Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin said Monday he is wary about the continuing spread of COVID-19 in the county.

“It’s a serious concern now that the weather is changing and people are inside more,” he said.

The county human resource office announced recently that six employees tested positive for the virus last week. Nine co-workers were exposed or unprotected and are in quarantine.

Baldwin has not issued a recent administrative order, although he would not rule out one.

“It’s always been a consideration,” he said.

Steps have been taken to limit the potential for virus spread at county facilities to including temperature checks, contract tracing, consistent cleaning and disinfecting of common areas of the courthouse facilities, work spaces and others.

Baldwin said he understands people are stressed with the lingering virus and measures taken to curtail it. However, now is not the time to be complacent.

“This virus is totally unpredictable,” he said.

As an example, he knows two people who were diagnosed with COVID-19. One is better and had pre-existing conditions, but didn’t experience “serious” symptoms. He said the other was very physically fit and is “pretty sick” but not in the hospital.

“The problem is there is still a lot of people who don’t take it seriously,” Baldwin said.

If people wear masks, practice social distancing and take preventive measures “we can help starve this virus,” he said.

“We just have to assume that everybody is contagious and protect ourselves,” Baldwin said.

In Schuylkill County, there are 4,126 cases of the virus, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Of those, 3,877 are confirmed with 249 probable. So far, 29,167 people have tested negative. To date, 174 people have died.

The total number of cases statewide as of Monday is 361,464. Deaths are at 10,383.