By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said Thursday said the view from the Emergency Operations Center is that local residents are doing well for the most part in coping with COVID-19. "We're nolt seeing a lot of people out. The businesses that are non-essential are shut down per the Governor's order. " He added that were a couple of businesses where law enforcement or the Health Department talked to them, showed them the order ( Stay at Home ) and explained how to address it if they're essential.
Berges said authorities are not seeing a lot of people in the parks or if they are walking and maintaining social distancing. "Our major stores are open, the grocery stores, they've got signs and markings for social distancing. I thinkwe're real impressed with how the community has come around, and doing what they should be."
Berges' biggest concern is that once the governor's requirements are relaxed people will start going back to their previous practices, and that could lead to a resurgence of COVID-19. "Everybody is saying it's got to be done slow, in steps, and not just a massive okay it's over with because all of the models are showing that we're going to have a second wave."
On when that could occur Berges stated, "Right now they're talking, I've seen anywhere from August - September up to about November so it just depends if we continue to do what we're doing or if we do it not as big as what they're anticipating."
The local EOC board meets every day, there is a conference call with state officials daily, and three days a week other local emergency operations center personnel meet via a video conferencing call.