The Chautauqua County Department of Health said it is investigating a “potential cluster” of COVID-19 cases at a large employer in the north county.

In a news release Friday, health officials said four employees of the unidentified business have tested positive, but noted that the cases “appear to be linked to social activities outside of work and not interconnected.”

“As a precaution, staff is working with the employer to ensure all required COVID-19 protocols and preventive measures are in place,” the county Health Department continued.

Overall, 13 new cases of COVID-19 were announced on Friday. The new cases break down as follows: five in the Dunkirk zip code, two in Forestville, two in Westfield, one in Falconer and three in Fredonia.

There remains 142 active cases for those who continue to recover under orders from local health officials in addition to 1,007 recoveries, 15 deaths, 1,165 total confirmed cases and 64,224 negative tests.

At Tanglewood Manor, the site of a COVID-19 outbreak, the county Health Department said there remains four active cases and 23 recoveries among employees; and 14 active cases and 75 recoveries among residents.

As of Wednesday, 20 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized.

From Oct. 26 to 30, the county Health Department said 1,130 people were tested at rapid testing clinics in Jamestown and Dunkirk, with 53 people testing positive.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new guidelines allowing out-of-state travelers or any CDC Level 2 or Level 3 Health Notice country travelers coming to the state to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York (Pa., Conn., N.J., Vt., Mass.) will continue to be exempt from the travel advisory; essential workers will continue to be exempt as well.

The new protocol went into effect on Nov. 4. The new advisory is as follows:

¯ all travelers are to complete the NY Traveler Health Form;

¯ all travelers will quarantine for a period of 14 days (consistent with DOH regulations for quarantine) unless: the traveler is tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to arrival in the state and the traveler will, upon arrival in the state, quarantine according to DOH guidelines for a minimum of three days, and on Day 4 will be tested for COVID-19.

¯ the traveler may end quarantine upon receipt of the second negative test result;

¯ all travelers who leave the state for less than 24 hours do not need to obtain a COVID-19 test before departing, and they do not need to quarantine upon return. They must complete a traveler form upon entry and be tested for COVID-19 on the fourth day after arrival in New York.