Three Test Positive For COVID-19 In Cattaraugus County, Brings Total To Five

LITTLE VALLEY – Three additional cases of COVID-19 were reported Sunday in Cattaraugus County, bringing the county total to five.

The Cattaraugus County Health Department says the first cases is a male resident who lives in the northwest part of the county with a travel history to NYC and Buffalo who has been asymptomatic (no fever, no cough or shortness of breath) but has been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

Officials say he was tested on Friday and the positive test result returned Saturday.

The next case is a female resident who lives in the northwest part of the county with travel history to Buffalo who has been asymptomatic but was in close contact with a known positive case.

She was also tested on Friday and the test result came back Saturday indicating that she was positive for the virus.

“Both patients are resting at home, and now under quarantine,” said officials. “They will be assessed for any medical support that we can provide and we will monitor their symptoms closely.”

Additionally, a male who lives in the southeast part of the county with no known travel history who visited the emergency room at Olean General Hospital with complaints of fever, cough and diarrhea, has also tested positive.

Officials say he was admitted with pneumonia and tested on Friday and on Saturday the test result indicated that he was positive.

“Upon discharge today, he and his family will be quarantined and assessed daily for any medical support that we can provide and we will monitor their symptoms closely,” said officials.

The Cattaraugus County Health Department has begun contact tracing and will notify any close contacts and facilities visited by any of the confirmed positives.

Officials say residents should assume that there is community wide spread of COVID-19 in the area.

“We continue to ask our residents to bunker down, and avoid any non-essential travel, especially to areas where there is community spread of COVID-19, otherwise, you place your family and other Cattaraugus County residents at risk,” said officials. “We would like to reiterate that if any residents experience fever, cough, shortness of breath or whole body aches should contact their health care provider first (avoid going directly to the Urgent Care facility or Emergency Room before calling).”