Township leaders approve agreement with county for potential use of gym for COVID-19 vaccination site

ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Ross Township commissioners have approved an agreement with Allegheny County about potentially using a community center’s gymnasium as a potential COVID-19 vaccination site.

There are no concrete plans to open another site in the county, but officials said they are still planning in case they get more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“No. 1: the size. It’s perfect for what they’re going to do,” said president of the Ross Township Board of Commissioners Dan DeMarco.

The county would run the vaccination site from the community center gym. Ross Township leaders said the agreement allows the county to essentially lease the gym from them for $655 per day. The gym otherwise sits empty.

“They’re bringing whatever they need on a daily basis to keep the vaccines at the temperature they need,” DeMarco said.

He said the hope is that around March 1, if the vaccine supply is increased, the gym would be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to people with appointments.

“The supply dictates the date,” he said. “They’d hope to be able to get 1,000 people through here a day eventually.”

County leaders said they are still exploring possible sites, but want to be ready to roll out the vaccine if it suddenly becomes widely available.

“I think it would be a great thing,” said Justin Kopec who lives nearby. “The more people who could get vaccinated, the better.”

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