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MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County’s Executive is looking towards this new year as a chance to regain hope and finally bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic locally.
County Executive PJ Wendell shared a message over the weekend, urging residents to come together this year.
“I would ask each one of us to recommit to one another, to look out for one another, to worry about each other’s well being, and the wellbeing of our families, friends, and neighbors,” says Wendell. “We need to emerge from this COVID-19 pandemic a healthier and more vibrant Chautauqua County.”
This comes as cases continue to climb, with Department of Health data showing a seven day average of 81.3 cases per 100k in the county.
The executive listed four goals for the new year to combat the pandemic, with the first to protect our healthcare system.
“Staying home when we’re sick, getting tested for COVID, frequently washing hands and wearing masks when unable to socially distance ourselves from one another,” explains Wendell. “I also ask you to reach out to your healthcare providers if you have any questions on the vaccine or any antiviral therapeutics that may become available.”
Wendell’s second goal is keeping kids in school, saying the county will follow the state “test-to-stay” policy to keep kids in-person.
The executives next goal is to protect the most vulnerable population, those 65 and older as well as those who have preexisting conditions.
“We need to make sure that we’re masked when we’re around them, and we need to make sure they’re getting any booster and vaccines that are necessary to protect them,” explains Wendell.
Finally, he hopes to increase the percentage of the vaccinated population in Chautauqua County, saying that only 59 percent are currently vaccinated. Additionally, over 80 percent of hospitalizations are those who have not received the vaccine.
According to the Department of Health, there are currently only 16 available hospital beds for COVID-19 patients in the county.
Take your own advice! We have a mask mandate that easier to enforce than dealing with the spread of Covid! We have county money that could and should be being used for this purpose!