Talkwilliamsport.com posed several questions to Governor and Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine on Friday afternoon in regard to the metrics used to determine counties moving from Red to Yellow to Green.
Regarding Lycoming County moving from Yellow to Green, Department of Health Press Secretary Nate Wardle provided the following:
“As the Governor mentioned, the Wolf Administration is looking for decreasing rates of new cases over a 7-day period, a decreasing percent positivity rate over a 14-day period, and any outbreaks in the county being managed through contact tracing in order to move a county from yellow to green.
Counties that can show progress in these areas are prepared to move to the green phase.
We will continue to assess the data being provided, the latest information on the coronavirus as we look to determine what the next phase looks like, and whether it would require any type of mitigation efforts.”
Friday, the Department of Health reported Lycoming County added new cases and remained at 162 since the inception of the coronavirus pandemic and 16 reported deaths.
Lycoming County Coroner Charles Kiessling has confirmed 20 deaths attributed to COVID-19 all occurring in nursing home patients and all having comorbid conditions.
On Thursday, as exclusively reported by Talkwilliamsport.com, the Lycoming County Commissioners had a conference call with officials from the Department of Health outlining their case to move from Yellow to Green.
On Friday afternoon, Governor Wolf announced Lycoming County along with 15 other counties will move to the Green phase on June 5.
Lycoming County Commissioner Scott Metzger provided exclusive reaction to Talkwilliamsport.com on the Governor moving the county to the Green phase next weekend. “We have been working diligently on behalf of the citizens of Lycoming County. We are very pleased that the Governor has heard us and we will moving into the green phase effective June 5th. We will continue to be responsible as we move towards the no phase period. Thank you to the citizens of Lycoming County. Continue to be safe and God bless you.”
News Talk WMPT and talkwilliamsport.com continues to keep Lycoming County residents informed during the coronavirus pandemic.
