A letter from County Executive Brian M. Hughes

Dear Mercer County Community, This week, Mercer County saw its first deaths due to coronavirus disease. The fact that this occurrence was inevitable makes it no less painful, and I offer my deepest sympathy for the loved ones of the five individuals who passed away. Sadly, there will be more deaths related to COVID-19. We also know there is community spread and expect to see the number of positive cases increase as more people are tested. This pandemic represents an unprecedented crisis – it’s been reported that half the world is now under a stay-home order. But I can assure you that in Mercer County we are doing everything we can to protect the health and well-being of our residents. Mercer County, in collaboration with health care partners, opened an appointment-only, drive-up testing site for COVID-19 this week at Quaker Bridge Mall.The center tested more than 260 symptomatic individuals over the first three days. Please be aware that the testing center is by appointment only for symptomatic Mercer County residents age 18 or older who have a prescription from a health care practitioner. If you are symptomatic for COVID-19 and want to be tested, contact your health care practitioner, who must fax your prescription to the site’s appointment makers at 609-630-4031. If you do not have a personal practitioner, go to an urgent care facility or health clinic and have a prescription faxed to the appointment makers.

Regarding positive test cases of COVID-19, Mercer County has been releasing only the total number of cases countywide. But the number of positive cases is quickly growing and there is no uniform presentation of data town by town. Some municipalities are offering fairly detailed information including age, gender and occupation. Additionally, we have heard from a number of constituents who want to know the number of cases in their town compared to neighboring towns.

Within the next day or so, we will launch a new website that will list cases by Mercer municipality. Our goal is to update the data every 24 hours. At absolutely no time will personally identifying information be revealed. We are making every effort to be transparent while also respecting the letter of the law with regard to individuals’ privacy rights.

These are stressful times filled with much uncertainty. We’ve all had to change our routines; our movements have been restricted; schools are closed; many businesses have been forced to close or alter their services, affecting the owners, their employees and their patrons. It’s an unsettling scenario and we don’t know when life will return to normal.

We do know that the best defense we have right now against COVID-19 is to adhere to the governor’s directive to stay home. If you must go out – to the grocery store, to a medical appointment, to take a walk or to report to an essential job — practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet from others. Otherwise, please stay home. Those at higher risk – older adults and people with existing health problems – depend on everyone else to stay safe.

And continue to take everyday preventive measures: wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, cover coughs and sneezes, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

I deeply appreciate your commitment to helping slow the spread of COVID-19. There are many more difficult days ahead, but I know that Mercer County is up for the challenge. If we all work together, we WILL get through this crisis.

Brian M. Hughes
Mercer County Executive