(BEDFORD) – The Lawrence County Judicial System has taken steps to ensure the public’s health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John Plummer III, Superior Court II Judge William Sleva, and Lawrence County Prosecutor Samuel C. Arp II have recently put into action a plan to make the Courthouse Annex a healthier environment.
The three entered into an agreement with locally owned Spartan Mechanical to install high-intensity Germicidal UVC air purification systems that will be partnered with an ozone system and H.E.P.A. air scrubbers. These combined units, which have been approved by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), will help control bacteria and viruses in the courtrooms.
Both Judge Plummer and Judge Sleva stated that their Courts have several jury trials scheduled in the next few months and that they wanted to be able to ensure potential jurors that every option was being considered when it comes to their health and well-being.
Arp stated that when three met, it was determined that they wanted to come as close as reasonably possible to creating a sanitized hospital-grade environment.
The H.E.P.A. filtration system that is being put in place is rated at 99.997% efficiency at .3 microns. This means that in addition to capturing any bacteria or virus that the UVC may have missed, it will also combat issues with dust, mold, and pollen which will create a more comfortable environment for allergy sufferers.
The judges are also developing protocols that utilize facemasks, hand sanitation, distancing, temperature taking, and courtroom sanitation.
Arp stated that the judicial system will eventually get to full speed again, and when it does, these procedures will produce a healthier environment not only for COVID-19 concerns but for the traditional bacteria and viruses that we endure throughout the year.
