CHAMBERSBURG–Franklin County Commissioners Wednesday passed a resolution urging residents to be vigilant in their COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
To date, there are 5,664 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 152 deaths attributed to the virus out of a population of 154,835 county residents.
Countywide to date, there are 1,436 cases in the Chambersburg 17201 zip code; 1,183 in Chambersburg 17202; 383 in Fayetteville 17222; 1,017 in Waynesboro 17268; 632 in Greencastsle 17225; 800 cases in Shippensburg 17257; and 109 in McConnellsburg 17233 zip code.
“Franklin County Government is closely monitoring the COVID-19 public health threat,” said Commissioner Dave Keller. “We are working with our local healthcare systems and Department of Emergency Services, among others, to make sure that we as a community are as safe as possible.”
In light of significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Franklin County and across the Commonwealth, commissioners are urging residents to exercise caution and to do all they can to slow the transmission of this virus.
“We must stay vigilant. Local hospitalizations are surging and facilities are nearing their maximum capacities,” Keller said. “Predictive modeling estimates another month before COVID-19 positive cases peak in our county in mid-January.”
In WellSpan hospitals, one out of every two patients is COVID-19 positive, according to reports.
“It is up to each of us to take the necessary steps to ease the burden of our doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and all those on the frontlines working for the health of our communities,” Keller said.
Common-sense precautions include:
- Wear a mask appropriately.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.
- Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet when around others and avoid large crowds.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces regularly.
- Stay home if you are sick or have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher.
- If you show any COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and call your physician’s office for further direction.
In addition, policy changes to county business include:
- Employees and public visitors must now complete, and pass, a COVID-symptoms screening as well as a temperature check in addition to the security screening (where applicable) in order to gain access into facilities.
- Face masks must be worn by employees in all county facilities, irrespective of physical distance unless “working alone” which is defined as “when a person is isolated from interaction with other people with little or no expectation of in-person interruption.”
- Travel restrictions for employee professional travel are expanded in conjunction with Pennsylvania Department of Health recommendations.
- We request that residents use virtual communications whenever possible to limit in-person interactions during this time.
