Resources for Life During a Pandemic

Symptoms of Coronavirus

Johns Hopkins Medicine COVID-19 Information

FOR MEDICAL ISSUES call your physician or call 9-1-1.

MAINTAIN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Dr. Kevin Caputo,  Crozer-Keystone’s top psychiatrist and behavioral health officer, addressed struggles with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or feelings of hopelessness and isolation, and took questions on a Facebook live-stream interview. 

TESTING

Both Penn Medicine and Main Line Health have begun drive-though "swabbing" for COVID-19.  Note this service is not the actual testing for the virus.  The tests themselves occur at a lab.  Penn's drive-through services are in West Philadelphia and Radnor. Main Line's centers are in Newtown Square and Radnor. Patients must be referred by their doctors.  Read this article for more detailed information. 

FACE MASKS

Wearing a face mask is recommended by the CDC and the Governor of Pennsylvania. Information on how to make face masks for yourself and for others.

SOCIAL ISOLATION

An article by Ezra Klein of VOX on the problem of isolation during social distancing.

Sign Up for Your COVID-19 Vaccination

Most of our membership is now included in Phase 1A (realizing that our members fit into additional categories as well). All who are in groups in Phases 1A, 1B, and 1C are encouraged to go online and sign up for a vaccination appointment. Delaware County is administering vaccinations in multiple locations and at a wide selection of times. The priorities for distribution of vaccines are established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Commonwealth.

Click here to see a list of vaccination sites. 

Sign Up by Phone

If you know someone who does not have a computer, the Chester/Delaware County scheduling phone line is 610-883-5410, open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They are making appointments for all people in Phase 1A. This phone number is reserved for those who DO NOT have access to a computer.

1. Call as early as you can. 
2. Plan your call early because you may be dropped if still on hold past 4:00 p.m.
3. Important: The hold music will cut out periodically before a "please hold..." message. Do not hang up. The poor quality of the hold music and random long pauses are nerve-wracking but you have not been disconnected so Hang On!
4. You will need to have your insurance card ready.

Sign Up Elsewhere for a Vaccination

In addition to the above, all who are in Phases 1A, 1B, or 1C should sign up at a site you can find that vaccination appointments available:

Find A Shot: Click here for Find-a-Shot 

Pennsylvania Department of Aging help line: Link to Aging and Disability Help Line.  Toll-free help line: 1-800-753-8827.

Crozer-Chester Hospital: Click here for the sign-up form at the bottom of the web page. 

Penn Medicine: Click here for the Penn Medicine COVID-19 Vaccine Interest Form. 

Other Delaware County Vaccination Sites:  Click here for links to other sites in the county.

Additional Resources on Vaccination Sites in the western suburbs of Philadelphia: Click here for a list of additional sites in our area.  This resource comes from the PA CoVID Vaccine Match Maker Facebook page.

Other Sites: Click here for links to other sites around the state. 

Vaccine Match Maker

A Facebook Group called **PA Covid Vaccine Matchmakers** is connecting people who are able to spend time searching all of the various places where vaccines are available, working one-on-one with people to find them vaccine appointments. A physician is helping to match the most needed cases. On the Facebook page is a sign-up for those seeking vaccinations. As soon as possible you will be matched with a volunteer vaccine finder. Click here to go to the Facebook page.

Beyond Vaccination

Even as distribution ramps up, the prospect of vaccination may remain weeks or months away for some people, and even widespread vaccination will not eliminate the threat of the pandemic for long after that. Commonplace precautions that reduce the spread of COVID-19 are known as the three W's:

* Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

* Watch your distance, staying 6 feet apart from those who do not live in your household.

* Wear a mask. (Keep in mind that wearing a mask is not a substitute for social distancing in public.)

What other groups are doing during this pandemic.

CONGREGATIONS

Those which have suspended their regular worship services:

Trinity Episcopal Church  Worship services are suspended. The homilies are available for download. Also, drive-through Communition is offered on Sundays from 10:00 to 11:00 am, in the church's circular drive. 

Congregation Ohev Shalom  Shabbat services are suspended. Contact  exec@ohev.net for access to Saturday morning services through Zoom or Facebook.

Swarthmore Presbyterian Church  Worship services are suspended and Sunday worship is live-streamed on the church's website.

Swarthmore United Methodist Church  Worship services are suspended. Sunday worship is recorded and available for download.

St. John Chrysostom Catholic Church  All masses are cancelled and the Archbishop has given all the faithful dispensation from attending mass.

Swarthmore Friends Meeting continues to meet, and also offers an online option.

We are awaiting information on the Wesley A.M.E. Church schedule. 

OPINION

Letter from Toronto: An Infectious Diseases Specialist Reflects on COVID-19 

If you need groceries, pharmaceuticals, a phone call, or other errands, call 484-437-8272.

NETHER-SWARTHMORE TIMEBANK

Volunteers are ready to go shopping for you, pick up prescriptions or other needs from the pharmacy, or do other errands. It costs nothing to join the TimeBank, and you need not worry that you are joining just to get services--that's what the TimeBank is all about! Join the TimeBank here, or call Stephanie McDonough at 484-437-8272 for more information. If you or someone you know is not adept at using a computer, we have a way to help you without doing it online.

Volunteers are needed to go shopping, pick up prescriptions or other needs from the pharmacy, or do other errands. Join the TimeBank here, or call Stephanie McDonough at 484-437-8272 for more information. You can volunteer to help a person not adept at using a computer, allowing them to call you on the phone for their needs. If you know of young people who might be interested in helping out, this is a safe way to contrinbute to the community.

GROCERIES

Here is what we know about the grocery merchants in the area: their hours, policies, and whether or not they deliver.

VOTING

Here are some resources on how to vote by mail.

TAKE-OUT FOOD FROM RESTAURANTS

Here is what we know about restaurants in the area and their take-out options.