COVID-19

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is the largest public health pandemic in a century. As of October 2020, over 180,000 Pennsylvanians have become infected with COVID-19, and the virus has killed over 8,500 Pennsylvania residents.

The people at highest risk of severe COVID-19 include people with cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart conditions, immunocompromised state (weakened immune system), obesity, sickle cell disease, smoking, and type 2 diabetes.

Local Health Department Responsibilities

Local health departments play a key role in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and reducing death and disability from COVID-19. Key public health responsibilities include:

  • Contact tracing and case investigation

  • Technical assistance for nursing home and other high-risk settings

  • Infection prevention and control

  • Facilitation of testing

  • Surveillance, data analysis, and public reporting of trusted information

  • Community mitigation and evidence-based support for re-opening

  • Coordination and management of health care surge needs

  • Planning for vaccination deployment

To keep Pennsylvania’s economies and societies functioning, local health departments are key leaders. They work with hospitals, schools, employers, transit agencies, airports, state and federal governments, and the health care system.

Local health departments provide trusted, science-based evidence to elected officials and the public to guide decision-making. They coordinate systems, identify and work to reduce disparities, and work across agencies and jurisdictions to protect the health of their communities.

Policy Priorities

  • The state and federal government must provide the necessary resources, data, coordination, and policies to enable local health departments to meet their local communities’ needs in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • The state and federal government must make decisions based on science and informed by data.