Susquehanna County was among 12 counties announced by Gov. Tom Wolf last week that will move to the Yellow Phase of reopening, starting Friday, May 22. Neighboring Wayne and Wyoming counties were also included in the announcement.
The announcement came just days after the county commissioners were joined by state legislators for a press conference calling on the governor to consider allowing for Susquehanna County to begin the process of reopening.
“Through our social distancing efforts, we have not only reversed a trajectory of exponential new case growth – we have cut it in half,” Gov. Wolf said. “And some of the counties that will be shifting into the yellow phase next week eliminated concerns that we had just two weeks ago. So please, keep up your efforts in the fight so we can continue to add counties to the list of those in the yellow phase. Thank you again for your patience and your hard work,” Gov. Tom Wolf said Friday. He said counties announced to move to the yellow phase this Friday have eliminate questions the state had two weeks ago.
Following the announcement, all three commissioners posted videos on their social media pages thanking residents and asking for people to continue to adhere to Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines in order to thwart any potential outbreak.
Commissioner Elizabeth Arnold called the announcement “great news.”
“I ask that everyone continue to keep doing the outstanding job you have been doing,” Arnold said.
The sentiment was echoed in the message from Commissioner Alan Hall. “It’s fantastic news,” he said. “We’ve all been working real hard. We appreciate all the sacrifices and hard work.”
Hall also said he wanted to county to get to the “green phase” as fast as possible and urged continue observance of CDC guidelines.
Commissioner Judy Herschel spoke about what the yellow phase entails for residents. “As we move into yellow, some of the state’s restrictions on work and social interaction will ease, the stay at home order will be lifted while the closures of schools, gyms, another indoor recreation centers, hair and nail salons continue to remain closed. Large gatherings of 25 of more people are prohibited, with no exceptions. All Entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) remain closed while restaurants and bars will continue to be limited to carry-out and delivery only. All businesses with in-person operations must follow business and building safety orders, CDC guidelines and DOH guidance for social distancing and cleaning,” she said.
Sen. Lisa Baker offered, “For the people of Wayne, Wyoming, and Susquehanna counties, this announcement brings a much-needed measure of relief and provides cautious optimism on the prospects for beginning recovery. It is also a testament to the strong advocacy of local officials and community leaders who demonstrated why this approach is warranted.”
As of the Monday, April 11, press conference, there were no reported new cases of COVID-19 in Susquehanna County for 14 days. Later in the week, data from the state reflected one new case.
Sen. Gene Yaw said on a social media post that: “Moving Susquehanna County to the ‘yellow phase’ is a good step. The data has clearly indicated that for some time. The longer we delay, the more families and area businesses move closer to financial uncertainty.”
Baker said, “As the weeks have passed, more people have been reporting the stress and economic strain they are experiencing. As merchants reopen and individuals return to jobs, this should ease the pressure on community groups and local governments providing assistance, enabling the help to be concentrated on those who may not have the opportunity to work or open until these counties move into green.
“This is a constructive start, and we hope it signals the turning of a corner. We will be looking to the governor and the health secretary to work diligently with the leadership of the other counties in our region to find a pathway to move into yellow.”
Rep. Jonathan Fritz offered that the announcement “gives our area hope as they are now one step closer to economic freedom.”
He also said, “This is great news as now our businesses can begin their recovery journey and start to open their doors and safely serve our communities once again while following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.”
Baker applauded the efforts of health care workers, first responders, service providers and support personnel. “Residents complying with the common sense restrictions adopted also contributed to the improved circumstances,” she said.
“Regrettably, meeting the state statistical standards does not mean we are free from new cases and additional deaths in every area,” Baker said. “So we must maintain our vigilance and ensure that precautions are taken and sufficient protective materials are available to prevent any resurgence.
“As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our healthcare workers and our first responders. I am proud of the work that Pennsylvanians have done so far, but we cannot stop now, we must continue to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from COVID-19.”
As of Monday, Susquehanna County had a total of 85 positive cases of Covid-19, and 519 negative test results; and 15 deaths
The Forest City zip code still registers the highest number of cases 54 positive, 63 negative, and 1-4 probable cases.
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