Hours after Gov. Tom Wolf Friday morning announced two presumed cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania - including one in Delaware County - and enacted a state of emergency, county officials gathered to brief the public about what they know and reassure residents.
But there is one thing they did not do.
They did not reveal where the town where the woman lives.
The woman is believed to have traveled to a conference out of state, where she was exposed to the COVID-19 virus, and fell ill on her return to Delaware County.
State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-166 of Haverford, confirmed that the woman is believed to have traveled to Boston. She was treated at Crozer Chester Medical Center and is now being quarantined at home.
But where that home is is not being revealed.
County officials indicated they were acting on the recommendations of the state Health Department and federal health officials.
County officials noted the woman was not infected by another person from Delaware County. They have been taking steps for a possible outbreak for weeks, including a lot of new gear, including face masks, for first responders.
They are not recommending people alter their daily activities or avoid large gatherings. No schools in Delaware County have yet been affected. They are limiting visitation to the county nursing home, Fair Acres, to essential visitors.
But two state senators - one from each party by the way - are not happy that officials have declined to release the town where the county's first coronavirus victim lives. State Sens. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown, and Tim Kearney, D-26 of Swarthmore, fired off a letter to state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine urging the state to divulge the residence of the victim.
"The coronavirus diagnosis of a Delaware County resident is concerning enough," Killion said. “The lack of more information, specifically the home municipality, regarding the individual diagnosed only magnifies the concern. Are we talking about someone from Radnor, a resident of Glen Mills or somewhere in between? In the absence of facts, speculation and conjecture will always fill the void. Releasing the home municipality of the affected individual will limit that speculation and the fear it fosters.”
Here is the full text of the letter to Dr. Levine:
"On behalf of our constituents in Delaware County, we write to you today to call for the utmost transparency in
the face of a looming public health risk, the novel Coronavirus. There are many families looking at national
headlines today announcing the first presumptive case in Delaware County who are trying to understand the
appropriate course of action.
"Specifically, we are calling on the Pennsylvania Department of Health to release the municipality in which the
affected individual resides. Because Delaware County lacks its own health department, this information is
being withheld from our professional and effective county emergency services personnel. This information
serves the interest of public safety and transparency without substantially infringing on this individual’s right
to privacy.
"This information will enable families all over our region to calmly make responsible, informed decisions and
will serve to combat the rising levels of uncertainty. Those we represent deserve to hear as much information
as possible regarding this emerging public health crisis. We stand ready and willing to support the
Department of Health in responding to the situation in Delaware County."
Comments