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Mail-in voting applications adding up in Luzerne County

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Don’t postpone pediatrician visits during pandemic, state health secretary says

A suggestion to exempt zip codes with more coronavirus cases to get Luzerne County into the less restrictive yellow zone faster wouldn&rsquo;t be accepted by the state, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a briefing Thursday.
				&ldquo;There are no plans to get beyond the county level in terms of granularity. We have no plans to go to the zip code level or anything like that. We&rsquo;re going to continue at the county level,&rdquo; Levine said.
				County Councilwoman LeeAnn McDermott had proposed the zip code idea during this week&rsquo;s council meeting for inclusion in a pitch the county is preparing urging Gov. Tom Wolf to accelerate the county&rsquo;s move from red to yellow. McDermott, who agreed to compile a draft proposal as chair of the county coronavirus task force private industry committee, said she worries it will take too long for the county to get to yellow under a state formula assessing cases countywide.
				Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat said he would oppose any attempt to put his city on a different, later reopening schedule. County Councilwoman Linda McClosky Houck also said she would be against putting the city &ldquo;in its own corner&rdquo; and that council members must represent all residents.
				Levine said her office and the governor&rsquo;s department of intergovernmental affairs are willing to respond to any counties with concerns about when or how they will move from red to yellow.
				At this point, a stay-at-home order remains in effect for Luzerne and 29 other counties in the most restrictive red phase through June 4. Wolf is expected to announce more counties advancing to the yellow stage today.
				Levine has said her department is reviewing multiple metrics, models and types of data to determine recommendations on moving to yellow, with the governor making the final decision.
				&ldquo;We want to collaborate with counties in terms of doing that,&rdquo; Levine said Thursday.
				Tuesday&rsquo;s council discussion about a reopening proposal concluded with uncertainty about what county approval would be required before the final document is sent to the state.
				County Chief Solicitor Romilda Crocamo said Thursday a council majority must publicly vote to approve the plan because it is a formal request from both council and county Manager C. David Pedri asking the governor to move the county from red to yellow.
				Council Chairman Tim McGinley said Thursday he concurs with the solicitor and will schedule a special voting meeting next week, with the date depending on completion of the proposed document.
				&ldquo;If it&rsquo;s a formal document or letter, council should vote,&rdquo; McGinley said.
				Outspoken about the struggles of closed businesses, McDermott has said time is of the essence. Council&rsquo;s next regular meeting is not until May 26.
				McClosky Houck and Councilman Walter Griffith sent emails Thursday arguing that a council vote was necessary, saying such a communication to the governor should come from the elected officials, or council.
				&rdquo;We are the ones who determine policy and answer to the residents of the county as elected officials,&rdquo; McClosky Houck wrote.
				In the yellow phase, some, but not all, businesses may reopen with safety protocols for social distancing and cleaning. Restaurants and bars are still limited to carry-out and delivery, and indoor fitness centers, spas, hair salons, casinos and theaters must remain closed. Large gatherings of more than 25 would be prohibited, and telework must continue where feasible.

Luzerne County can’t be evaluated by zip code for coronavirus reopening, state says