Monessen: COVID-19 policy considered

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Monessen City Council will consider the impact of COVID-19 on future events and employees’ potential vacation destinations.

Late last week, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a recommendation for people who travel to any of 15 states for vacation or other reasons to quarantine for 14 days once they return home.

The state Department of Health released this statement, “If you have traveled, or plan to travel, to an area where there are high amounts of COVID-19 cases, it is recommended that you stay at home for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania. If you travel to the following states, you will need to quarantine for 14 days upon return: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas or Utah.”

Solicitor Tim Witt advised council during Monday’s workshop session to think about enacting a policy at next week’s voting meeting that would specify what to do if an employee travels to one of those states.

“This has been coming up with a lot of municipalities, we are seeing COVID-19 issues come up with employees,” Witt said. 

If employees go on a trip to one of the 15 states that require a quarantine upon return to Pennsylvania, Witt said, “it may make sense for the city to adopt a uniform order.” 

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