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MAYVILLE — During a visit to a rapid testing facility in Mayville, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul clarified that the infection rates in Chautauqua County seem to be from specific hot-spots and not a community-wide break out.
“The good news it’s not a community-wide spread, we’ve been able to identify specific locations,” Hochul said. “We can ID the specific areas where the clusters are forming.”
Hochul said once local hot-spots are identified, “we’ll be there to jump right on top of it and contain it.”
County Executive P. J. Wendel said if Chautauqua County wants to advance in reopening, it needs to prove that the county COVID-19 infection rates are low.
“We’ve talked about our numbers being low, so we need to prove it,” Wendel said in talking with the media with Hochul.
“Our numbers are low here in Chautauqua County. We’re doing the right things by wearing our masks and social distancing,” Wendel said.
Hochul echoed Wendel’s comments.
“When the numbers go down, this is when you can open more things up,” Hochul said. “It’s only going to happen if people stop being complacent and start wearing their masks again.”
Hochul acknowledge local officials are doing a good job, saying she appreciates the work of county health workers.
“I want to commend the public health department right here in Chautauqua to make sure public health is protected,” Hochul said.
She urged people to get testing even if they have no symptoms.
“Don’t wait until you have symptoms. I have to tell you there’s a lot of peace of mind knowing you are testing negative,” Hochul said.
County Health Director Christine Schuyler said she feel like the state administration is listening.
“I have felt heard and we have felt the Governor’s chambers is reaching out,” Schuyler said. “I think the Lt. Governor recognizes more clearly how hard local health departments across the state, and the state health department, are working.”
Wendel encouraged people to be tested whether they have symptoms or not.
“We want people to show that we don’t have those high numbers here, and the best way to do it is with testing,” he said.
WNY News Now’s Justin Gould and Rory Pollaro contributed to this report.
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