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Lycoming County commissioners no sooner renewed the county's Declaration of Disaster Emergency before launching into a discussion about the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The declaration allows the county to apply for emergency funding connected to the coronavirus for another 90 days.
Commissioner Rick Mirabito reminded the public that COVID-19 is a serious issue and that the county continues to see a rise in coronavirus cases, including at a local nursing care and rehabilitation facility.
He pointed to Pennsylvania College of Technology where there have been 56 cases, including 16 presently.
Mirabito said it was also his understanding that Muncy Place, a UPMC care facility, had experienced a recent surge in coronavirus cases.
UPMC spokesman Tyler Wagner said there have been two deaths of residents there from COVID-19.
"Additionally, we have 20 Muncy Place residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. Fifteen of these residents are currently asymptomatic and these cases were detected through our proactive universal testing program, which has allowed us to take action quickly. We also tested all employees who work at the facility and we have confirmed 14 employees have tested positive -- 11 are currently self-isolating appropriately while three have recovered and are safely back at work."
Wagner said UPMC is following CDC guidelines and working with public health authorities to identify and contact individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
"To protect our residents and staff, we have implemented best infection control practices, including quarantining residents and providing the correct masks, protective clothing and equipment for employees," he said.
With regard to the deaths, he termed it a sad time for the UPMC community.
"We don't want to become complacent," Mirabito said. "The prediction is we will have 400,000 deaths (nationwide) by December. We need to be mindful of wearing masks."
Commissioner Scott Metzger noted that well under 1 percent of people under the age of 70 who contract COVID-19 end up dying from the infection.
He called for students to return to schools full-time where they belong.
Mirabito noted that other nations have done a better job than the U.S. of keeping down COVID-19 numbers.
"We need to put the importance of the community above the individual," he said. "We will keep plugging away. We will keep our spirits up."