Manheim Township’s Board of Commissioners is calling for Lancaster County to create a countywide health department. Board President Tom O’Brien says Lancaster County, home to more than half a million people, is the largest county in the state without a health department. “Most of the places that we talk to feel that the communications level, not only with the state, but on a one-to-one basis with each municipality, probably would be stronger if they knew each other, if they had experience with each other, and they had a plan in place,” O’Brien said.Currently municipalities and school districts deal directly with the state. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the county has hired a person to coordinate some aspects of public health response.