Health & Fitness
Bucks Co. 'Rapidly' Moving To Yellow, Wolf Tells Commissioners
Bucks Co. is rapidly moving toward the "yellow" phase of reopening. More information is expected within the next week, officials said.
BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Bucks County is rapidly moving toward the “yellow" phase of reopening and more information from the governor's office is expected within the next week, officials said Wednesday.
The Bucks County Commissioners released that information in a statement at the end of the business day Wednesday — the timeframe officials had requested the governor's office respond following a weekend meeting.
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"We remain optimistic that Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine may reconsider their reopening metrics, as has been the request of many counties. We look forward to continued, close, and frequent communication from Governor Wolf, Secretary Levine and their staffs, so we can learn from each other and move as quickly and safely as possible to reopening our economy and returning to some level of normality," the Commissioners' statement said.
County officials and representatives from the Wolf administration had a meeting over the weekend, during which local officials asked that Bucks County be moved to "yellow" before the current stay-at-home order expires June 4.
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The Commissioners made it clear Wednesday "we never stated an intention to defy Governor Wolf’s stay-at-home order."
Several Pennsylvania counties that remain under stay-at-home orders have announced their intentions to independently reopen regardless of the governor's plan.
Commissioner Diane Marseglia said in the statement she "believes she has a commitment to be able to reach out to the Governor’s office more effectively from here on in."
Gov. Wolf has agreed to having a staff designee join daily regional calls with neighboring southeast Pennsylvania counties, the Commissioners said.
Marseglia said she's advocated for regular — preferably daily — communication between Bucks County Health Department Director David Damsker and the state Department of Health’s epidemiology staff.
All of Pennsylvania's non-essential businesses were closed March 19 by governor's order. So far, 24 counties have been moved to the "yellow" phase of mitigation measures, while 13 more will do so this Friday.
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