Times Observer art by Dave Ferry A Sheffield Volunteer firetruck from a May, 2019 file photo. A disaster declaration was recommended by the county’s Emergency Management Agency as an option that grant’s the county more time, tools and personnel to reduce the impact of the Coronavirus.

The Warren County Commissioners have declared a “state of disaster emergency” in Warren County in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The commissioners indicate in a Tuesday evening statement that the declaration was delayed relative to similar declarations at the state and federal level “as there have not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Warren County”

While most recent Department of Health data indicates that there remain no active cases in Warren County, the commissioners explained that they “want the constituents of Warren County to know that we are taking the threat of coronavirus seriously and have taken and are taking appropriate precautions.”

This, however, does not mean that county government is shutting down.

“As of right now, the courthouse is remaining open,” Cecile Stelter, public information officer for the county’s Joint Information Center, said.

She did note that access may be limited and people “have have to prove” they are coming to the courthouse to conduct county business.

“There may be some limitation to entering the courthouse but as of this evening (Tuesday) the courthouse is still going to be open and operating.”

According to a statement from the county, the declaration invokes “section 7501 of the emergency management services code as a part of our overall efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19.”

The disaster declaration was recommended by the county’s Emergency Management Agency and an option that “gives us more time, tools and personnel to reduce the impact of the virus….”

Per the commissioners, the decision is “largely being done for administrative reasons.” It vests “more authority in our Director of Public Safety to draw down state and federal resources and staff the Emergency Operations Center.

The Emergency Operations Center “will be the single, county-wide resource to coordinate our response, having representatives from law enforcement, transportation, emergency medical service, the hospital, business and industry and many more.

“It also allows us to acquire equipment and personnel quickly, without going through bidding processes, as it relates to COVID-19,” the commissioners said.

As state and federal officials have maintained – a state of emergency “is not a state of panic. We are prepared. The county has developed plans, updated those plans and we train for situations just like this.”