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COVID In Pennsylvania: Officials Send First Coronavirus-Related Emergency Alert To Residents

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania residents, did you receive an alert about COVID-19 on your cell phone on Wednesday? The message warned Pennsylvanians that rates of the virus are rising and urged people to stay home and to take the necessary precautions.

The Wolf administration sent out the first message using the Wireless Emergency Alert on Wednesday. Officials plan to use the alert system and target specific regions of the state for future messages.

PA emergency alert
Credit: CBS3

If one region of the state is experiencing a high surge in COVID-19 cases, cellphone users in the region may receive an alert with information about staying at home or where to find an available COVID-19 testing site in their area.

"WEA is one more way to reach as many Pennsylvanians as we can to provide timely information on COVID-19," Governor Tom Wolf said. "This tool is another tool in our toolkit to fight the pandemic and unite against COVID."

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