County Commissioners Address Coronavirus

LOCK HAVEN – The Clinton County Commissioners held their first “virtual” work session Monday morning and said there are two testing sites in the county for coronavirus, but members of the public must get a notice from their doctor in order to be tested.

Board chairman Miles Kessinger said tests are conducted at Geisinger Avis and UPMC Lock Haven Hospital, but those tested have to be pre-screened by their doctor.

Kessinger noted that Clinton County is presently an “island,” that all surrounding counties have confirmed cases of the virus, and Clinton has none. But he said cases in Clinton County are “going to happen and could already be here.” He urged county residents, “Don’t walk around like you don’t have the virus; walk around like you have it,” joining his fellow commissioners in telling the public to continue to follow nationally-announced safeguards to minimize the virus spread.

Commissioner Angela Harding provided an update on the recent formation of a county leadership coalition on coronavirus, stating the organization is remaining pro-active and working together on the topic. Commissioner Jeff Snyder thanked the community for its adherence to suggested spread-prevention norms and said, “We’ll get through this together.”

Bill Frantz, the county’s Emergency Management Coordinator, said his office is looking at the “influx” of out-of-county residents into their camps or second homes inside Clinton County. He said information is being gathered to forward to the state. Nationally, residents from areas with relatively few cases of coronavirus have expressed concern about such an influx from “hot spot” areas where the rate of the virus is much higher.

The Monday meeting was done from the commissioners’ meeting room in the Piper Building and streamed on the county Facebook page. Members of the public had the opportunity to phone in questions.

The next board voting session will be held Thursday, April 2 at 10 a.m., again closed to the public but streamed online.