Centre County commissioners, COG issue declarations of disaster emergency for coronavirus
Though there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Centre County, local governing bodies have issued declarations of disaster emergency as the virus continues to spread across Pennsylvania.
The board of commissioners and the Centre Region Council of Governments executed the declarations, which allow access to state and federal resources that will help streamline the procurement of supplies, hiring of workers and take additional steps to address COVID-19.
The board of commissioners signed the declaration on Saturday “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a press release from County Adminstrator Margaret Gray.
On Friday, COG Chairman Elliot Abrams executed the declaration of disaster emergency to allow municipalities and COG to purchase supplies and materials.
COG will meet on Monday at 12:15 p.m. to ratify the declaration.
“There are still many operational questions to consider and answer,” CRCOG Executive Director James Steff wrote in an email. “I want to assure you that the COG senior management team is working together to respond to this constantly changing situation.”
The total number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Pennsylvania as of Saturday afternoon is 47, according to the state Department of Health. Most cases have been reported in the eastern part of the state.
