Lehigh Valley leaders, emergency management organizations and medical professionals converged on Friday the 13th at Northampton County’s EMS Center, located at the Gracedale campus, to discuss a regional approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting was led by Thomas McGroarty, a public health preparedness coordinator with Pennsylvania’s Department of Health. Ironically, one suggestion was to limit in-person meetings precisely like the one being conducted.

That was just the first of several meetings. Another was via conference call with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, and included both Lehigh and Northampton county executives Phillips Armstrong and Lamont McClure. There was at least a third meeting in which county leaders discussed best practices.

In both counties, the jails and nursing homes are closed to visitors. Lehigh County canceled a hazardous waste pick-up, and Northampton County scratched the ongoing demonstrations of voting machines. Northampton County also closed its senior centers, although meals will still be served.

Armstrong called on residents to exercise common sense. “You don’t need to fill up your college son’s room with spare toilet paper,” he said in reaction to a bizarre rush on toilet paper, of all things, at area supermarkets.

Armstrong has also decided to close the Lehigh County Government Center to all except those with government IDs. The courthouse is unaffected by this decision.

Northampton County Executive McClure said he will decide on a closure after a meeting with his cabinet. “No matter what we do, my intention will be to keep our government functioning,” he said.

Anyone seeking advice or instruction should use the state Department of Health and CDC websites which are regularly updated. Any member of the public who wants to report a concern, or get up-to-date information, is encouraged to use the 1-877-PA-HEALTH line which is available 24 hours a day.