The official word was all that remained and that came Monday, when the Pennsylvania Department of Health gave its certificate of approval to the Delaware County Health Department, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

 “The process of applying for and being approved for a new county health department is comprehensive and often involves multiple correspondences back and forth between the county and the state to ensure that all critical information is provided and required actions are completed,” read a statement from the Pennsylvania health agency.

Now Delaware County Council will scramble to send written notice to the 49 municipalities about the certification. Thirty days after that, the county health department can start exercising its powers.

Health Director Melissa Lyon expects the new department to be open April 2, with 53 public health experts and an $8.5 million budget for 2022.

This means Delaware County can no longer claim title to being the largest county in the state and nation without a health department.

The coronavirus, combined with a political shift to the Democrats at the county level made the new department possible.

A vaccination site in Yeadon will be the health department’s headquarters.  Other pieces have also been filled in—including creation of a Board of Health, and the hiring of a health director, Melissa Lyon.

Read more at WHYY about the state approval for Delaware County’s new health department.

Dr. Lisa O’Mahoney, medical advisor for Delaware County’s COVID-19 Task Force has good news about the county’s COVID rates.