Bucks Co. Offices Now Appointment-Only Due To Coronavirus

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Bucks County officials on Monday said government offices will be open to the public by appointment only for the rest of the year, as coronavirus case numbers in the county continue to rise.

Much of the county's workforce also has been ordered to work from home whenever possible, county officials announced. The changes went into effect immediately on Monday.

The shutdown measures are similar to those enacted by Bucks County in the spring, during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. They will remain in effect through Jan. 4, Chief Operating Officer Margaret McKevitt said in an email to county row officers, division leaders and department heads.

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The changes come amid a COVID-19 surge that has hit much of the United States hard and which health officials were predicting could get even worse after the Thanksgiving holiday. Bucks County had not released figures for last week as of Monday morning, but the previous week saw a record 2,074 new cases in the county.

County officials confirmed Monday that the office closures are in response "to escalating COVID-19 outbreaks, hospitalizations and deaths here and throughout the nation."

In an email Sunday night, Diane Ellis-Marseglia, chairwoman of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners, had asked that county business be conducted "with very minimal staff and by appointment."

"As you well know, government cannot truly shut down, but we can manage to meet the need with Zoom, email, texting, etc.," Marseglia wrote, "And, when it is impossible to be virtual, please remember it is mandatory for all staff to wear face coverings and maintain social distances."

Monday's order does not include court employees or operations, which are being carried out under emergency orders from the county's president judge.

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County buildings will be open by appointment from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment with a county office, residents may call 215-348-6000 to be directed to the appropriate department.

To find contact information for a specific department or to learn the latest available COVID-19 information, you may visit the Bucks County website. Officials Monday encouraged residents to use the site to make payments and conduct other business.