Full Notification

COVID -19 Update – March 22, 2020 As of March 22nd, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Yates County residents. We have tested fourteen county residents of which eleven have come back negative and four individuals are quarantined and being monitored by Public Health. A Steuben County resident who tested positive on March 21st is in a mandatory self-isolation in a Penn Yan residence. Both Yates and Steuben County Public Health Departments are monitoring this individual. This individual has been in self-isolation since the test was performed in Steuben County and has not exposed any Yates County residents. Steuben County Public Health staff is investigating and identifying close contacts of the confirmed case and any exposure risks that occurred in Steuben County. The Public Health Department continues to monitor COVID-19 here in Yates County. “We have been preparing for cases of COVID-19 in Yates County,” stated Public Health Director, Deborah Minor. “It is just a matter of time until we have our first case in a resident as 70 % of counties in New York State have had a case.” Minor adds, “Residents should not panic at this time, and instead should continue social distancing and stay home. We need residents to limit contact with others to slow the spread when it is in Yates County, especially to our seniors and individuals with underlying medical conditions.” Public Health is encouraging all residents to take the following actions to reduce the spread COVID-19: • Stay home and practice social distancing; only leave your house for absolute necessities. • If you are sick, please stay home. Most cases of COVID-19 are mild and can be managed at home. • If you have symptoms such as cough, fever, or shortness of breath and think you are too sick to stay home or if you have questions, call your health care provider. • Wash your hands often with warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. • Avoid close contact with people who are ill. • Do not return to work until you have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw in the trash or cough or sneeze into the inside of your arm. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as faucet handles, door knobs, countertops and other surfaces. For more information on COVID-19, contact the New York State hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or Public Health at 315-536-5160 or visit www.cdc.gov.