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WHEREAS, a novel coronavirus (now known as “COVID-19”) emerged in Wuhan, China, began infecting
humans in December 2019, and has since spread to 89 countries, including the United States; and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”)
have declared COVID-19 a “Pandemic,” and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(“HHS”) Secretary has declared that COVID-19 creates a public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, the County of Lancaster (“County”) has been working in collaboration with the PEMA, DOH,
and local health agencies to monitor and plan for the containment and subsequent mitigation of
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, this pandemic is endangering the health, safety and welfare of a substantial number of persons
residing in the County of Lancaster, and threatens to create problems potentially greater in scope than
the County and Municipalities may be able to resolve on their own; and
WHEREAS, this threat of imminent pandemic throughout the
County is of such magnitude and severity as to render essential the County’s coordination of
emergency resources and mutual aid to the county and municipal
governments of this County and to require the activation of all applicable state, county, and municipal
emergency response plans.
WHEREAS, this threat of imminent pandemic has the potential to cause significant adverse impacts upon the
population throughout the County; and
WHEREAS, emergency management measures are required to reduce the severity of this pandemic and to
protect the health, safety and welfare of affected residents in the County of Lancaster;
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF LANCASTER COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA pursuant to the provisions of Section 7501 of the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Services Code, (35 PA C.S., Section 7501), as amended, do hereby declare the existence
of a disaster emergency as a result of this pandemic in the County of Lancaster;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we direct the Lancaster County Emergency Management Coordinator or
his designee to coordinate the activities of the emergency response, to take all appropriate action
needed to alleviate the effects of this pandemic, to aid in the continuation and restoration of essential
public services as necessary, and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to
respond to this emergency.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we authorize officials of Lancaster County to act as necessary to meet
the current exigencies of this emergency, namely: by the employment of temporary workers, by the
rental of equipment, by the purchase of supplies and materials, and by entering into such contracts and
agreements for the performance of public work as may be required to meet the emergency, all without
regard to those time-consuming procedures and formalities normally prescribed by law, mandatory
constitutional requirements excepted.
This Declaration shall take effect immediately and continue until rescinded by the Board of Commissioners.
Board of Commissioners of
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
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