Greensburg to ratify coronavirus state of emergency already in effect

Greensburg council will meet Friday to make the city’s coronavirus emergency declaration official.

Mayor Robert Bell declared a state of emergency last week, but council is required by law to vote to ratify the declaration.

Bell said Friday’s 10 a.m. meeting is expected to be brief. The emergency declaration is the only item on the agenda.

Declaring a state of emergency gives municipalities shortcuts to help deal with a crisis, Bell said. For example, in normal times the city would have to go through a lengthy bidding process before buying protective equipment. During an emergency, if the equipment is to be used to fight the pandemic, it can be purchased immediately.

The declaration also gives the city a chance of recouping some of the money spent fighting the pandemic from the federal government.

There were 24 confirmed cases of covid-19 in Westmoreland County as of Thursday.

Greensburg last week closed all municipal facilities, including city hall and public parks, to slow the spread of the disease.