Here we are, the first weeks of spring, and our beautiful county is mostly shut down. We all understand why — we are trying to hold off a pandemic in our community.

The spread of COVID-19 is a global public health emergency, and we are all asked to take extreme measures in ways most of us have never experienced. Your Board of Supervisors and I are doing the best we can to do what is needed for our citizens, but this is new territory and things are evolving rapidly. We are all being inconvenienced and many of us are, or soon will be, making real sacrifices. From school disruptions to what we hope are only temporary closings and layoffs, these are truly uncertain times.

Over the past several weeks, county leadership, the Virginia Department of Health, and our many regional neighbors and partners have worked tirelessly to prepare and set up lines of communication. Our number one goal is to keep you, our citizens and staff, as safe as possible while providing the necessary services you depend on. This is clearly now more than a health issue, and we are just beginning to understand how the economy, the county’s finances, and even the manner in which we conduct public meetings will be impacted in the near future. Our local, state and national governments, as well as the private sector, are doing their best to navigate the unknown.

It is difficult to imagine how this will play out and we should all try to stay positive and continue to hope for the best possible outcome and recovery. In the meantime, we are committed to keeping you updated with access to the latest information through our website, social media and cable announcement channel. We feel the outpouring of love for your fellow citizens and concern you have shared with us as we work to find the answers to your questions. We are deeply grateful for all your expressions of support.

I want to be sure to say “Thank You” for all the hard work that continues to be done by the county’s workforce and our local businesses on which we rely, and the community’s willingness to endure and do what must be done. Our collective efforts remind me of the 1980s song, “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.”

Stay safe, support your friends and neighbors, and stay well!

Neil Morgan is the York County administrator. He can be reached at 890-3320.