MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel extended the County’s State of Emergency for up to thirty additional days on Thursday due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Wendel says the extension helps the county qualify for state and federal assistance related to the County’s response to the pandemic.

“The Western New York region has not met the Governor’s metrics test for a Phase 1 re-opening,” said Wendel.  “Chautauqua County is still fully subject to the “New York State on PAUSE” executive orders issued by the Governor, and I ask all County citizens and visitors to still “DO THE FIVE” to help stop COVID-19:  (1) HANDS – wash them often; (2) ELBOW – cough into it; (3) FACE – don’t touch it; (4) FEET – stay more than six (6) feet apart; and (5) FEEL SICK? – stay home.”

“The County’s COVID-19 Response Team containing the appropriate public health and emergency services officials and staff continues to meet and issue updates to the public daily,” said Chautauqua County Commissioner of Health and Human Services Christine Schuyler.  “We must remain vigilant in all of our efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.  If we fail to do so, all of our hard won progress will be lost.”

The county reported no new cases of the virus on Thursday. There remain a total of 44 confirmed cases, with seven active, 33 recovered and four deaths.

Earlier in the afternoon, Absolut Care of Westfield reported an employee who worked in the senior living facility tested positive for COVID-19. Although, the company did not release when the positive test was identified.

The company said since learning of the positive result everyone at the home was tested, and so far, every test has come back negative.