No COVID-19 cases, but county declares disaster
Although the results of approximately 80 COVID-19 tests on county residents were still undetermined as of Wednesday afternoon, the county commissioners declared a disaster emergency under the advisement of the county's emergency services director.
Several county officials joined the commissioners at a news conference on Wednesday at the county government center.
“Like our neighboring counties and those across Pennsylvania and the nation, we continue to monitor and respond to the COVID-19 emergency and are taking steps to slow the spread of the virus in the interest of protecting the health care infrastructure from a surge of cases here in our county and in the Southwest Pennsylvania region,” said Leslie Osche, chairwoman of the board of commissioners.
Steve Bicehouse, county director of emergency services, said there were 96 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania as of Wednesday, but none so far in Butler County. Late afternoon Wednesday, state officials announced the first death in Pennsylvania attributed to COVID-19 occurred in Northampton County, and noted the state's official confirmed number of cases had risen to 133.
“This (disaster declaration) is to ensure the county is in lockstep with federal, state and county partners to keep our citizens aware, prepared and informed,” Bicehouse said, adding the county has had a pandemic plan in place since 2007 and began meeting with schools and health care systems more than two weeks ago.
Bicehouse said 911 dispatchers are following a protocol that includes additional questions for callers who complain of symptoms consistent with those of COVID-19, like a dry cough, fever or difficulty breathing.
He has met with emergency responders to assess their needs for protection gear and is meeting daily with health care partners and the state emergency management agency.
Ambulance caregivers will wear specific masks and gloves to protect themselves from the virus during calls, and firefighters can wear the respirators from their turnout gear to avoid the virus, Bicehouse said.
While ambulance companies have some of the masks, the emergency services department is trying to procure more for them.
“That's our job, to get those resources into their hands,” Bicehouse said.
Dr. David Rottinghaus, chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs at the Butler Health System, asked that all county residents continue to spread the message of hand-washing for 20 seconds, social distancing and other means to stem the spread of the virus.“We have been tracking it for several weeks, and we are planning for a substantial burden of illness in our community,” Rottinghaus said.He said it takes about five days to receive COVID-19 test results.Health system officials are aggressively pursuing ways to improve access to testing in the county.“We will make every attempt to be able to test people as quickly as possible,” Rottinghaus said.Like the county, Rottinghaus said health system officials have also been working to procure all the additional equipment they can in the face of potential COVID-19 cases.While Butler Health System will not be developing its own test, officials continue to search for vendors as better testing technology becomes available, Rottinghaus said.“This is a challenge nationwide,” Rottinghaus said. “It's not just us.”He said doctors attempt to determine whether a patient with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 have a different virus, infection or other illness before testing them for COVID-19.“The challenge is not knowing who may have this,” Rottinghaus said.He said Butler County's rural nature may mean fewer cases than counties with dense populations, and that the coming days will determine how severe the virus' impact will be here.“I think we'll know in the next couple weeks,” Rottinghaus said. “The most important thing is how much this is spread throughout the community.”While he admitted socially isolating oneself may seem extreme, it is the only tool everyone can use in battling a virus like COVID-19.Judge William Shaffer, administrative judge in the Court of Common Pleas, read an order of the court that restricts access to the courthouse, county government center and courtrooms to those who have direct business there.Attorneys, litigants, victims, witnesses, those filing papers or making monetary payments and media are among those who will be able to access the government center and courthouse.Shaffer also announced that everyone entering the county government building will be screened by county sheriff's deputies for symptoms of COVID-19. Those without direct business with the courts as well as anyone who fails a screening will not be granted access to the government center or its facilities.All county parks and recreation programs have been canceled, and Prothonotary Kelly Ferrari will accept documents via email and fax.Bicehouse and Osche advised residents to check the county's website butlercountypa.gov for updates on the COVID-19 situation.
