Rural Pa. counties face different challenges as virus spreads
Few, if any, hospitals are located within several rural Pennsylvania counties. And no urgent care facilities.
Sure, physicians and doctors are available, but the lack of emergency medical facilities in a tiny county like Pike — along the borders of New York and New Jersey in northeastern Pennsylvania — presents larger hurdles during times like these, when positive cases of illness caused by a novel coronavirus are on the rise and testing kits are even low for more populous territories.
“We have less resources, so we have to get creative,” Pike County Commissioner Matthew Osterberg said. “Larger counties have to be creative in different ways due to their sheer population.”
“Monroe County has a large hospital, and we’re close to all of these larger areas, but in a crisis like this, we have little medical services here,” Mr. Osterberg said. “We have one doctor named Lisa Patek who has set up a testing facility at Dingmans Medical Center. She’s a practicing physician in Pike County and recently stepped up to provide these services. We’ve gotten her protective gear through their emergency management coordinator, and anything else she needs.
“Part of the issue is there is even less testing going on in rural areas,” he added. “We’re thankful for people like Dr. Patek, who can set up for testing here.”
Like Pike, many of the 67 counties across Pennsylvania have declared disasters, including some
without confirmed cases of COVID-19, as most follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by encouraging residents to practice social distancing and self-isolation. The coronavirus has killed thousands worldwide, with more cases popping up daily as more testing sites become available.
Big counties like Allegheny — with over 1 million in population and its own health department — are struggling to ensure that there are enough resources for health professionals, residents and business owners. Many businesses are uncertain they will recover from Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandate that nonessential businesses be closed.
Mr. Wolf on Wednesday asked the federal government for disaster relief to help the state’s small businesses cope with the COVID19 crisis. The governor requested the federal Small Business Administration declare Pennsylvania a disaster area so that businesses and nonprofits could become eligible for loans of up to $2 million apiece with long-term repayment plans.
In Crawford County, 100 miles north of Pittsburgh, Commissioner Eric Henry said that although his county has no cases right now, officials there have implemented a COVID-19 task force to help with obtaining resources, but they mainly rely on the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for help. The county has also declared a disaster to prepare in advance.
“Declaring disaster despite not having any cases allows counties to handle paperwork and contracts without going through meetings related to the disaster itself,” Mr. Henry said.
“We’ve also created line items in our budgets, things like disinfectant and cleaning supplies . ... Our resources are limited because we have to take care of own county. Other counties just can’t help us now because they have their own situation to deal with.”
Crawford has two separate Meadville Medical Center campuses, about 25 miles apart.
“I think the biggest need is N-95 masks for paramedics, doctors, entry line workers, and people having direct contact with infected patients,” Mr. Henry said.
In all counties, especially smaller ones, the economic hit of losing businesses is a huge concern.
With roughly 55,000 in population and no central health department, Pike typically relies on small “mom-and-pop” operations as the backbone of the community and the state health department for guidance. Woodloch Springs resort, one of the biggest employers for Pike, has about 1,200 people on its payroll. The business is now closed, with the majority of the staff laid off due to coronavirus concerns, Mr. Osterberg said.
“The owner laid off the entire staff, but he continues to pay them,” Mr. Osterberg said. “That’s how generous a man he is.”
“What’s stressful here is, I look out my window and I’m looking into New York and New Jersey, right on the other side of the state,” he said. “We are only 75 miles from New York City and other major metropolitan areas where there is a large outbreak of cases.”
The Milford Public Safety Committee recently set up the Milford Covid Relief Fund at Greater Pike Community Foundation. Donations are tax-deductible and are used to support relief efforts for residents and businesses harmed by the pandemic. The borough’s Public Safety Committee is expected to direct disbursement of raised funds.