Disaster emergency declared amid COVID surge
Berks County officials have reinstated the local disaster emergency declaration so they can respond quickly to obtain supplies and make decisions during the ongoing surge of COVID cases.
In making the announcement Thursday, officials explained the declaration allows county departments and agencies to change standard operational processes, and expedite obtaining resources and making emergency decisions.
Chief Administrative Officer Ronald Seaman said in the release that the declaration is not a cause for alarm. He said it is a legal mechanism so the county can mobilize quickly in response to the sudden increase of COVID cases and its impact on health care and the delivery of critical public safety and other government services.
The county initially declared a disaster emergency on March 12, 2020. It remained in effect until June 28.
Officials noted a pandemic high of 651 cases were reported in Berks on Wednesday. Reporting from the state Thursday pushed that number to 666 cases in Berks.
“This spike is straining key sectors throughout the community, including crucial Berks County departments that have already been affected by the pandemic and expect to experience even greater stresses as the need for services grows and available staff becomes limited due to illness or quarantine,” the release says.
During the declaration, Brian Gottschall, the county’s emergency management coordinator, and Seaman will coordinate the county’s response and work with state and federal authorities, officials said.
The order also reinstates the county’s COVID leadership council, which is made up of the commissioners; the human resources and solicitor’s offices; Seaman; and Gottschall. The council advises on the county’s response to the pandemic.