JAMESTOWN – Nine new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Chautauqua County on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 188 with 43 active.
The Chautauqua County Health Department says the new cases involve two people under the age of 18, two men and a woman in their 20s, a man in his 30s, a woman in her 40s, a woman in her 50s, and a man in his 60s.
Additionally, officials reported 609 people are now under quarantine or isolation orders by the Public Health Director, that number up from 511 on Monday. They say the 600 plus are not confirmed to have the virus, however, they are being monitored for symptoms, show symptoms, are awaiting test results, or have risk factors.
Officials say since the outbreak began 138 people have recovered from COVID-19, with seven deaths reported and more than 18,000 tests returning negative for the virus.
We need to do a better job of tracing, and making sure businesses are doing the sanitizing and making sure employees are safe and distancing. Some are afraid for jobs if they speak up. We need to do a better job of monitoring businesses and ones that have had close contacts with infected persons. This is someones life and job.
More information would be nice. Are people getting the virus at work? Or are they traveling to Buffalo or somewhere else? Or are they attending parties? Did they wear masks when they went out or were they the rebels we all see in the grocery stores who will not put a mask on? If we knew more about where they went and what they did–and what they didn’t do–maybe we would better know what we should do. Maybe it wouldn’t be so scary to see the numbers if we had confidence that we can avoid the virus if we are careful.