Bucks Co. Commissioners Answer Coronavirus Questions

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The three members of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners took to the internet on Monday, answering residents' questions at a virtual town hall meeting on the coronavirus outbreak.

During the session on Facebook Live, commissioners Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Bob Harvie and Gene DiGirolamo addressed questions ranging from when non-essential businesses might re-open to whether it's OK to just go out for a drive during the shutdown.

Here's a sampling of the questions they received and the answers they provided (questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity:

Q: Is it OK to take a drive just to get out of the house during the state stay-at-home order?

"An occasional drive is fine," said Marseglia, the board's chairwoman. "It's good sometimes to get out, especially if you're staying in your vehicle."

Q: What addiction services are available during the shutdown?

The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission can be reached at 215-444-2700.

"You can call that number whether you have insurance or don't have insurance or can afford to pay or cannot afford to pay," DiGirolamo said. "They will help you and find a place for you or your loved ones to get into treatment."

Q: Is it OK to cross state lines if bringing food to a relative or otherwise checking on someone?

"The real answer for that is that COVID-19 is pretty even between southeast Pennsyvania and New Jersey," Marseglia said. "We would encourage you to stay home or stay six feet away from the people who come over."

Q: With Bucks County recording its highest one-day increase in the number of coronavirus cases on Friday, why did commissioners decide to open county parks on Monday?

Commissioners noted that the big increase in cases recorded Friday was due to getting a lot of lab results at the same time. They said the decision to open parks took into account the larger trends and that amenities, including bathrooms, concessions and the like, will remain closed.

"We felt some comfort with the idea that people could be outside, as they already are ... (but) it's the reason we decided not to open the amenities — because, with amenities, you would have people clustering," Harvie said.

Park rangers are going to be on site in their vehicles, enforcing social distancing, said DiGirolamo.

"There will be no picnics. There will be no gatherings," he said. "People will not be getting together. They will be allowed to do passive recreation."

Q: Any word on when non-essential businesses in Bucks County may be allowed to re-open?

Harvie has been part of discussions with officials in the five-county Philadelphia region about a plan for opening up the economy. He said the ability to do more coronavirus testing will be crucial to that decision.

"We don't have enough of the tests, but we do want to start planning for once we do have that," Harvie said. "That planning has started and is going to be ongoing. There is a framework of a plan to begin opening up businesses."

Harvie said the plan likely will involve businesses where there is little to no contact between employees and members of the public opening first. The ones that can't do that likely will be the last to re-open, he said.

"If people are looking for a solid date for when businesses can re-open, we don't have that," he said.

Q: Will Pennsylvania's stay-at-home order be extended beyond April 30?

"This is a governor's order we're under right now, (so) it's a better question for the governor," Marseglia said. "If people are taking the mask order seriously, I think there's a possibility May will be a month we'll see things open up."

Q: Have there been any developments on getting antibody tests that can tell whether someone already has had the coronavirus?

"My understanding is that, over the past few days, the Department of Health has received some antibody tests," DiGirolamo said. "They don't have an unlimited supply, but they do have some."

Most of the ones the county has will be used on hospital and nursing home employees, he said.

Q: What has been the demand for food assistance during the coronavirus outbreak?

It has increased dramatically. Marseglia said the county was helping about 100 families with food needs at the beginning of the outbreak and, this week, assisted more than 1,100 families.

The nonprofit Bucks County Opportunity Council has been helping families in need, commissioners said. Anyone wishing to donate to them may do so online or via text at Give2-BCOC to 77948.

Q: Why does the state mandate for masks not require them to meet federal standards?

"OSHA and those standards, that's a standard for businesses ... it's not a standard for people going into a food store," Marseglia said. "The whole idea with masks is that if you're someone who's carrying it, you won't give it to someone else. It might protect you. It might not. But it could stop you from spreading it."

Q: Any updates on Pennsylvania elections?

The presidential primary originally scheduled for next week has been postponed to June 2. Commissioners are encouraging residents who wish to do so to take advantage of mail-in and absentee ballots.

Q: How has the coronavirus impacted county property tax due dates?

In Bucks County, there remains a two-percent discount for home owners who file by April 30. The date to pay county taxes without penalty has been pushed back from July 1 to July 30. After July 30, there will be a 10-percent penalty. Those are the dates as of now, but they could change again depending on how things play out, Harvie said.