Coronavirus outbreak closes Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department until June 1
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Due to a outbreak of coronavirus cases in Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert’s office, the sheriff said Tuesday the office will be closed until June 1.
“It’s mostly in our clerical staff impacted,” Albert said. “It’s more than 10 people right now.”
Albert said the outbreak began May 17 when an employee who holds a second job at Excela Health Westmoreland hospital in Greensburg worked a shift there and came to work at the sheriff’s department last week “not feeling well.”
“On Thursday, the worker was officially diagnosed as having the coronavirus, but by that time some other employees began feeling ill and others had to be quarantined. Right now, we thought the best thing to do would be to shut down the office until after Memorial Day,” Albert said.
The office, located in the basement of the county courthouse, will reopen Tuesday, June 1.
Albert said the office hosted a covid-19 vaccination clinic this spring “and we had 45 employees get the shot while 45 others did not get vaccinated.”
“It’s apparent that the virus has spread to some of those who did not get vaccinated, and as I said others are quarantined right now,” Albert said.
He said the temporary closure will not impact one of its busiest departments, the gun permitting program. Using a skeleton staff, the department will issue permits to carry concealed weapons Wednesday through Friday.
“But it will be by appointment only,” Albert said.
The permitting program will operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents seeking a permit must call the sheriff’s office at 724-830-3457 for an appointment.
Upon arrival at the courthouse, they will be escorted to the sheriff’s office by a deputy,” Albert said.