HARRISBURG – In an effort to better safeguard the health of Carbon County residents and first responders during the current COVID-19 emergency, Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, is requesting a more detailed reporting of case numbers from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Heffley made his official request in a letter sent Monday to Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.

Specifically, Heffley asked Levine to break down the case numbers by ZIP code. Currently, only county case counts are released by the department.

“Such transparency would assist county officials in identifying hotspots to better aid our health care providers,” said Heffley. “Other counties are identifying numbers in each borough and township on their county health department website. We are requesting the same information be provided by the state to counties without their own health departments.”

Heffley also requested the number of out-of-state residents being treated in Pennsylvania hospitals be included in the data.

“I am concerned the actual number of people being treated in our northeastern Pennsylvania hospitals may be skewed by patient admissions from bordering states,” Heffley added. “I want to ensure we have the most accurate information available as the needs of our local health care facilities are evaluated.”

This is the second time Heffley has requested more detailed COVID-19 case data from Levine. A joint letter sent on March 26 by him and Sen. John Yudichak (I-14) went unanswered.

Heffley’s letter is available for viewing on his Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/RepHeffley.