Butler County Commissioners say the county will be entering the “green” phase of Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan next Friday, June 5.
At a press conference, the commissioners also revealed a plan that they believe will outline the best and safest way for the county to return to life prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Commissioner Leslie Osche said ultimately the plan is guided by a two-pronged approach.
“We have two very key objectives. First and foremost was to protect our healthcare system and most vulnerable residents in our congregate care settings now and into the future,” Osche said. “And second was to ensure this type of business closure and dramatic disruption to people’s lives can never happen in the manor in which it was done.”
The plan calls for a significant increase in testing capacity. The goal, as listed in the plan, is “to enhance the Butler Health System laboratory capability, along with having it identified as a reference lab for the PA Department of Health.”
The plan says this will allow Butler County to provide testing county-wide and to other counties in the region.
The current number of tests would also have to increase substantially to meet the plan’s goal. According to the document, the goal is to test at least 20% of long-term care residents and healthcare professionals, as well as 20% of school district employees and contractors; along with 2% of the county’s population.
According to the plan, this works out to be in between 3,000 to 5,000 tests that are needed on a weekly basis. Currently, Butler Health System has access to only 280 test kits per week.
The estimated equipment upgrades would also cost just over $400,000.
The county also expects to take the lead on community outreach and outbreak prevention. The document doesn’t refer to this as contact tracing, but does specify the need for the county to assist the state’s Department of Health in “following cases of COVID-19; notification of exposure; monitoring voluntary self-quarantines.”
The document also points out that this would be done in the “least invasive and most voluntary manner.”
The community outreach program would be staffed by healthcare professionals and utilize the Center for Community Resources as a hub for information and referrals.
Osche also said another goal of this plan is making sure students can be in school come the fall.
“Our school districts are clear that they want to get their kids back to the classrooms in the fall and we want to make sure they are never without the equipment they need,” Osche said.
As for the second part of this approach, Commissioner Kevin Boozel said it’s important that a plan be in place so a shutdown like this won’t ever happen again.
“My fear out of all of this, if we don’t learn from this and if we don’t change the way we do business– and I think this is the other commissioners concern too– then we could end up right back to where we were,” Boozel said. “And we don’t ever want to be there again.”
All three commissioners during the press conference, praised Butler County residents for their resilience and support during this time.
“We are appreciative to our constituents for their ongoing patience during this crisis,” Commissioner Kim Geyer said. “We also thank everyone who helped develop this thoughtful and strategic plan that will instill a level of public confidence and provide hope to Butler County as we return to work, school, and our daily lives.”
