Increased vigilance to combat the threat of COVID-19, has prompted Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin to issue an order requiring employees, county and judicial officials to be screened initially upon entering the courthouse.

In an order dated Oct. 14, Baldwin said most county, elected and appointed officials have been entering the courthouse when personnel are available to monitor their temperatures, however, “those who first come to the courthouse on a given day after the assigned personnel have concluded monitoring temperatures at the north entrance may not always report to the Sheriff to have their temperatures checked.”

He ordered for the rest of the judicial emergency that “all employees and elected or appointed county and judicial officials, when entering the courthouse for the first time on a given day, shall enter only through the public entrance at the west end of the building, the Laurel Street entrance on the south end, or the north entrance from the parking lot.”

Baldwin further ordered that if personnel are not available to monitor their temperatures when first entering the building for the day “every employee and elected or appointed county and judicial official shall present him/herself either to the personnel manning the public entrance or to the Sheriff’s office for a temperature check.”

Glenn Roth, first assistant county solicitor, did not return a call for comment.

Schuylkill County Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington said the order is a good decision.

“I think it’s smart to do. I agree with the judge. We all have to be responsible, we all have to help.”