As a Westmoreland County resident, I was not surprised by the article “Commissioners dash calls for Westmoreland health department, trumpet broadband upgrade” (Feb. 18 , TribLIVE). More than 11 months into a pandemic, Westmoreland lacks a countywide plan for testing, contact tracing and vaccine distribution. And with no health department, the commissioners’ inability to hold virtual public meetings during a pandemic is unacceptable.
Our county covid task force has not met since May, and the commissioners have backpedaled on establishing a county vaccine registry, even knowing there is public demand. School boards, churches and volunteer groups across the county have adapted to covid restrictions with virtual meetings to facilitate public participation. Such participation is simply not a priority for our hands-off county commissioners, who have shown us time and time again their lack of leadership during this crisis.
Commissioners, I implore you to reestablish the covid task force and commit to virtual public meetings. Commissioners Sean Kertes, Gina Cerilli and Doug Chew will never replace a county health department, but they can stop passing the buck and start addressing the public health needs of Westmoreland County residents once and for all.
Sarah Skidmore
Greensburg