Smart Talk Thursday: COVID questions answered

• Scott LaMar
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  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Elise Amendola / AP Photo

Nurse Tanya Markos administers a coronavirus test on patient Ricardo Sojuel at a mobile COVID-19 testing unit, Thursday, July 2, 2020, in Lawrence, Mass.

It has been almost six months since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the U.S. Since that day at the end of February, more than five million people have tested positive for the virus with 162,000 dying from it. In Pennsylvania, more than 121,000 have contracted the virus and 7,400 have died.

We have learned much COVID-19 over the past six months about symptoms, how the virus is spread, who is at risk and the role of face masks. However, many people still have questions about the virus, how to avoid exposure, what to do if you experience symptoms and the return of children to school.

Dr. John Goldman is an infectious disease specialist with UPMC Pinnacle and he joins us on Thursday’s Smart Talk to answer questions about COVID-19 and stopping the spread.

Dr. Goldman has been on Smart Talk previously to answer questions about the virus. His appearance Thursday will be a good indicator of how much has changed and that has been learned about the coronavirus.