Once a hotspot for COVID cases in Chautauqua County, the north end has been eclipsed by a surge of new and active cases in the south county.

According to statistics by the county Health Department, there have been 64 total cases in the north end (the Dunkirk-Fredonia area) during the pandemic. None of the cases are considered active — those who still have symptoms of the coronavirus.

However, of the eight COVID-19-related deaths reported to date in the county, five have involved people residing in the north end.

In the south county, which includes the Jamestown and Lakewood areas, there have been 86 confirmed cases of the virus. What’s more, of the 46 current active cases within the entire county, 43 are in the south county. The other three are in the western portion (two active cases) and the eastern portion (one active case).

On Thursday, the county Health Department announced two new cases, a person under the age of 18 and a woman in her 40s. Further, three people have been hospitalized in addition to 765 county residents under quarantine/isolation, an increase from the 680 reported Wednesday.

There have been 139 recovered cases; eight deaths; 193 total confirmed cases; and 18,792 negative test results.

COUNTY RECEIVES COVID GRANT

The county Office of Emergency Services was recently awarded $29,492 through the Emergency Management Performance Grant COVID-19 Supplemental program.

“This grant is exciting news for Chautauqua County,” said County Executive PJ Wendel. “It will help offset some of our Office of Emergency Services costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and provides resources for the department to further respond to and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”

The grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services administering the funding on behalf of FEMA.

The grant provides funding for emergency management agencies to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

NEW BAR, RESTAURANT POLICIES

Cuomo announced Thursday a new “three strikes” policy that will require bars and restaurants to close after they receive three citations for failing to follow rules, including mask-wearing and keeping people 6 feet (2 meters) apart.

Cuomo said the state’s fielding thousands of complaints on top of “significant evidence of failure to comply” among restaurants and businesses, particularly downstate. He said “egregious violations” can still result in the immediate loss of a liquor license, and warned that the state would post names of restaurants and bars in violation.

“The state itself has looked at over 5,000 establishments in downstate New York and found many cases of a failure to comply,” he said. “It’s wrong, it’s dangerous, it’s selfish, it’s unacceptable, it’s also illegal.”

And restaurants and bars across New York can no longer allow walk-up bar service, or serve alcohol to people who aren’t buying food, he added.

He called on local governments to better enforce safety guidelines.

“I’ll tell you what’s less politically popular — if we have to close down a region because compliance wasn’t done,” he said.

New York is also launching a national advertising campaign encouraging people to wear masks, said Cuomo, who has expressed concern about rising infections out-of-state. He announced a $2,000 fine for airport travelers from states with high infection rates who don’t fill out a form to help New York track compliance with a 14-day quarantine requirement.