Safety measures remain as in-person court resumes

Feb. 25—With the COVID-19-inspired judicial emergency set to expire at the end of the week, officials are reminding visitors to the Luzerne County Courthouse that safety protocols will remain in effect when in-person courtroom proceedings resume on Monday.

County Manager David Pedri urged visitors to county offices to plan accordingly because of social-distancing measures that will remain in effect.

"If someone is visiting a county building, they should block out additional time as social distancing in our offices is in effect," Pedri said. "There may be longer wait times as a small number of people are allowed in at one time in each office."

President Judge Michael T. Vough previously declared a judicial emergency due to the pandemic, permitting only criminal and civil hearings that "directly impact the health, safety, security, welfare or incarceration of an individual" to proceed.

All other proceedings were postponed for the duration of the closure, which took effect in November as COVID-19 cases were surging in the county and the state.

In the time since, the number of new daily cases has dropped significantly.

Vough's order expires Friday, allowing in-person hearings to resume Monday.

County officials said face masks will remain mandatory unless a person has a medical condition that precludes their use, and that visitors' temperatures will be taken prior to entry.

Visitors will also be questioned about whether they have had COVID symptoms, contact with anyone who was positive, are in quarantine or have left the state within the previous 10 days.

Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2058