It’s inarguable that April felt like one of the longest months in human history. But there may be a dim light at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel that’s been the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled a plan that would reopen the commonwealth in phases. The target goal for reopening has been set at having fewer than 50 new confirmed cases per 100,000 population reported in the previous 14 days. Additionally, golf courses and marinas were permitted to reopen on Friday, May 1, as long as staff and guests practice social distancing.
As coronavirus cases in Bucks County continue to climb (there were 2,907 positive cases and 198 deaths when The Times went to print), the Bucks County Commissioners hosted a virtual conference to discuss Wolf’s plan and what it means for the county.
“We have to be very, very careful about what we’re opening up. I think the worst thing that can happen is, we start opening up our businesses and everything else too soon, and this virus comes back and we’re forced to go back to the very beginning,” said Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo. “I would love to see Bucks County have the flexibility to do what’s best for the residents of Bucks County. I would not like to see us lumped together with Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.”
Health Director Dr. David Damsker shared DiGirolamo’s sentiment, though he predicts most of southeastern Pennsylvania will begin to reopen simultaneously.
“You may have one county that’s a little less or a little more than the others, but I think overall, you’re going to start seeing the trend come down for the entire area,” he said. “But I definitely agree that if we hit the plateau first, and the other counties are pretty close, I would like to be able to move forward in Bucks County if possible.”
The entire state is currently in the “red” phase, which enforces strict social distancing, non-life-sustaining business and school closures and building safety protocols. As regions/counties move into the “yellow” phase, some restrictions on work and social interaction will ease, while others, such as closures of schools, gyms and other indoor recreation centers as well as limitations around large gatherings, remain in place. The purpose of this phase is to begin to power back up the economy while keeping an eye on public health data to ensure the spread of the disease remains contained.
According to Damsker, the biggest hurdle Bucks County must face before entering the “yellow” phase is the spread of COVID-19 among staff and residents of long-term care and nursing home facilities. More than half of the county’s cases come from these 50 locations, rather than community spread in the general public.
“We’re working with all of them to try and mitigate this as much as possible, to give them the best advice we can, and of course, to minimize the mortality of any of the residents. Each single case, there’s a family involved and it’s a lot to go through. We talk about 123 deaths – that’s 123 families that are all in mourning and grief,” Damsker said. “Once we get through this situation at the nursing homes, if the community spread is also down, then we’ll be in much better shape.”
He stressed that, in addition to lower numbers at nursing homes, Bucks County can only enter the “yellow” phase if residents continue to practice social distancing. With warmer weather on the horizon, young people are urged to avoid public pools and playing street sports with friends.
“If they decided to go out and do something, it should be with their immediate family that they’re already being exposed to,” Damsker said. “If you have two siblings and they play soccer together in the backyard or in the street, that’s OK.”
When the economy begins to reopen, Damsker warned that a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases is likely, but it shouldn’t be a cause for concern.
“We’re going to see a small bump anytime we relax the restrictions,” he explained. “That said, we’re relaxing the restrictions with everything different than what we did two months ago. We’re going to be wearing masks, social distancing, and making sure that all businesses comply with the guidelines to make sure customers and employees are safe. I think we’ll see a small bump, yes, but it’ll be a controlled bump because of all the things we’re putting into place.”
Damsker added that this expected rise in cases shouldn’t be as significant as the current spread in nursing homes.
“There’s a difference between people working in a business and taking care of people that need full care, whether it’s toileting or feeding. It’s very personal space that you’re getting into,” he said. “In most businesses, you’re not doing that, obviously, and you’re able to maintain the appropriate distancing.”
While Bucks County is working to secure mass COVID-19 testing capabilities, Damsker said there are enough tests for individuals who are exhibiting symptoms or were exposed.
The commissioners and Emergency Services Director Scott T. Forster called on businesses and individuals to donate personal protective equipment (especially disposable surgical gowns) to healthcare workers. According to Commissioner Bob Harvie, it’s not unusual for hospitals to go through 1,500 gowns per day.
Non-perishable food items are also badly needed for locals who are out of work during the pandemic. The Bucks County Opportunity Council, along with volunteer organizations and school districts, provides 10,000 meals a day. Visit bcoc.org/ for details.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
