March 10, 2020
Franklin County Prepares for Coronavirus
The health and welfare of Franklin County residents and employees is the County’s primary concern. Because of this, Franklin County is prepared to support the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH), Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PADHS), and local governments in the response, recovery, and mitigation efforts to combat a virulent disease outbreak such as COVID-19.
In early March, the Franklin County Department of Emergency Services (DES) encouraged all municipal governments and external emergency services partners to review and update their pandemic/outbreak response plans to ensure that all county partners are as prepared as possible for a potential COVID-19 outbreak to reach Franklin County.
In the event of a large scale event, Franklin County DES works to coordinate provisions and resources, and implements a local preparedness plan in alignment with statewide plans. DES acts as a local coordinating entity for county-wide response; communication and outreach with federal, state and local partners; as well as information sharing with residents.
At this time, Franklin County is reminding residents to follow recommendations from the PADOH and local healthcare providers:
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (say the Pledge of Allegiance twice or sing “Happy Birthday” twice).
- Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
- Clean surfaces frequently, such as countertops, light switches, cell phones and other frequently touched areas.
- Stay home if you are sick.
For the most current information on the COVID-19 virus status, please refer to the following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website link: https://www.cdc.gov/
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