Public HealthUpdates

DCPHS: April 7 COVID-19 Update

DELAWARE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
99 MAIN STREET, DELHI, NEW YORK 13753
Amanda Walsh, MPH Public Health Director

April 7, 2020

Delaware County Public Health received one positive lab report for COVID-19 today. COVID-19 is in the area, everyone should limit close contact with individuals outside your household in indoor and outdoor spaces.

Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you have no symptoms. Stay at least 6 feet from other people; do not gather in groups; and stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.

Totals:
Positive Results reported to Delaware County: 42
Positive Lab Reports Transferred: 5
Discharged (recovered): 7
Isolating at Home: 22
Hospitalized: 7
Deceased: 1
Mandatory Quarantine: 42
Precautionary Quarantine: 6
Tested: 276
Negative: 211
Pending: 23

Delaware County Public Health Services in partnership with the New York State Department of Health, local hospitals and healthcare providers is actively investigating these cases and providing guidance on reducing the spread (i.e., quarantine, cleaning and other recommendations) as appropriate.

**Important: confirmed cases does not mean the total number of cases. Since access to testing is extremely limited, the number of confirmed cases does not reflect the current spread of COVID-19.

Releasing the town where the positive lives does not ensure your protection or decrease your exposure risk to COVID-19. With this in mind, we strongly recommend everyone to continue social distancing to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

Help Flatten the Curve:

  • Practice Social Distancing. Even if you feel well, stay at home as much as possible. In public, keep at least 6 feet distance from others. Avoid unnecessary appointments.
  • Wash Your Hands. Cover Your Cough. Cover your cough and sneezes. Use your elbow or a tissue. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Take Caution with At-Risk Persons. Avoid visiting those most at risk (elderly and people with underlying health conditions), call instead. Offer help with groceries and other goods to pick up and drop off without face-to-face contact.

The CDC recommends for people to wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies),
https://www.cdc.gov/…/prevent…/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

  • Surgical masks and N95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for healthcare workers or other medical first responders, as recommended by CDC guidance.
  • It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.
  • CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
  • Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.
  • Cloth face coverings should be laundered after each use
  • Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children younger than 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance.

If you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever, trouble breathing or pneumonia) talk to your primary health care provider.

Do not come to the emergency room unless there is a pressing emergency.

Older adults and persons who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart, lung disease or diabetes seem to be at a higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19. People who are at higher risk should familiarize themselves with Matilda’s Law.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered NY PAUSE will continue through April 29th. This is the order that all schools and non-essential businesses must stay closed through this date.

Regents exams have also been cancelled.

For information about COVID-19 you can visit http://delawarecountypublichealth.com
http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/wordpress
and
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

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