“Let’s hope 2021 isn’t anything like 2020,” said Les McCoy, president and CEO of DesignPoint Inc. based in Bethlehem. “Let’s put an asterisk next to it and write it off.”

The number of Americans applying for unemployment dropped last week, slipping below 1 million for the first time since the economic shutdown sparked by the coronavirus pandemic began in the spring.

Stephen Tang, president and CEO of Orasure, told Lehigh Valley Business the company expects to add 177 employees to the payroll, largely in manufacturing, quality control and regulatory affairs.

Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Officers are starting to issue more violations in their COVID-19 safety checks of businesses with liquor licenses in the state.

The U.S. added 1.8 million jobs in July as payroll growth slowed amid a split-screen economy that had employers stepping up hiring in parts of the country that continued to let businesses reopen.

OraSure Technologies of Bethlehem said it expects to launch its COVID-19 rapid antigen in-home self-test by the fourth quarter of this year.

After a late opening because of the COVID-19 shutdown, Dorney Park will also be closing down earlier than normal. In a statement on its website, the park said it will close for the season on Labor Day, Sept. 7.

A coalition of 59 industry trade groups are calling on the commonwealth’s Congressional delegation to pass safe harbor liability protections against “unwarranted lawsuits” resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic for businesses that comply with health and safety guidelines.

Two Eastern Pennsylvania medical equipment suppliers have been charged with price gouging for selling N95 face masks for more than $25 each.

With people still eating at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Weis Markets is reporting that dramatically higher sales are ongoing.