyd says many of these young people lack access to stable housing, income and other resources.

So the funding flexibilities provide a critical they are critical to making sure they are protected and supported.

Families interested in learning more about becoming a foster or adoptive family should contact the state wide adoption and permanency Network helpline at one 805 five seven nine two six.

More information is available at Adopt Kids .org.

Today the state reported a total of 1257 new coronavirus cases and 54 more deaths.

The CDC says as of this morning, just under 50% of Pennsylvania's age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

The number climbs to 55% for Pennsylvanians who have received the first dose Lehigh Carbon Community College is planning and admissions drives the event to help prospective students and current applicants prepare for the fall semester, June 16th.

And July 14th.

The location is the Knoxville campus and June 23rd and July 21st.

It will be at the Tamaqua campus and ArtsQuest plans to open its levit Langhorne to the general public without reservations on Memorial Day May 31st President and CEO Cassie Hilgert says safety will continue to be ArtsQuest quote number one priority.

She says they considered thousands of community member feedback in their decision and right here is a live look at the pavilion where it looks crews are already gearing up for bigger crowds.

A beautiful day out there today and it is time now to meet our guests from Lehigh Valley Rilly Children's Hospital is Dr Nathan Hagstrom.

He's giving us more information about kids and vaccines.

Also with us is Bishop Alfred Charlottes of the Allentown Diocese.

They are opening churches to full capacity starting this weekend.

We thank you both so much for joining us.

Bishop, we will be with you in just a few minutes.

We're going to begin today with Dr Hagstrom, Doctor, thank you so much for joining us.

My pleasure.

Thank.

Always a pleasure to have you here.

Kids, 12 up are now being vaccinated.

The approval came about a week ago.

So the big question is how are things going at Lehigh Valley Health Network?

They've been going great.

So many children have come in to get vaccinated and they're actually excited and happy to be able to get one step closer to being normal.

Has it been a slow start Gamma I mean, I know you say people are coming in to get bringing their children to get vaccinated, but was it a slow trickle?

Was it everybody at once like we saw with the adult vaccines?

How has been are there people making appointments to do so?

Just walking in?

Can you explain all that to us?

We've had large crowds, lots of teenagers looking to get vaccinated and their parents have come to bring them.

So it's it's been great to see what happens there to be providing the vaccine to all these teenagers.

And what are you encouraging your parent, the parents of your patients to do or do they make an appointment?

Do they come right in?

And what's the procedure like once they get there?

We do prefer appointments, but we also will take some walk ins, some of the areas we are trying to expand the schools, the number of sites.

So that'll be that'll be exciting.

We do as possible parents be present so they can provide consent and be present with their children when they're getting the vaccine.

Dr Hagstrom, what are you hearing from those parents when it comes to kids that getting vaccinated?

Was there any hesitancy Gamma Is there more hesitancy for this age group or are people just ready to get vaccinated?

They are just ready for this pandemic to be over.

What are you hearing?

Well, they are ready.

They are definitely ready to New parents are also there has been some misinformation that's But I think for the most part, parents are very understanding of the facts and know that it's very safe for their child.

And so they've been very willing to we've heard about side effects and adults getting especially second dose of the vaccine.

Have you heard about side effects in children getting vaccinated or do we not know yet?

Because many of these children I mean, all of these children, ages 12 to 15, have not gotten that second dose yet.

Any side effects reported with the first dose Gamma You know, the clinical trials in that age group, 12 to 18 did have some mild side effects like pain at the injection site, some pretty low grade fevers.

But you know what?

We haven't really seen or heard a lot about significant side effects.

I own a 14-year-old daughter to get vaccinated on Saturday, Adamstown fine.

Good to hear.

Good to hear.

What about the younger age group?

There are trials, from what I understand going on right now with the ages five to 12.

Where do we stand in those trials?

What's the latest?

What are you hearing Gamma Well, there are ongoing they are splitting the younger children up into three groups, six months to two years, two years to five and five to 11.

They do need to test differnt doses and they typically will test those doses sequentially.

And so and they're actually doing different doses in each of the age groups.

It will take longer.

We do hope that by the fall the five to 11-year-old group will be getting vaccinated.

We don't think it will be before the fall, but you never know for the younger children.

So less than five probably won't be until early.

2022.

OK, and doctor, do you foresee schools requiring this vaccine as they do other vaccines for kids to return to in person learning?

That is a great question.

Every school is going to be a little bit different based on multiple factors.

Everything from know how many people need to be in each classroom to the ventilation of their buildings, etc.

So I think we will have to wait and see.

I'm sure that each school will be over the summer deciding how to approach bringing student back and whether or not to continue to ask for them wear masks or whether they'll differentiate the vaccinated.

For the most part, my sense is that the prevalence in the communities where these schools are will drop and it will feel a lot safer to go back to school.

But they probably will still have some precautions in place, which is mask wearing until we're certain that this is under control and more children are vaccinated.

Jim Thorpe.

Sure, when we talk about prevalence, can you give us an idea of what the picture looks like of Covid cases in children right now in the Lehigh Valley?

What are you seeing come through the hospital doors right now?

But we have seen cases including the MLSE post Covid syndrome, but the numbers are dropping.

I think there are several reasons for that.

The warmer weather people are spend more time outdoors and I think that's that we want to help.

So we are seeing a gradual decline.

It's not a decline we had hoped for.

But I do think that with vaccinations and in the teen age group, that's actually going to help.

We're going to see a further drop by this summer.

I think the prevalence will be quite low.

Am I see we've talked about that on the show before.

It's something that happens to children after they've had Covid-19 can develop a few weeks later.

Have you seen more cases of that in the Lehigh Valley can be pretty severe, is that correct?

Correct.

We have had a number of cases, in fact, more so than the first time around.

And it's put all the children have done well.

They do get very sick for a brief period of time.

But there is treatment Northampton Bloomsbury treatments, ideology and in some cases steroids.

And they respond very quickly and very well.

And Dr Hagstrom, if you could go over some of the symptoms and what parents should be looking for, should they get Covid-19, what are some of the symptoms they should be on the lookout for for missing Gamma A good question.

So MEAC typically occurs several weeks after being infected with the Covid virus.

In some cases, of course, it's a lot to be asymptomatic.

You may not know that they have the virus.

It's fever, persistent fever for days.

It's typically a rash, abdominal pain and typically not a lot of respiratory symptoms.

They can have some, but in the most we actually haven't seen a lot of respiratory symptoms.

They can get conjunctivitis as I said, rashes, dominant pain and in typical for those patients, we admit the reason they're in the intensive care unit where I need to be Birdsboro because I actually have shot.

So that's the severe cases.

But they respond very quickly to treatment.

So if your child has any of those symptoms and is just not themselves, we're feeling well at all.

You should call your physician or bring the child into the Mertztown.

Doctor Hagstrom, I wanted to ask about what parents should know if the parent is vaccinated.

Obviously kids who are 12 and under can not get vaccinated at this time and most likely will not be vaccinated for a few months.

So what should parents do to keep their kids safe throughout the summer?

Months?

What should they be doing?

Can you know the CDC says if you're vaccinated, you can get rid of your mask.

But if you're a parent of a kid who's under 12, should you still be getting rid of that mask?

Do you need to use more caution over these next few months?

Well, I would still have younger children wear masks indoors in public places outdoors.

I think it's been proven to be fairly safe.

And of course, when you're at home around your family, it's safe unless somebody, of course, Penn State Covid.

So I would continue those precautions until the prevalence in the community drops further and the children are vaccinated.

But I'm sure with each with each step of the way through this pandemic over the next three months, we'll be able to get information from the CDC that helps to wrecked families.

Sure.

And I also wanted to touch as we come we're in May.

That's usually the end of the flu season.

I just wanted to touch upon that.

We heard that an adult flu was very low.

This year was the same thing true for children as well?

Yes, very low.

We have very few cases in the hospital, the children's hospital this year.

And I think obviously it's all the measures that everyone took to prevent Covid also prevent flu.

And as we move towards kind of normal life, as we start to get rid of masks and be able to be vaccinated and move out more freely without social distancing, as much, what do you want parents to remember as we continue into the summer months Gamma Well, I think as the vaccine becomes available to younger children, I would first need to get their child vaccinated.

Yes, Covid-19 is not as severe in children, but it can.

And also we have the immediacy of they can get post infection and also important for treating herd immunity or at least a large percentage of the population being immune against Covid will require vaccinating younger children.

In the meantime, I think it's good that we have more data and that the CDC has recognized that being outdoors is fairly safe.

And I think we're going to have a fairly good summer.

And if there's any questions, they can contact their physician CDs.

We have great information on the website as well.

Some really important information there.

Dr Nathan Hagstrom from Lehigh Valley Riley Children's Hospital, thank you so much for joining us today.

Thank you.

And we continue this community update on coronavirus on PBS39.

You can hear the rebroadcast on the radio tonight at nine 30 on 91 three WLVT are now let's bring in our next guest, Bishop Alfred Schaler.

Joins us from the Diocese of Allentown.

They will allow churches to open to full capacity beginning this weekend.

Bishop, thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you for having me back.

Brittany Pfizer, it's great to have you back.

And so the big question is, what will it look like in the churches come this weekend?

What are some of the safety precautions?

What are some things that people need to follow as they come to worship?

Well, we are really looking forward to people coming back this weekend.

This weekend in the Catholic Church is Pentecost Sunday as it is in many Christian churches.

It's the birth of the church historically.

And so we hope it is also in some ways is a rebirth as we begin to emerge from all of the Covid restrictions.

So we're having people back.

We still are asking those who have not been vaccinated to wear their masks and as Dr Hagstrom said, of course, young children, we would hope would still wear their masks because they don't have the opportunity yet to be vaccinated.

We will be at regular capacity, but we expect people will still social distance because that would still be somewhat possible in our parish churches.

We also we also will ask them to be very careful by physical interaction.

We still will not have the sign of peace that is that's offered that's still suspended.

We still will be sanitizing the our fingers at Holy Communion.

We'll still be wearing masks.

Whoever is giving out Holy Communion as an extra level of of safety.

So we have a number of things in place.

Certainly some things are relaxed, but we still are maintaining a level of vigilance that we really want to instill in our people and continue to have them abide by those measures.

Sure.

We've heard from the doctors we still need to be cautious.

So of course that's necessary.

The dioceses last year, like so many other aspects of life, had to shut down and suspend masses for the time being.

Can you take us back and talk to us about what that was like suspending masses and what you had to do to kind of make other arrangements for people to worship and follow their faith during that hard time?

Well, it's heart wrenching decision, of course, to to suspend the masses.

Our churches always remained open for private prayer and the services of their local parish priest when needed.

But the whole idea of coming together to worship is so integral to our not only our religious experience but our human experience that it was very, very difficult.

And, you know, the it takes a toll spiritual, of course, but also emotionally because for so many people they look forward to that weekly gathering and the socialization that takes place afterwards and praying as a community.

So it was very difficult and of course, many were disappointed that we had to take those decisions.

But they were based on the best information at the time.

We listened to our medical experts.

We also locally and also CDC and Penn State Department of Health.

And so we tried to be responsible, but we also at the same time didn't want our churches closed.

Not one weekend more than necessary.

So as soon as we could open up again, even in a limited way, we did.

And I suspect that over these weeks people are starting to get more comfortable not only going back to church but going into other public settings.

So I would imagine that our numbers will we'll start to creep back up as far as attendance at Sunday Mass, many of our pastors already are saying that under the current 50% guideline that we have, they don't have enough room now at their Sunday masses.

So this idea of opening our churches to a greater capacity with the proper precautions, of course, is really something that I think will be welcomed across our dioceses, our five counties.

Sure.

And of course, virtual masses were something that were relied heavily upon.

Do you foresee them staying for the future even past this pandemic?

Well, that's a good question, Brittany, and it's in many cases it will be a local decision whether the pastors of that church who wish to continue to offer that line slide's free mass.

We have found that our cathedral church here in Allentown, the cathedral Saint Catherine of Siena, we will continue to live stream it every week because we're we have found through this we didn't necessarily know this, but we found through the pandemic that so many of our nursing homes in the area are able to tune in now to the mass from the cathedral.

And of course, many of our parishes are doing live streamed on on Facebook or platforms.

any of those other- And so each pastor will have to evaluate whether he wishes to continue to do that or not because it does provide a service to the sick in homebound.

So that's a very good thing.

But we don't want it to do, though.

Is for the healthy and the comfortable who are willing to come back to the capacity of the church.

We would rather have them in person because that's truly where the worship takes place.

In its fullest senses together as a community.

And as far as the collection baskets go, of course you had to suspend them while you didn't have masses.

Are you bringing them back home this weekend and in general, how was the Diocese of Scranton impacted financially by this pandemic?

Well, we here in the Allentown area, we have been very fortunate.

I would say our people have been very, very good in our five counties of the diocese.

While collections, of course, did dip because obviously there were no in-person masses in person services, but all of our parishes within the first week through the efforts of our staff at the Diocese of Allentown were able to offer online giving to all of their parishioners every person could go online and still continue to support their parishes and I would say we have been very blessed with the continuance of giving that our people have done because they realize that there is a great need.

The needs go on even during a pandemic and actually grow as more people seek services from the church, charitable services and so are people rose to the occasion and they were so good about that.

And so I would say overall, yes, there was some downturn, but it was really not as drastic as we had feared that it would be.

Our people really came through and continued to support charitable works of the church.

So grateful for that.

Bishop, my apologies for saying Scranton instead of Allentown in your diocese either all of eastern a northeastern PA.

Right.

And you were dioceses in particular, though you serve about 260,000 Catholics in a five county region.

So what are you hearing from all of those people?

That's a large area.

What have you heard throughout this pandemic from your parishioners and also through from your priests in that area?

Yes.

Well, as you could imagine, just as in the global picture of the pandemic, there were a variety of opinions and some times strong opinions about how to address the pandemic, at least from our point of view.

And so, you know, we've had some constructive criticism that we were able to implement.

We've had some great words of support, but also great words of thanks and gratitude that our churches, while there was no mass, we're still open for private prayer, that we are gradually reopening and that we did so as soon as it was medically advised that we could do it.

And now finally, as we start to get into perhaps a fuller capacity, I've been hearing some some many good things, of course, just as in society, there is always the issue of mass and that's always a delicate balance between obviously someone's privacy and the common good.

And so we've tried to navigate so cooperative with wearing their mask in church and now hopefully those who still would would need to wear a mask because of being non non vaccinated, that they would cooperate with that as well.

So but you're right, Brittany, it is certainly a whole spectrum of response and opinion from people.

And again, it mirrors what we see in society to I wanted to ask you about the schools throughout the pandemic.

Many of the Catholic schools have been in person five days a week.

I personally a handful of families who switched their kids to Catholic school because they wanted them in person learning five days a week.

Have you seen an uptick in Catholic schools of enrollment from kids during this pandemic?

Yes, we have 19 of our schools had waiting lists as a result of the parents trying to have their children physically present in school.

Some some schools, of course, did not fare as well.

And you know, last year and this year we will lose a school or two because of the effects of the pandemic, the economic effects of the pandemic.

But overall, the idea of us being able to offer either a option in really all of our schools was was very beneficial to our families.

And I just would take a moment to thank our teachers for the beautiful way that they even courageously came to school every day and were very interested in the kids.

You know, we even had a situation where one of the children, they were doing virtual learning and the parent had a medical emergency during the lesson and the teacher was able to keep the student calm and get a parent help.

At the same time, it was a really a life threatening situation.

And so it just goes to show a little anecdote of the great job that our teachers did.

And I'm so grateful to them.

And I think our parents have expressed that over and over again that they were grateful for that.

And our schools were very good about all the protocols, the six feet distance, the masking, the sanitization.

And I'm glad we were able to offer that to our community.

Absolutely.

They definitely were heroes throughout this pandemic.

And every day.

Bishop Alfred Schaler from the diocese of Allentown, thank you so much for joining us today.

Thank you, Reading.

And we want to thank our guests for being here.

We want to thank you for joining us for Community Update.

Coronavirus will be here at 4:00pm each Monday, Wednesday and Friday on PBS39 and on the radio nine 30 the same night on WLVT News will be back Wednesday at our Friday at four to talk about what the easing of Covid restrictions have done for the health educators at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

We'll talk to them on Friday.

If you have a question, you can leave it at our website, PBS39.org.

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39 and WLVT hour news.

I'm Brittany