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

April 8, 2020

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: 23
Hospitalized: 6
Deceased: 1
Mandatory Quarantine: 36
Precautionary Quarantine: 2
Tested: 289
Negative: 216
Pending: 31

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.

Recent studies have shown that a significant portion of individuals infected with the virus are asymptomatic. Asymptomatic individuals, even if they eventually develop symptoms, can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people in close proximity — for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing — even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms at the time.

It is important to emphasize that maintaining social distancing, by staying at least 6 feet apart when in public and staying home whenever possible, is critical to slow the spread of the virus, even if wearing a face covering.
While cloth face coverings may not prevent the wearer from becoming infected, they might help slow spread from people who have the virus and are unaware.

NYSDOH supports members of the public who choose to wear cloth face coverings in public settings, where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies),
https://www.cdc.gov/…/prevent…/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

When wearing cloth face coverings, New Yorkers 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 not be placed on 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.
• Make sure that they fit snugly and cover their nose and mouth.
• Be changed frequently and laundered when they are soiled or wet.
• Not become complacent with other protective measures.
• Do not touch the cloth covering or face.
• Continue to be vigilant with thorough and frequent hand washing. Soap and water, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer of 60%+ alcohol.
• Practice respiratory etiquette and cover your coughs or sneezes.
• Practice social distancing – even when wearing masks.
• Stay home and help flatten the curve!

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.

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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