Radnor Twp. Resolution Encourages Wearing Masks

RADNOR TOWNSHIP — Radnor Township commissioners acted Monday night in agreement with CDC advice, urging residents to wear face masks.

The Radnor Township Board of Commissioners in a 3-2 vote passed a resolution Monday evening "encouraging all citizens to wear face masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19."

Resolution #2020-92, issued Aug. 10, follows the recommendation of the national Center for Disease Control (CDC), updated in July. The CDC's updated statement said evidence showed wearing masks does prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The resolution stated, "COVID-19 cases in Delaware County and Pennsylvania have been steadily increasing from mid June. As of August 2nd, 2020 there have been 8,770 confirmed cases in Delaware County with 730 deaths. There have been more than 117,000 confirmed cases in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with 7,720 deaths." It further stated as a reason for issuing the resolution, "There is no known cure or vaccine for COVID-19."

Commissioners Richard E. Booker and Jake Abel voted against the resolution. Abel said that while he and his family do wear masks in public, that passing a non-binding resolution "with no teeth" amounts to a "political stunt."

"Wearing a mask is the right thing to do, especially when going into a crowded area," Abel said. But he added, "It's inconsistent of the board to pass this resolution while not calling attention to large events with crowds of more than 250 people. I voted against it because I see it as just political."

In addition to the commissioners' official encouragement of mask-wearing, Radnor Township also will hold a special Public Health Town Hall on Aug. 20, a virtual meeting that will update residents on a plans for a Delaware County public health department.

In 2019, Delaware County hired Johns Hopkins to conduct a study of the public health needs and services in Delaware County. Those results were recently finalized and will be presented during the Town Hall.

The Foundation for Delaware County and Delaware County Council will host a virtual Public Health Town Hall at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the free event. The township announced the virtual town hall will include a panel discussion, followed by Q&A session with residents.

The panel will be moderated by Sandra Clark, Vice President of news at WHYY. Hosts and Presenters include Frances Sheehan, President of The Foundation for Delaware County;
Dr. Monica Taylor, Vice Chair of Delaware County Council; Beth Resnick, Assistant Dean for Public Health Practice, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Rosemarie Halt, Health Policy Consultant for Delaware County; and Grace Gorenflo, MPH, RN, Principal of Gorenflo Consulting, Inc., who is assisting with the creation of Delaware County’s Health Department.

Topics for discussions include:

• The results of a year-long public health study of Delaware County conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Delaware County\
• Plans and a timeline for the establishment of Delaware County’s new public health department

Members of the public are encouraged to register for the event online and submit questions ahead of time via the registration link, here.