By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Chester County Commissioners Chair Marian Moskowitz details the county’s emergency plans in wake of the COVAD-19 pandemic.
WEST CHESTER — In light of the emerging COVAD-19 crisis, state and county officials are moving quickly to ensure social distancing and put both the state and Chester County on an emergency footing, closing schools, severely limiting the operation of non-essential county government and advising residents to stay home.
County officials, during a press conference Friday afternoon, also announced the county’s first documented case of COVAD-19 (known more commonly as Coronavirus). County health officials identified the first patient as a 57-year-old woman, who is doing well and quarantined. She is thought to have had contact with an infected person from another state. Health officials are currently tracing her recent contacts and contacting those people.
Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf closed all state schools for the next two weeks.
“We understand that these are trying times and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities,” Wolf said in a statement Friday. “First and foremost, my top priority as governor – and that of our education leaders – must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities.
“As such, I am ordering that all schools in the commonwealth close for the next two weeks.”
Local school districts will not be penalized for failing to have 180 school days, the state Department of Education will work with local Intermediate Units to support continuity of learning plans. Also, eligible schools will be allowed to continue serving meals to low-income students via either drive-thru or grab and go.
On the county level, only essential services, such as 911, the County Prison, the Pocopson Home and Youth Center will remain at full operation and staffing. No visitors will be permitted at the prison, while visitors to The Pocopson Home will be screened for COVAD-19 symptoms. Similarly, visitors to the Youth Center will be screened.
The county’s parks and trails are closed, as are the Chester County Library in Exton and the Hankin Library.
Most county employees will be working from home for at least the next two weeks.
County Commissioners are asking residents to stay home — avoid movie theaters, gyms and retail stores — and only go out for activities such as shopping for food. In that case, people are advised to observe social distancing, keeping at least six feet away from other people.
The status of all of these moves will be reevaluated depending on the national and local status of the ongoing pandemic.
Mike, you are doing your best in a global crisis. These people have nothing better to do then complain. Keep updating us and thank you for your service.
Thank God, an article where the writer/editor somehow manages to insert his political views!!! Like we care!!! We have our own minds!! Apparently writers ONLY take up this “profession” to let everyone know what THEY think..a couple facts, usually incorrect and misspelled, are but a lead-in to their real motive which is letting you know what they think!!! Go look for some self adulation elsewhere. We are in the middle of a pandemic, but your politics always have to remain front-and-center right? Pathetic attention seeker/s…..
It is literally a list of things that happened with no commentary. And yes, there were typos — we can’t afford copy editors because the business model got blown up by Google/Facebook. It is an industry-wide problem and we’ll do our best to improve. But if you are claiming that simple reporting on what has happened in some sort of political statement, I’d suggest you need to reevaluate your world view. This is a real crisis.
Looks like your the attention seeker ha!
Please enlist a proofreader. The fact that you cannot spell the name of the virus correctly negates the entire article.
Unfortunately, due to revenue issues, we cannot afford copy editors. The error was inadvertent — and corrected immediately on all four of our of other sites. I was working rapidly to put out as much information as possible — so we apologize for the typo.