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5 County Residents Now Fully Recovered From The Coronavirus

MAYVILLE — Five people confirmed to have had the coronavirus have “fully recovered” in Chautauqua County. That was the positive news shared Friday by County Executive PJ Wendel during a press conference in Mayville.

“It’s a pretty good statistic to show,” Wendel said of the recoveries when highlighting the county’s online portal unveiled this week that is updated daily to list the number of cases within four battalions.

One new confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced during the press conference — a male in his 30s. That brings the total number of cases in the county to 13. In addition, the county executive said 17 people were in mandatory quarantine; 19 were in precautionary quarantine; and 76 were in mandatory isolation.

To date, 160 tests for the virus have come back negative.

Christine Schuyler, county director of Health and Human Services, said despite some areas in the county that show no or few cases that the virus was indeed within the community.

“To be clear, COVID-19 is circulating in Chautauqua County,” she said. “Just because you didn’t visit a particular location does not mean that you have not been exposed.”

She alluded to the social media term “going viral” in relation to the spread of the virus.

“That is exactly what the novel coronavirus is doing,” Schuyler said. “It is viral. Viral means it is spreading everywhere. The best thing all of us can do is to be very mindful of that and take the community mitigating strategies to heart that we have been going over and over. This is very serious, but at the same time this is something that we’re going to get through, and we’re going to get through it together. And I guarantee you it’s going to get better, and we’re not going to give up until it does.”

Schuyler said with nice weather in the forecast, county residents should try to go outside and get some fresh air while also practicing social distancing.

Dr. Robert Berke, county physician, also touched base on which masks area residents should consider, noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking to recommend use of masks for the public. He said the N95 mask should only be worn by medical professionals, not the public.

“It is only for medical personnel and people who are first responders” Berke said. “It should not be worn by anybody else. These are in extremely short supply.”

Face shields being produced by a Brocton company — Jamestown Plastics — are also only to be used by first responders because they too are in short supply.

Instead, Berke said local residents should consider wearing homemade masks.

“The general public can wear homemade cloth masks or bandanas to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” Berke said. “New data suggests that up to 30% of the population infected with COVID-19 may have no apparent symptoms, but still be spreading the virus. By wearing a homemade mask or bandana when you are out, you will do a community service by protecting everyone else, but you must be aware that they provide very little protection for yourself.”

Wendel said, in regards to a possible surge of cases due to the close proximity to Erie County, plans have been prepared as required by the state Department of Health. He said that annually, hospitals are required to hold drills implementing the plans should a spike in hospital admissions arrive.

“Those plans are ready, and they will be enacted if needed,” Wendel said.

Schuyler said the surge plans now include increasing bed capacity by 50%, a directive handed down by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“There is a laundry list of items that have to be submitted to the state Health Department,” Schuyler said, stating that officials are “hoping and praying” that the region doesn’t see the spike in virus cases that some areas have seen, especially New York City.

Cuomo on Friday said he will be requiring all hospitals to loan 20% of unused ventilators to hospitals near New York City. “Ventilators literally save lives. They will be returned or reimbursed to those hospitals,” Cuomo said, walking back a previous statement that noted facilities would have been required to send most unused machines to downstate hospitals.

Schuyler said there are 46 ventilators in total at all county facilities, including bedside models that help patients breathe as well as ones specific for adults and children.

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