Westmoreland commissioners extend courthouse restrictions

Most services at the Westmoreland County Courthouse will continue to operate by appointment as coronavirus cases continue to surge.

County commissioners announced Monday that modified operations, originally set to expire earlier today, will remain in place indefinitely.

“The cases aren’t slowing down,” said Commissioner Gina Cerilli. She returned to the Greensburg courthouse Monday following several weeks in quarantine after contracting the virus last month.

Commissioners announced Dec. 14 that row offices and other county operations would restrict general access amid the growing number of coronavirus cases throughout the region and infections among county employees. County offices will remain open and fully staffed but public business will continue only by pre-arranged appointments.

Drop boxes have been placed at the front entrance at the courthouse general documents to be filed at the Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills offices.

Commissioners on Monday morning conducted two brief public meetings and several dozen members of the public attended a previously scheduled sheriff’s sale of properties in a large public meeting room.

No date has been set for the modified courthouse operations to be lifted.

The revised restrictions will not impact the county courts, where daily hearings are expected to continue as scheduled.

Court officials last month postponed all jury trials until February and judges were advised to conduct hearings remotely when possible.

State health officials reported Monday that 359 new coronavirus were reported over the last two days in Westmoreland County. Since March, the county more than 20,000 cases have been diagnosed in the county.