The Chester County Health Department has extended a helping hand to neighboring Delaware County – which does not have a health department – to aid its residents in finding safety from the ravages of the coronavirus, writes Maria Panaritis for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“When my team was asked – ‘Can we and should we?’ – it was all hands up, saying this is the right thing to do,” said Chester County Health Department Director Jeanne Casner.

Being stretched over two counties had kept the entire department extremely busy for weeks, but now that the situations have somewhat settled down, team members can at least get weekends off.

In addition to Casner, the roll call of diligent helpers includes:

• Rachael Hernandez, program coordinator
• Renee Cassidy, public health physician
• Alexandria Tavoni, communicable disease specialist
• Heather DeStefano, from the county Department of Emergency Services
• Dave Sekkes, digital mapping analyst also from DES
• Kelly Raum, environmental health specialist
• Eric Misthal, public health emergency preparedness planner
• Michele Steiner, personal program supervisor
• Suzy Curtis, public health emergency preparedness coordinator
• Gianna Megaro, disease investigation specialist
• Bill Boyer, disease investigation specialist
• Mike Baysinger, director of health services
• Stephanie Steiner, public health planner
• Meghan Smith, health planning and promotion coordinator

Only six of the state’s 67 counties have health departments: Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Erie, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.

Read more in The Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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