The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners voted to terminate the local emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic at a board meeting Tuesday. Effective May 11th.
Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez spoke at the meeting, “[In] our lifetime, we’ve had other pandemics actually, with H1N1, but not at this level. Involving so much and for such a magnitude of time… I think it’s just critical that our community members know that we’re here, and your commitment to continuing to support them.”
While the emergency declaration is over, there are many resources related to COVID-19 that will not change. Lopez said the Health Department will continue to work with health care providers, pharmacy’s, and local groups to ensure vaccine availability. As well as continue to provide PPE (personal protective equipment, such as masks). Nurses will continue to be staffed to answer questions over phone line about COVID-19.
Some changes to the Health Department website will occur. The COVID-19 community risk dial will go away, but Lopez assured that the risk dial could come back if their were an outbreak or circumstance that would necessitate so. Statistics on waste water particle surveillance, current case count, vaccination rates, and reported deaths would remain available.
County Board members voted unanimously to end the declaration. District 3 representative Matt Schulte, “Many people in the community would say the ending of this declaration is long over due, but lets get it done.”
District 5 representative Rick Vest, “I’m glad that its ending, I’m glad that we’ve come through it, and its done.”
Board members took time to thank Director Lopez for her service and leadership throughout the pandemic.