Leaders Ask For Public’s Help In Fighting COVID-19 Amid Uptick In Cases

MAYVILLE – Leaders in Chautauqua County are continuing to urge residents to follow guidelines to help aid in stopping a COVID-19 outbreak locally.

Health officials say in the last two and a half weeks 56 employees at Fieldbrook Foods in Dunkirk have tested positive for COVID-19 amid an outbreak at the plant.

Additionally, leaders say they are becoming concerned with increased COVID cases at SUNY Fredonia, after 22 students have tested positive for the virus.

On Wednesday, county officials reported 32 new cases of the virus with 134 now active.

Of those, 25 of the 32 are students at SUNY Fredonia.

“With the recent outbreaks of COVID-19 at Fieldbrook Foods Inc. in Dunkirk and now at the State University of New York at Fredonia, we are calling on all residents for their support by following the recommended safety precautions,” said Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel. “Our public health staff has been working tirelessly to isolate those testing positive and identify and quarantine the close contacts of all positive cases so we can help contain the virus, but we need all county residents to do their part by being responsible citizens and following preventive measures 24/7. Not only are we working together, we are in this together and we need everyone’s help especially with the upcoming Labor Day Weekend.”

Wendel and other leaders are calling on all at local colleges to:

• Limit assembling to less than 10 minutes in common areas, even outside, when face coverings are not continuously worn;
• Have no visitors in the residence halls; and
• Not attend large off-campus gatherings that are in violation of the State’s Executive Orders.

Additionally, health leaders are asking the general public to continue to be vigilant and follow these steps:

• Stay home if you feel ill;
• Wear a mask or covering over your nose and mouth when you cannot maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from others;
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol;
• Avoid large gatherings;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects;
• Avoid international travel or travel to states listed in the New York State Travel Advisory; if travel is unavoidable, quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Chautauqua County.