{"id":45233,"date":"2020-03-13T08:15:18","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T12:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=45233"},"modified":"2020-03-13T08:18:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T12:18:01","slug":"six-police-officers-may-have-been-exposed-to-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=45233","title":{"rendered":"Six police officers may have been exposed to Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Chester County Commissioners and County Health officials announced Thursday the possible exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) of a small number of county-based law enforcement officials who were responding to an incident in West Chester on Sunday, March 8, 2020.<\/p>\n

Four West Goshen Police Officers and two Chester County Sheriff K-9 Deputies had direct contact with a K-9 Officer from Lower Providence Township who now has a presumed positive case of coronavirus. \u00a0The direct exposure of the law enforcement individuals occurred during the Arbour Square bomb threat incident on Sunday.<\/p>\n

All six Chester County-based officers have been quarantined and none of them have displayed any symptoms of coronavirus. <\/p>\n

Chester County Health Department Director Jeanne Casner said, \u201cStaff in the Health Department are now undertaking a standard contact tracing investigation on all six individuals, but there is minimal risk to anyone who has come into contact with them because they are not showing any symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

West Goshen Police Chief Joe Gleason commented, \u201cWe are working closely with the Chester County Health Department and Department of Emergency Services regarding this incident and appreciate the clear advice given regarding the four officers. \u00a0We are following the Health Department\u2019s recommendations for law enforcement regarding personal contacts, keeping safe distances, and no direct physical contact if possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chester County Commissioners\u2019 Chair Marian Moskowitz said, \u201cThe Chester County Health Department has prepared for situations such as this, and staff in the department have taken measures \u2013 alongside the state Department of Health, adjoining county health departments and our Department of Emergency Services \u2013 to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe department has provided, and continues to provide comprehensive, yet easy to understand information on everything coronavirus, through direct contact with schools, businesses, community and faith-based groups, as well as accurate information for all our residents. \u00a0The Health Department remains a trusted source of information for everyone in the County, and we thank Director Casner and her staff who have been working around the clock for weeks now, to ensure the information is accurate and timely.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are doing everything possible to keep Chester County healthy during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chester County currently has no presumed positive or confirmed cases of coronavirus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe message to all residents remains the same, and cannot be stressed enough. \u00a0If you experience any flu-like symptoms, please call your doctor as soon as possible and follow treatment instructions,\u201d said Jeanne Casner, Director of the Chester County Health Department.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaily preventative actions \u2013 washing hands, covering a cough or sneeze with your sleeve or elbow, staying home when you are sick and disinfecting objects and surfaces frequently \u2013 can \u00a0help stop the spread of this and other respiratory viruses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Specifically, the Health Department advises:<\/p>\n