Page said a significant decrease in spending is difficult to achieve now because of the cost of ramped up public health and safety costs.

He said the county has already spent $2 million on its response to the virus, including protective equipment for first responders and software to support the county’s effort. And he’s asking the council on Tuesday for another $1 million for the health department and $500,000 for protective equipment.

Page wrote, “We anticipate many additional expenditures in the coming weeks.”

The council met for the first time using videoconferencing; members of the public could dial in and listen by phone.

The council heard from seven virtual “speakers” who had submitted written comments before the meeting to be read into the record. A few of them urged the county to take more dramatic steps to stop the virus’ spread, saying too many businesses were considered essential and exempt from the stay-at-home order.

“These weak stay-at-home measures encourage company owners to continue working their employees in order to both gain economic advantage and to provide for their employees despite the fact that doing so is not in the public interest,” Danielle Wallis of Richmond Heights wrote.