Message From Radnor Township Health Officer, Marie Carbonara

Press release from the Township of Radnor:

March 24, 2020

Dear Radnor Residents,

"This has been a challenging time for those of us in Radnor Township and across the globe. I know, in my lifetime, this has been the single greatest challenge for our community. At this difficult time, we are reaching out to you for the safety and health of our residents. On a daily basis Township personnel have been (virtually) meeting to determine the best, most effective ways to keep our residents safe. We base all our decisions on the information presented by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the CDC, our leading experts.

Many of us are hearing the term “social distancing” for the first time. Social distancing, or physical distancing, is a set of nonpharmaceutical infection control actions intended to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease. Our experts are learning everyday about this novel strain of coronavirus which gives us very little option for treatment or action to slow the spread in our communities. The CDC and Department of Health are focusing on these nonpharmaceutical actions. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to come together and take a cohesive approach to the mitigation process. It is a crucial time. The Department of Health truly believes if we work together now, we can slow the spread of this virus, in addition to protecting our public health and our healthcare system.

At this restrictive time, we empathize with our families, our children, our pets and all our business owners and we want to remind you all that we are IN THIS TOGETHER. This is temporary. And with that, we are asking you, from grandparents to the youngest residents, to avoid all areas that people have the potential to gather and congregate. This, no doubt, is a big ask. It will require us to get creative with activities for ourselves and our children.

Exercise and open air can be extremely beneficial for all in the general day to day and especially during stressful times. Take an opportunity to walk a different route in your neighborhood. Wave to your neighbors as you walk by. Sit on our porch and smile and shout hello to those jogging, riding a bike or taking a walk. Our Recreation Department has listed an incredible array of activities that we can all do to stay healthy in our homes or in our yards. They worked tirelessly to put the list together to benefit our community. Please visit them on our Township website,Facebook, and Instagram.

Engaging in outdoor activities near our homes or in our yards will allow us all to maintain social distancing. As of today, it’s the most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19. We are strong and we can do this together. We can support our community by doing our part. And if we do our part, each one of us, we can get through this most challenging of times and obtain our goal of slowing the spread of this novel virus.

The staff at Radnor Township and Radnor Police Department is in this with you. We support you and are here for you. We are working hard to keep you safe and healthy. Many of us too, are at home, working at our dining room tables, coordinating our children’s online learning, checking on our elderly neighbors, and fitting in our exercise routines in our basements, front yards or close to home. We will continue to work towards our goal going forward. As things change, which they often do, we will continue to keep you updated on the best practices to promote health and safety."

In health,
Marie Carbonara, RN
Radnor Township Health Officer

RADNOR TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: Public Health policy remains an important priority of the Board of Commissioners and the community. To this end the Board of Health was established at the very beginning of the 1st Class Township status. The board now consists of 9 members of the community either following careers or having a strong interest in matters of public health. The board meets monthly, except for July and August, and the Township Health Officer reports to them on his activities and acts as a liaison between the board and the Township Administration.

This press release was produced by the Township of Radnor. The views expressed here are the author’s own.