ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A new "germ reduction system" for the Lehigh County Jail was approved Wednesday by the county Board of Commissioners.
The upgrading to the jail's heating and air-conditioning system will "reduce airborne and surface contaminants, purify the air and surfaces, reduce harmful gases, and enhance health and quality of life" via an improved ventilation purification system, the approved bill says.
Its $257,878 cost will be funded via a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
The bill passed unanimously.
"We still have COVID. But our practice [is] to isolate upon entry to the jail, to make sure that we can properly test and reduce the risk of infection, as well as our continuing efforts by providing health care for symptoms like COVID has assisted us."Lehigh County General Services Director Rick Molchany
County General Services Director Rick Molchany said HVAC systems were upgraded as part of American Rescue Plan funding, and the new measure will let the county "take it a step further."
He said the technology's effectiveness will eliminate the COVID-19 virus from the air.
'Make no bones about it; it's still happening'
At the board's prior meeting, Commissioner Jon Irons asked how present COVID is within the jail, and was told by Molchany a presentation would occur at the board's upcoming Courts and Corrections Committee meeting.
"We still have COVID," Molchany said. "But our practice [is] to isolate upon entry to the jail, to make sure that we can properly test and reduce the risk of infection, as well as our continuing efforts by providing health care for symptoms like COVID has assisted us.
"But make no bones about it, it's still happening. And we still have to concern ourselves. Although we are not nearly at the pandemic levels that we were in 2020 and 2021."
"So we all agreed that this was this was an important thing to take place."Lehigh County Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt
The Courts and Corrections Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 3 via Zoom. It also will contain a discussion related to solitary confinement practices and possible policy proposals, Irons said.
"We all know, this time of year how illnesses run through different places of employment or at home, and how important it is to have something like this in an area where people are housed close together and to try to mitigate as [many] viruses and those types of things as possible," Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt said.
"So we all agreed that this was this was an important thing to take place."
