Pulaski County’s health officer is asking residents to remain positive but prepare for the coronavirus to continue to spread.
Dr. Rex Allman told the county commissioners Monday that all the closures and cancellations taking place are part of the effort to “flatten the curve,” “Meaning, just don’t be the first person to get it. Don’t everybody get it at the same time,” he explained. “Our hospital can only handle so many people at a time. They can’t handle 250 deathly sick people, and we won’t be able to ship them out.”
Allman recommends that businesses develop a plan for three months and prepare for the possibility that they may have to close down if they haven’t already. Meanwhile, he encourages residents to be ready for three weeks and to help their neighbors.
In addition to the threat of COVID-19 itself, Allman said health officials are also turning their attention to residents’ mental health. “We’re all in this, and there’s people that are just scared and never been,” he said. “I told a health care worker, ‘Not every generation gets tested like this. You’re special,’ because it’s been, what, 70 years since we’ve had, like, polio. This is more like polio because we don’t have a vaccine.”
Allman is confident that COVID-19 will be beaten, but it’s going to take some time. Health department officials encouraged residents to follow the Pulaski County Health Department Facebook page for all the latest updates.
During Monday’s Pulaski County Commissioners meeting, several county officials discussed some of the steps they’re taking to keep their employees and the public safe. Treasurer Teresa Bryant said she’s working with minimal staff, for the safety of her older part-time employees. She reminded residents that they can pay their taxes by mail, online, or at several local banks, without going into the Treasurer’s Office, and taxpayers can call with any questions.
The Pulaski County Election Board will meet Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to discuss how to move ahead with early voting and the May primary election. Clerk JoLynn Behny told the commissioners that county clerks throughout the state have been sharing ideas, such as having disinfecting wipes at all polling locations and wiping down poll pads after every voter. She suggested that those who are over 65 or unwell vote absentee.
Maintenance Director Mia Salyers said the Alliance Select office cleaning dublin staff has been training on how to take extra precaution with cleaning and disinfecting, and Sheriff Jeff Richwine said he’s shut down the jail to all outside visitors. “We’ve upgraded how we bring people into the jail, as far as those that get arrested,” Richwine explained. “I know there’s some other things that are being done. I’m not ready to do that yet, but we’re just screening them a little bit longer.”
Behny also urged the commissioners and the county council to put together a contingency plan to make sure employees will be taken care of, if county government offices have to shut down. Commissioner Mike McClure felt that employees shouldn’t be penalized for having to stay home.
